Today's Personal Finance Pulse
New student loan repayment options debut on July 1
Starting July 1, borrowers will be offered two new repayment plans and must choose the option that best fits their financial situation. The change aims to give borrowers more flexibility in managing loan payments.
Position Sizing
Dean outlines a judgment‑driven approach to position sizing, emphasizing that it’s the single biggest driver of portfolio outcomes. He recommends starting with 5‑10% of capital for an initial idea, using 2‑3% “half‑positions” for basket components, and scaling up or down as confidence evolves. Specific triggers—extra checks at 25% exposure and mandatory trimming at 35‑40%—help manage psychological comfort and concentration risk. The piece blends practical thresholds with the art of adapting to new information, inviting readers to share their own rules.
Patience Beats Hype: Buy Low, Hold Long
It’s tempting to buy stocks that are pumping right now. But ask yourself first: Are you swing trading? Are you planning to sell soon for a quick gain? If not, chasing pumps usually ends badly. My biggest winners (5–20x) weren’t bought during hype. I bought...
3 Questions to Ask Before Raiding Your 401(k) for a Hardship Withdrawal
A record 6% of Vanguard‑administered 401(k) participants took hardship withdrawals in 2025, up from a pre‑COVID average of 2%. The 2022 law broadened qualifying emergencies to include domestic‑abuse victims, disaster losses and terminal illnesses, but withdrawals still incur ordinary income...
Ask the Tax Editor, May 1: 10-Year Rule for Inherited IRAs
The 2019 SECURE Act eliminated the lifetime stretch for most non‑spousal inherited IRAs, imposing a 10‑year distribution window. Beneficiaries must fully withdraw the account by the end of the tenth year, with annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) only if the...
‘We Are Old School’: I’ve Been Married for 40 Years. Should I Have Kept My Money Separate?
The Moneyist notes that joint accounts remain common but are declining, with 77% of married couples now sharing checking, savings and CD accounts versus 85% in 1996. Separate accounts have risen to 25% of couples, up from 15% three decades...
Bank of England Holds Rate at 3.75% as Energy Shock Fuels Future Hike Concerns
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 8‑1 to keep the bank rate at 3.75% on Thursday, citing the risk of material second‑round effects from an energy price shock tied to the Middle East war. The decision signals short‑term...
Weigh Home Upgrade vs Investing: Choose Financially
You’re 42, Corporate Executive, Chicago. $650k income. Married, 3 kids, 1 on the way. $1.8M retirement, $600k brokerage. You can: Upgrade to a $2.5M home OR Stay put and invest the difference What do you do?
Did Andrew Make a Mistake in Preventing His Mom From Buying Annuities?
Andrew stopped his 64‑year‑old mother from moving $300,000 into a traditional annuity after learning the product’s drawbacks. The article outlines how annuities lock up capital, provide no inflation protection, and end income at death, while also noting research that guaranteed...
Forecasts Are Generally of No Use when It Comes to Achieving Better than Average Investment Results
Financial columnist Noah Solomon argues that, despite occasional accurate predictions, forecasts rarely add value for investors. He explains that consensus forecasts are right most of the time, so only non‑consensus predictions that also happen to be correct can generate outperformance,...
Is It More Efficient To Drive Your Truck With The Tailgate Open?
Recent analyses confirm that keeping a pickup truck's tailgate closed yields modest but measurable fuel savings. A Consumer Reports test showed a V8 Ram dropped from 22.3 mpg with the gate up to 21.5 mpg with it down, a roughly 4% loss....
Buy 2 North Square Mutual Funds for Balanced Returns
North Square Investments, a multi‑boutique asset‑management platform, recommends two of its mutual funds for long‑term investors. The Spectrum Alpha Fund (ORIGX) focuses on U.S. small‑cap equities and has posted a 14.5% annualized return over both three‑ and five‑year periods with...
Which Makes More Financial Sense in 2026: Buying or Renting?
