Know What's Happening in Personal Finance
Know What's Happening in Personal Finance
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Low‑Risk 401(k) Strategies to Safeguard Retirement Savings
Investopedia recommends focusing on bond funds, money‑market funds, index funds, stable‑value funds, and target‑date funds to reduce volatility. These options offer liquidity, predictable returns, and align with most retirees’ risk tolerance.
![[Ending Soon] Chase IHG Rewards Premier Card 175,000 Points Signup Bonus](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/chase123.webp)
Chase is promoting a limited‑time 175,000‑point sign‑up bonus for the IHG Rewards Premier Card, triggered by $5,000 of spend within the first three months. The card carries a $99 annual fee and delivers 26x points on IHG hotel purchases, 5x on travel, dining and gas, and 3x on all other spending. Additional perks include a free‑night certificate worth 40,000 points, automatic Platinum elite status, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. The offer is set to expire soon, prompting comparison with the no‑fee IHG Traveler card that offers similar bonuses with lower spend thresholds.
Korean retail investors had record margin debt. Bought the AI chip story with 30-40% down payments. Then oil spiked. Margin calls hit. Forced selling cascaded. This is the disposition effect in reverse. When everyone holds losers too long, the unwind is violent. The lesson:...
Most jobs will offer things like health benefits, retirement plans, and gym discounts upfront. But one benefit that doesn’t get talked about enough is financial education. If you think your company could benefit from something like this, feel free to pass...
Summ’s analysis of 30,000 U.S. crypto traders finds the new IRS Form 1099‑DA routinely omits purchase‑price data when assets move between non‑reporting and reporting platforms. The omission inflates reported capital gains by an average of $14,500 per investor, creating $435 million in...
Student loan refinance rates slipped further this week, with variable APRs as low as 3.67% and fixed APRs starting at 3.71% as of March 5, 2026. Credible leads the market on variable rates, while Earnest offers the cheapest fixed rate. The rate...
The Credit for Other Dependents (ODC) provides a $500 nonrefundable tax credit for each qualifying dependent age 17 or older, including adult children, elderly parents, and other relatives who meet IRS support and residency tests. The credit is claimed on...
The escalating conflict in Iran has jolted markets, prompting a sharp S&P 500 swing and renewed inflation worries. Financial advisors warn that while long‑term investors can stay the course, those approaching retirement should treat the volatility as a signal to review...
"I'm a new investor. How do I start?" 1. Sign up for a 401k/403b. Select Vanguard/Fidelity funds with low expense ratio. Contribute at least up to the match. 2. Open and max out HSA, if eligible 3. Roth IRA/max out the 401k/403b This is the...
Milliman’s 2025 Long‑Term Care Index estimates that a typical 65‑year‑old should earmark $135,000 for high‑intensity care, but costs diverge sharply by gender, health status and geography. Women face an average $171,000 bill versus $98,000 for men, reflecting longer lifespans. State‑level...
A personal loan introduces a new monthly payment that typically raises a borrower’s debt‑to‑income (DTI) ratio, which can shrink the mortgage amount a lender will approve. In cases where the loan replaces higher‑cost revolving debt, it can actually lower DTI...
The episode breaks down a federal report showing that over 86,000 public‑service borrowers are stuck in a three‑year backlog for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback applications. It explains how the buyback process works, why the backlog is growing, and...
Garry Marr argues that a paid‑off Canadian home still costs money because the equity tied up could earn a risk‑free return, while owners also face maintenance, taxes and opportunity costs. The Greater Toronto Area saw average resale prices fall 4.7%...
The average first-time homebuyer is almost 40 now. If young people don’t start owning assets, they’ll never build wealth...
Given this situation, millions of Americans could afford and even need to move, but they stay in homes they no longer want because they do not want to lose their low mortgage rates. Yet each quarter, people have given up...
Caesars Rewards is running two targeted card‑linked offers: a Chase promotion that returns 10% of spend up to $500, and a Citi deal that credits $25 on purchases of $250 or more. Both offers apply only to Caesars properties in...
