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.
The IRS reports that roughly 20% of eligible taxpayers fail to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable credit that averaged $2,916 per filer in 2024. For the 2025 tax year, the maximum credit rises to $8,046 for families with three or more qualifying children, with AGI limits scaling up to $68,675 for married couples filing jointly. Because the EITC is fully refundable, it can boost refunds even for those with zero tax liability, though the agency holds such refunds until February 15. Legislative attempts to tighten EITC verification stalled, leaving the credit’s accessibility unchanged.
12 years ago, I was $304k in debt. Today, I'm a multimillionaire. If I lost everything tomorrow, here's how I'd get it back:
The S&P 500’s top‑seven stocks now represent more than 30% of market value, sparking industry warnings about concentration risk. Academic research shows this level mirrors historic peaks from the 1930s and is a natural outcome of firm‑specific volatility, not a market...
If you don't have financial fluency, your chances of turning business revenue -> personal cash plummet. I have the data to prove it. I surveyed 200+ store owners as part of the 2026 eComFuel Trends Report (full report coming soon). One of the...
A 46‑year‑old with a $3,055 IRA in 2004 began regular contributions and, despite market crashes, let compounding work for him, growing the account to $961,680 today. The story underscores that disciplined, bi‑weekly investing can transform modest balances into retirement‑ready wealth....
Most people overpay simply because they never get multiple quotes. Need insurance? Get multiple quotes. Need a wedding cake? Get multiple quotes. Need a plumber? Get multiple quotes. It’s the best ROI on your time. 30 minutes can save you $100+
“Risk is the uncertainty of lifetime consumption.” We sit down with @cullenroche to discuss his new book Your Perfect Portfolio. We start with a basic 60/40 portfolio and then examine, step by step, the case for adding international, factors, gold, private assets,...
The senior life‑insurance market is promoting ultra‑low‑price ads that promise coverage for $9.95 a month, but the fee applies only to a single unit of protection. For an 80‑year‑old, one unit typically provides about $650 of death benefit, meaning meaningful...
The IRS offers a six‑digit Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to safeguard taxpayers from filing fraud using their SSN or ITIN. Anyone with a valid tax identifier can enroll, and parents may obtain PINs for dependents. The quickest method is through...
Consider the everyday person's knowledge of money: When I ask them about their investments, roughly 50% do not count their 401(k) as an investment. They think of it as something totally separate
A British Columbia taxpayer who filed Form T1135 late for 2021 and 2022 was hit with CRA penalties and interest, then sought judicial relief. The Federal Court examined the taxpayer’s claims of technical difficulties and financial hardship but found the...
High‑income homeowners can secure jumbo HELOCs ranging from $500,000 to over $1 million, with approval hinging on equity, liquidity, and credit strength rather than salary alone. These lines let borrowers preserve low‑rate first mortgages while unlocking equity for luxury renovations, business...
The Mortgage Reports released a comprehensive 2026 guide on home‑equity lines of credit (HELOC) tailored for high‑income earners. It outlines that borrowers with a debt‑to‑income ratio below 43%, at least 15‑20% home equity, and credit scores over 700 typically secure...
Americans are feeling heightened financial stress as consumer borrowing climbs and interest rates stay high, prompting many to prioritize debt elimination. The article outlines six practical tactics—paying above the minimum, crafting a structured payment plan, targeting high‑interest balances first, tightening...
Prospective homebuyers need to maximize returns on down‑payment savings while preserving liquidity. High‑yield savings accounts (HYSA) currently offer 3.3‑4.5% APY, whereas six‑month certificates of deposit (CD) provide slightly higher fixed rates around 4.0‑4.1%. The choice hinges on the buyer’s timeline:...
“Renters don’t invest.” What you really meant to say is, “I don’t know renters that invest, and my self-worth is tied up in owning a house.” The truth is, you have to have discipline as a renter to save up...
President Trump announced during his State of the Union address Tuesday night that he plans to give Americans without 401(k)s access to a retirement account modeled on the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan, targeting the roughly 50 million people who...
Unscrupulous home sellers often employ deceptive tactics to boost a property’s price, ranging from hiding appliance ages to faking high‑end brand badges. They may obscure serial numbers, apply stainless‑steel decals, or swap hardware to make old units appear newer. Isolated...
SEP IRAs are a dead giveaway that somebody has room to do great planning 1.) They block backdoor Roths 2.) They reduce QBI more than solo 401ks do since SEP IRAs only allow employer contributions 3.) They do not support the mega backdoor...
One of the biggest money moves I made? I stopped letting my paycheck sit in a checking account that earns zero percent interest. If my money’s gonna chill, it might as well make a little coin while it waits. 💸
The Indian government is preparing to shift Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) filing from a quarterly to a monthly cadence as part of the new income‑tax regime slated for April 1. A parallel proposal seeks to overhaul house‑rent allowance (HRA) exemptions,...
Women are poised to control a massive share of the upcoming Great Wealth Transfer, with Cerulli Associates estimating $105 trillion will pass to heirs through 2048, much of it to women due to longer lifespans. U.S. women’s investable assets are expected...
Social Security benefits can be claimed as early as age 62, but doing so reduces the monthly payout. In 2026, a 62‑year‑old receives a maximum of $2,969, roughly 30% less than the $4,152 available at full retirement age (67). Waiting...
Student loan refinance rates remained stable through February 26 2026, with Credible leading the market at a 3.69% fixed APR. Variable rates across lenders start around 3.99% and can climb higher as market conditions shift. Major platforms such as ELFI, LendKey, Splash,...