Desjardins’ latest report finds that rising home prices and borrowing costs are making ownership less affordable, while a surge in rental supply is softening rents and boosting tenant incentives. Vacancy rates in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area climbed to...
How a Free Checking Account Supports Financial Confidence Over Time
A free checking account does more than dodge fees; it serves as a foundational tool for building lasting financial confidence. By removing monthly maintenance charges and minimum‑balance hurdles, it creates frictionless cash flow that encourages consistent money management. Integrated digital...
Buffett's Top Five Investments to Never Make
5 Things Warren Buffett Says To Never Invest In Or Buy (Avoid At All Costs) https://t.co/TWBI5722Bk
Munger's 7 Sacrifices Required for Future Wealth
7 Things You Must Sacrifice If You Want To Be Rich One Day, According To Charlie Munger https://t.co/VKcCbrv3um
5 Things Warren Buffett Says To Never Invest In or Buy (Avoid at All Costs)
Warren Buffett’s investment doctrine is defined by five categories he refuses to touch: businesses outside his circle of competence, cheap mediocre firms, non‑productive assets such as gold, cryptocurrencies, and hype‑driven IPOs. He argues that capital preservation comes first, and only...
7 Things You Must Sacrifice If You Want to Be Rich One Day, According to Charlie Munger
Charlie Munger argues that real wealth comes from disciplined sacrifices rather than luck or raw intelligence. He lists seven habits to abandon—envy, herd mentality, constant action, ego, self‑pity, convenience, and comfort—each of which silently erodes capital and focus. By eliminating...
Working-Class People Who Build Real Wealth Don’t Waste Time on These 5 Activities
The article outlines five habits that working‑class earners should eliminate to accelerate wealth creation. It stresses keeping lifestyle costs flat after raises, swapping idle screen time for skill development, avoiding high‑risk speculative bets, converting complaints into concrete career pivots, and...
The Evolution of Passive Investing
Passive investing has shifted from simple market‑cap index funds to a sophisticated toolbox of factor‑based and equal‑weight products. Evelyn Partners’ Lead Portfolio Manager Dan Caps describes an "active‑passive" model that layers low‑cost index tracking with tactical asset allocation and style...
4 Questions to Ask About Your Financial Health
The Good Men Project article outlines a four‑question self‑assessment to gauge personal financial health, emphasizing an emergency fund, progress toward goals, choice of financial products, and a sense of control. It frames financial wellness as a pillar of overall mental...
PPFAS Mutual Fund Among 15 AMCs to Offer Voluntary Lock-In for Folios. Here Is How Sebi’s Rule Works
SEBI has authorized a voluntary lock‑in facility for mutual‑fund folios, and 15 asset‑management companies—including PPFAS Mutual Fund—have launched the service via the MF Central platform effective 30 April. Investors can freeze redemptions, switches and other debit transactions for both demat and non‑demat...
Looking for Best Equity MFs to Invest for 3 Years? Check These 6 Funds with over 27% Returns
ET Online highlights six Indian equity mutual funds that have delivered over 27% cumulative returns in the past three years. Bandhan Small Cap Fund tops the list with a 30.72% gain, managing roughly ₹20,129 crore (≈ $2.4 billion) and a five‑star rating. The other...
The Universal Worry: Can We Afford Our Children’s Future?
Parents across Canada are increasingly worried about affording their children’s post‑secondary education. While 73% have opened a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and 74% know about the Canada Education Savings Grant, only 33% feel confident they can fully fund tuition,...
Master Apple Card Money Flow to Maximize Rewards
Just joining the complex Apple Card ecosystem? It's smart to learn how to move your money around, including funding your Apple Cash. Here's a primer that explains how everything interrelates and how to maximize your rewards: https://t.co/ZPP9OBmIZw #applecard #applecash #banking...