From phishing emails to bogus tax credits, the IRS warns that scammers keep changing tactics. Here’s what you should know about the most common tax scams now. https://t.co/0ciX8gUJKy
Tesla’s meteoric rise has sparked FOMO, but piling into the stock isn’t prudent for retirement savers. A diversified, long‑term portfolio—often an S&P 500 index fund—already provides indirect exposure to Musk’s companies. Investors should audit their holdings, cap any single‑stock position (commonly...
President Donald Trump highlighted that 401(k) balances have risen, a claim supported by Fidelity data showing an 11% jump to $146,400 in 2025. However, the same year saw record‑high hardship withdrawals and a rise in 401(k) loans, signaling underlying financial...
In 2026, scammers are increasingly targeting retirees by masquerading as Social Security Administration representatives through phone calls, texts, letters, and social media. They use caller ID spoofing and official‑looking logos to pressure victims into paying fees or revealing personal data....
The Points Guy released a comprehensive guide that maps credit‑card points and miles to their airline and hotel transfer partners, detailing transfer ratios and current valuations. It highlights the top flexible‑points cards from issuers such as American Express, Chase, Capital...
Fidelity’s analysis of nearly 25 million 401(k) accounts shows the average balance jumped 11 percent in 2025 to $146,100, marking a third straight year of double‑digit growth. The median balance stays modest at $34,400, but accounts with $1 million or more rose to...
The New York Times argues that the best response to the Iran‑Israel conflict‑driven market turbulence is to stay the course. While short‑term speculation in energy, defense stocks, gold or Treasuries can appear tempting, academic research shows that most investors achieve better...
Certificates of deposit are offering some of the highest short‑term yields in recent memory, with the best 12‑month CD reaching 4.10% APY as of March 4 2026. The national average sits at just 1.55% APY, highlighting a sizable premium for rates‑focused savers....
In a recent LPL Financial and VettaFi webcast, experts urged advisors to adopt a "tax‑first" mindset, shifting from reactive compliance to proactive, multi‑year planning. They highlighted that capital‑gains and income taxes now outweigh estate‑tax concerns for many high‑net‑worth families. The...
That is an old saying I learned in Hong Kong that is meant to convey that any place can become unsafe and that having the ability to go to other places is invaluable. It is a lesson from history that...
There are so many financial games being played that we don't even know exist. There's a scene in Batman where they take over the trading floor and one of the traders says "there's no money here that you can steal" Bane replies...
Money Box Live examines the rising burden of UK student loans, breaking down how tuition and maintenance loans work and the differences between repayment plans, especially the newer Plan 5 versus the older Plan 2. Experts Tom Allingham and Graham Wright explain...
"I need to park $50k of cash for 12 months. What are my options?" > $VUSXX (Vanguard Treasury MM Fund) or any Treasury equivalent. State/local tax exempt, 3.63% yield > HYSA (FDIC insured, ~3%) Don’t invest it, unless 12 months turns into 12...
In this episode of Front Row Dads, hosts Eric Farewell and founding member Dave Powders debate the merits of allowance versus commission-based money teaching for kids. Dave outlines his hybrid system: a regular allowance split into purpose‑specific jars (save‑to‑spend, wealth,...
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is projected to deliver an average $3,813 tax cut per filer in 2026, with the bulk coming from individual deductions and business provisions. County‑level analysis by the Tax Foundation shows stark geographic variation,...
Serena Norris, a veteran flipper with 130+ projects and $55 million in volume, explains how five core systems transform chaotic rehabs into repeatable, profitable businesses. The systems—information, planning, execution, communication, and quality‑control—centralize documents, standardize scopes, track tasks, and enforce checkpoints. By...
TD Bank’s latest report signals that the mortgage renewal shock for pandemic‑era borrowers is easing. The household debt‑service ratio dropped to 14.6% in Q3 2025, aided by nearly eight‑percent disposable‑income growth in 2024 and 4.7% in 2025. Homeowners are lengthening amortizations,...