Winter brings a hidden surge in household expenses as heating, travel, and discretionary comforts rise, often slipping past the scrutiny applied at other times of year. The article advises Canadians to audit the past four months of bills, separate true...
~84% of UK adults don’t invest through a Stocks & Shares ISA 🇬🇧 Here’s my take on why that’s a problem:
The Aspen Institute’s Financial Security Program released “United We Stand: A National Strategy to Prevent Scams,” outlining a comprehensive framework to combat a $196 billion annual loss from fraud. The report identifies a four‑stage scam lifecycle and highlights fragmentation across financial...
How much of your net worth is your business? Knot in your stomach? Keep reading. Roman Khan (@RomanEcom) spoke at one of our eComFuel events a few years ago. If you ever get the chance to meet Roman in person, do...
My February article is LIVE with @selfmagazine. As a monthly contributor, I share a new piece each month. We talk about budgeting. We talk about investing. We talk about building wealth. We don’t talk enough about what happens when life interrupts all of...
In this Money Life episode, River Wealth Advisors’ CEO and CIO Ed O’Gorman warns investors that the market’s current concentration of a few mega‑caps inflates perceived risk for passive S&P 500 investors and urges a calm, strategic assessment of portfolio adjustments....
Working with an anesthesiologist who made ~$400k in 1099 income in 2025. Expects a similar income in 2026. Lives in Tennesee. Files single. He's received all sorts of conflicting opinions from CPAs on SEP IRAs, solo 401ks, S corp, no...
Warren Buffett on wealth building: focus on fundamentals, ignore the noise, and evaluate businesses with clarity. Smart investing is about patience, discipline, and knowing what you own. Most investors fail because they chase noise instead of value. 📈
The article warns that retirement‑planning formulas and withdrawal‑rate rules of thumb are often over‑relied upon, despite being based on backward‑looking back‑tests. It argues that such generic models ignore individual spending patterns, health costs, inflation, and tax changes that vary over...
If you’re investing and don’t know the difference between: • Index Funds • Mutual Funds • ETFs You might be choosing the wrong one without realizing it. New vid tomorrow is going to breakdown the pros and cons of each so you can pick the...
Peter Lynch: “The key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.” Takeaway: Staying invested beats reacting emotionally. Most investors don’t fail because they’re wrong — they fail because they panic. 📉
American Express has launched a targeted Amex Offers promotion for IHG hotel stays. Cardholders who spend at least $250 on eligible IHG properties between February 25 and May 26, 2026, receive a $50 statement credit, effectively a 20% rebate. The offer applies to...
You own $3 million in US stocks. You live in Singapore. You pass away. Two versions of what happens next.
Banker on Wheels released version 2.0 of its broker review methodology, introducing a dual‑score system that separates an absolute score (company, fee, platform) from a relative category ranking. The absolute score applies a uniform 35 % company, 35 % fee, 30 % platform weighting,...
Most people think diversification means owning lots of different funds. A client came to me with 17 funds across 4 fund houses. "My advisor said this was maximum diversification." When I showed him what he actually owned underneath, something broke.
Basic personal finance habits: • get 401k match • track your spending • route % of paychecks into savings automatically • avoid cc debt • keep at least 3 months of expenses in HYSA • max Roth IRA Do these consistently and you'll do much better than...
President Trump’s administration floated a new private‑sector retirement account that would mirror the federal employee plan and add a $1,000 annual government match. The proposal arrives as the existing Saver’s Credit still offers a tax credit of up to $1,000...
Tax season can be busy. Here’s what taxpayers should know about filing for extension, making payments and planning for the unexpected. https://t.co/18PsgNFiEr
"Equity in a home is unemployed Benjamins. Redeploying that equity puts those Benjamins to work." –Bryan Maddex* *Our favorite mortgage lender & financing expert. Learn more → https://t.co/6LQHDFuiBV
JP Morgan’s 2026 Outlook warns that the classic 60/40 stock‑bond mix now leaves many portfolios overly weighted in a handful of mega‑cap technology names. The firm argues that diversification is not obsolete but evolving, as low‑yield bonds and equity concentration erode...
LLM-driven AI tools are much better with words than with math... at what point is the time to back-check the output calculations more time-consuming than just using established software providers for key investment research and financial planning functions? "Mass market AI...
Your dollar lost 53% of its purchasing power over the past 30 years. That’s not an anomaly. That’s the system. Inflation isn’t just a number - it’s a silent thief. Invest in real assets, or watch your money evaporate. https://t.co/vTylWHpPhj
Filing for personal bankruptcy is a federally‑mandated, deadline‑driven process that can be derailed by a single missed form or hearing. While individuals can represent themselves, data shows that pro se filers are less likely to achieve a full discharge than those...
The Mag-7 used to trade at a 100% premium over the rest of the S&P. It's now collapsed to a 10-year low. Do you realize what's happening?
SmartAsset’s 2026 study applies a Pew‑based definition—two‑thirds to twice the median household income—to rank every U.S. state and the nation’s 100 largest cities by their middle‑class income bounds. The analysis shows the highest upper‑class threshold in Massachusetts ($209,656) and the...
President Trump announced a new federal retirement account modeled on the Thrift Savings Plan, promising a government match of up to $1,000 per year for workers without employer‑sponsored 401(k)s. The initiative would potentially cover the 56 million Americans currently lacking such...