Canada Launches $25 B CAD Sovereign Wealth Fund for Retail Investors
Canada's finance ministry announced the Canada Strong Fund, a $25 billion CAD sovereign wealth fund seeded over three years, with a retail investment product that promises capital protection. The move expands sovereign‑wealth‑type exposure to everyday Canadians and will reshape advisory strategies.
U.S. Treasury Lifts Series I Bond Rate to 4.26% Through Oct. 2026
The U.S. Treasury announced a 4.26% annual composite rate for newly purchased Series I savings bonds, effective May 1 through Oct. 31 2026. The increase, driven by a 3.34% variable inflation component and a steady 0.90% fixed portion, revives interest in the government‑backed,...
Trump Signs Order to Launch TrumpIRA.gov, Offering up to $1,000 Match for Low‑income Savers
President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing TrumpIRA.gov, a government‑run marketplace that will let workers without employer retirement plans open low‑cost IRAs. Eligible single filers earning up to $20,500 will receive a 50% contribution match up to $1,000, with...
Better Access, Better Quality for Individual Investors, Says StepStone Group
StepStone Group announced that its Private Wealth division is extending institutional‑quality private‑market access to individual investors, particularly high‑net‑worth clients. The firm highlighted new due‑diligence tools, lower minimum commitments and a streamlined onboarding process. Executives Brett Schlemovitz and Miguel Sosa said...
Cancel YouTube Premium Free Trial Before Billing
Tried the @YouTube Premium free trial for a month and aren't finding it's worth keeping? Not to worry, here's the fast and sure way to cancel service before the 💰 bill comes due: https://t.co/1AaZfLcUXn #youtube #youtubepremium https://t.co/PwOOjIJdRk
ABLEnow Teams with Wounded Warriors Podcast to Boost Veteran ABLE Account Awareness
ABLEnow, the nation’s largest independent ABLE savings program, has partnered with the Wounded Warriors in Action Podcast to inform veterans and families about expanded ABLE account eligibility beginning in 2026. The collaboration aims to protect benefits like SSI and Medicaid...
Keep Housing Costs Below 10% to Retire Early
MAX Mortgage or Rent you should pay based on salary: - $40K salary: $833 - $50K salary: $1,041 - $60K salary: $1,250 - $70K salary: $1,458 - $80K salary: $1,666 - $90K salary: $1,875 - $100K salary: $2,083 - $110K salary: $2,291 - $120K salary: $2,500 - $150K salary: $3,250 -...
White House Officially Launches Trump IRA for Workers without Workplace Retirement Plans
The White House signed an executive order establishing the Trump IRA, a low‑cost individual retirement account for workers without employer‑sponsored plans. A dedicated website, TrumpIRA.gov, will go live by Jan. 1, 2027, offering high‑quality private‑sector IRAs and a federal match of up...
Saving for Retirement when You Make Less than $35,000 Won’t Be Much Easie...
President Trump’s administration issued an executive order to enhance the Saver’s Match, slated for Jan. 1, 2027, aiming to boost retirement savings for low‑income earners. However, experts warn it will not substantially help the roughly 56 million Americans without workplace retirement plans, whose...
Forget the Toyota Camry—This Subaru SUV Costs Less to Own
The 2026 Subaru Uncharted, a compact electric SUV priced at $34,995, is positioned as a direct alternative to the long‑standing family favorite, the Toyota Camry, which starts at $29,595. While the Camry still offers longer range and a familiar hybrid...
Now Is the Time to Rebalance Your Portfolio and Snap up These Bonds, UBS Says
UBS’s chief investment officer for the Americas, Ulrike Hoffmann‑Burchardi, says the S&P 500’s record highs create a strategic moment to rebalance portfolios toward high‑quality government bonds. Recent spikes in Treasury yields, especially on two‑year, five‑year and 10‑year notes, provide a “compelling...
Most Americans Ignore Budgets—Review Yours Before May
You not about to walk into May singing “It’s Gonna Be May” with a budget that you KNOW isn’t working 😭 And you wouldn’t be alone—73% of Americans don’t follow or even check a budget. But before you run it back for...