UK fintech Evlo has announced a partnership with CreditLadder, the country’s leading rent‑reporting platform, to automatically submit renters’ monthly payments to major credit bureaus. The collaboration targets tenants with thin or non‑existent credit files, aiming to convert rent—one of the...
IG has introduced a Junior Stocks & Shares ISA that matches new customers' first £50 deposit with a guaranteed £50 cash contribution. The first 200 applicants who meet a £50 minimum will receive an enhanced top‑up of up to £250,...
Affirm warns that many renters face predatory BNPL schemes that can charge over 180% APR, turning a simple rent split into costly debt. The fintech highlights its own consumer‑friendly approach, offering a zero‑interest Pay in 4 plan that breaks rent...
The Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) lets early‑stage investors fund startups now and receive equity later, typically when a priced round occurs. Introduced by Y Combinator in 2013, SAFEs replace costly, time‑intensive convertible notes with a streamlined contract that omits...
I didn't think about this in real time with OBBBA, but a lot of couples who are making in the $500k-$700k range this year are gonna end up MFSing because of the additional SALT cap. Seeing that a lot this...
In this episode of Meaningful Money, host Pete talks with long‑time friend and financial‑services veteran Andy Hart about his new book, *No BS Money Advice*. Andy explains that the book focuses on the individual's mindset and behavior rather than technical...
SmartAsset’s 2026 study evaluates the real purchasing power of a $100,000 salary across 69 large U.S. cities after accounting for federal, state, local taxes and cost‑of‑living premiums. The average adjusted value rose modestly from $71,669 to $72,444, indicating a slight...
The article highlights nine common single‑use household products that drain finances and harm the environment, offering reusable alternatives that can save families thousands annually. Items such as paper towels, plastic wrap, bottled water, and disposable razors are shown to cost...
Imagine doing it in your 60s. This is why I encourage women to invest for retirement. Age discrimination is brutal.
The article outlines the typical 30‑to‑60‑day timeline for obtaining a reverse mortgage in 2026, detailing the five required steps from HUD‑approved counseling through closing. It highlights that well‑prepared borrowers can close in as little as 30 days, while common setbacks...
Optimize vs. Maximize You don’t need to win every tax year. You need to win the life you’re living. Chasing every deduction. Timing every Roth conversion. Micromanaging every IRMAA bracket. At some point, maximizing starts competing with living well. That’s when strategy needs recalibration.
Crypto.com has introduced a U.S. retirement account that lets investors hold both cryptocurrencies and traditional stocks within a single IRA. The product offers tax‑deferred or tax‑free growth, up to a 5% contribution match, and no account fees, positioning it as...
Vanguard announced on September 20, 2025 that it now permits a Transfer‑On‑Death (TOD) designation for joint taxable brokerage accounts. The new option is accessed via an online request, a printable form, and a mailed signature, rather than a fully digital submission. Vanguard’s...
If you only have one savings account… uummm yeah. You’re gonna want to read this. P.S: Go here for my favorite checking/savings account recommendation https://vist.ly/4tjz9
The article ranks the cheapest car‑insurance providers in each U.S. state, showing rates from $779 in Vermont (Union Mutual) to $3,059 in Louisiana (Louisiana Farm Bureau). It explains pricing drivers such as driving record, vehicle type, road conditions, traffic density,...
Don’t even bother logging into your investment accounts if you’re not buying more stocks. You’re just going to make yourself feel worse and selling will only hurt you in the long term.
Announcing the @Strike Bitcoin Line of Credit. What's the best way to live on bitcoin? What if you never had to sell? Save in bitcoin. Spend in fiat. Avoid selling. Save better money. Stack more sats. Gresham's Law. Speculative attack. The Bitcoiner's Life...
A growing number of retirees have been paying federal tax on their benefits. A new $6,000 per person senior deduction reduces taxes for some seniors, but doesn’t change the way Social Security is taxed. https://t.co/Xv3DUZI1Us