Rakuten Shopping Portal: New Bonus for Bank of America Credit Cards
Rakuten’s shopping portal is now offering extra cash‑back bonuses for two Bank of America credit cards: $250 for the Travel Rewards card and $150 for the Customized Card Rewards card. These bonuses are added on top of each card’s existing...
Rebalancing Works—If Assets Stay Uncorrelated in Downturns
Rebalancing a diversified portfolio is one of the more robust strategies out there. Shannon showed with his “Shannon’s demon” portfolio that periodic rebalancing of two alpha-less investments could make money; the fly in the ointment is that they need to...
High Earners Are Feeling the Pain of Wealth Creep—And It’s Leading to a New Tradeoff in Their Spending
Affluent consumers are increasingly swapping everyday luxuries for high‑impact experiences, opting to buy discount groceries while splurging on travel, fine dining and concerts. Financial planners observe this selective thrift as a conscious trade‑off rather than a sign of financial strain,...
I Left My Full-Time Job at 50 and Retired to Mexico. After 3 Years, I've Built a Life I Love...
Pharmacist Ivy Ge retired at age 50 and relocated from San Francisco to Ajijic, Mexico, where she has now lived three years. She crafted a sustainable early‑retirement plan by budgeting for a 17‑year horizon until full Social Security benefits, emphasizing...
California's $600 Million Inflation Relief Funds Set to Expire April 30
California officials warn that $600 million in one‑time inflation‑relief payments will vanish at midnight on April 30 if recipients do not transfer the funds off their debit cards. The deadline affects an estimated several hundred thousand residents who received the money through...
Fed Holds Rates Steady, Mortgage Rates Likely to Remain Stable Amid Political Tension
The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the third consecutive meeting, a decision that keeps mortgage rates anchored despite a sharply divided FOMC vote. The move comes as Chairman Jerome Powell announced he will remain on the...
We
Most people think the secret to building wealth is finding the right stock. It's not. It's starting before you feel ready. Buffett bought his first stock at 11. Not because he had it figured out — because he started. That $114 compounding...
Pro Strategies to Identify Winning Investments
For most investors, a well-diversified portfolio of funds will do the trick. But if you want to try to identify winners like the pros on Wall Street, there are steps you can take. https://t.co/6RP6PY8ebH
North Carolina’s $15,000 Forgivable Mortgage: How to Qualify in 2026
North Carolina’s 1st Home Advantage Down Payment program offers first‑time buyers and veterans up to $15,000 in 0% interest assistance for homes priced up to $495,000. The second‑mortgage is forgiven incrementally—20% per year after the tenth year and fully after...
401(k) Catch‑Up Limits
A really useful 401(k) contribution chart from @fidelity. Note that if you are a catch up contributor, you may be required to have those contributions be Roth deferrals. Your regular deferrals can still be pre-tax. Also keep in mind we...
Beyond 60/40: Bonds No Longer Guaranteed Diversifier
I continue to advocate looking beyond the simple 60/40 paradigm to seek protection from both the 60 and the 40. Bonds are still a viable asset class but they are no longer a surefire diversifier to equities. https://t.co/8GRaglZUAs
Earn on Spending or Subsidize Banks—No Middle Ground
You’re either earning on your spending, or subsidizing your bank. There isn’t a third option. 3% on everything, 15% on food + rides, or nothing 💳 Most people will read this and do nothing. 👇 https://t.co/W72fnPrAXx Thanks @ether_fi for sponsoring the show
Buy the Dip, Not the Hype.
Investing for dummies: Stop FOMO buying pumps Start FOMO buying dumps on bullish assets Now you're buying discounts and not chasing premium prices like everyone else
Spend 5 Minutes Daily for Financial Confidence
Taking a quick five minutes to check in on your finances while you eat breakfast or commute to work could help you feel more in control of your money. https://t.co/VyvdVlw501