Know What's Happening in Personal Finance
Know What's Happening in Personal Finance
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Low‑Risk 401(k) Options Offer Steady Growth for Retirees
Investopedia outlines bond funds, money‑market funds, index funds, stable‑value funds and target‑date funds as the safest 401(k) strategies. These vehicles provide liquidity, predictable modest returns and align with an investor’s risk tolerance and retirement timeline.
In this episode Clark Howard explores how our money mindset shapes financial outcomes, warning against both debt-driven overspending and overly frugal regret. He outlines a balanced approach that blends disciplined saving with purposeful enjoyment, and answers listener questions about practical budgeting tactics. The conversation then shifts to the Solo 401(k), highlighting it as a powerful, tax‑free retirement vehicle for the self‑employed and explaining how to set one up. Throughout, Clark provides actionable tips and resources to help listeners improve their financial health.
The article lists 35 practical methods to earn $1,000 quickly in 2026, ranging from selling unused goods to offering freelance digital services and renting assets. It emphasizes low‑entry barriers, leveraging online platforms, and combining multiple streams for faster results. The...
A retiree shifted assets to an independent RIA seeking broader alternative investments, accumulating numerous illiquid limited partnerships that generate K‑1 tax forms. Over time, several of these alternatives underperformed, exposing the investor to locked‑up capital and heightened tax complexity. The...
If you’re 25 and don’t end up a millionaire, you might need a wake-up call, because I just showed you how. Invest $100 a month from age 25 to 65 at the average S&P 500 return over the last 40 years,...
Students can earn supplemental income by selecting flexible, low‑commitment gigs that fit around class schedules. Options range from tutoring peers and freelance online tasks to reselling items, babysitting, and micro‑surveys. Each opportunity leverages existing skills or assets, turning spare time...
The New York Times piece reveals that married financial planners still stumble over tax filings, citing a Roth‑conversion penalty and a missed $7,500 dependent‑care credit cap increase. The errors, each under $1,000, stem from logistical oversights rather than ignorance. The article highlights...
Retirement tax planning is less about rigid rules and more about managing timing trade‑offs over a lifetime. The article stresses that focusing on minimizing taxes in a single year can increase total tax burden due to higher effective marginal rates,...
Social Security delivered a 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for 2026, boosting benefits by roughly $56 per month. Early government inflation data suggest the 2027 COLA could be markedly lower, with estimates ranging from 1.2% to 3.1%. Analysts warn that a...
In episode 1944, Farnoosh answers listener questions about birthday money etiquette, market warning signs, and relationship finance. She debunks myths about gifting cash, highlights red flags in the current market such as over‑valuation and rising rates, and offers strategies for...
In this 46‑minute episode, host Chris Redd discusses the current landscape of student loans, focusing on the SAVE repayment plan’s uncertain timeline, the upcoming Navient settlement payouts, and the bottleneck in Public Service Loan Forgiveness. He explains how front‑loading of...
The article outlines practical frugal‑living habits for beginners, emphasizing mindset, budgeting, and purposeful spending. It walks readers through steps such as creating a strong money mindset, giving every dollar a job, and planning purchases before buying. The guide also highlights...
In this episode, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench interview millionaire Brian Herriot, author of *Time Freedom*, to reframe financial independence from early retirement to immediate time control. Brian explains how he grew his portfolio from $1 million to $3 million, shifted...
A new Health Affairs study of nearly 13,000 trauma patients shows that even insured Americans face sharp rises in medical debt and bankruptcy after serious injuries. Within 18 months, the share of patients with debt in collections grew 5.2 percentage...
Federal student‑loan borrowers filed a record 18,400 complaints to the CFPB for the year ending June 2025, a 36% increase over the prior year. The agency’s 21‑page report, released in January, omitted the detailed breakdown of complaint types, servicers involved, and...
The episode explains the new Workforce Pell Grant, which extends Pell eligibility to short‑term (8‑15 week) workforce training programs that meet strict outcome, credential, and labor‑market standards. It highlights that applicants must still complete the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need,...
Frugal living in 2026 emphasizes intentional spending rather than strict deprivation, offering 35 practical habits to balance savings with quality of life. The guide highlights realistic budgeting, price comparison, durability focus, meal planning, and cash‑envelope techniques as core strategies. It...
In this episode, Mark Podolsky, Scott Bossman, Jon Burnett, and guest Landon Harris explore land investing as a "freedom multiplier" and argue that coaching is the missing link that turns curiosity into consistent results. Drawing on insights from the Dirt...
The article compiles 100 timeless frugal‑wisdom quotes from figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Warren Buffett, and modern personal‑finance influencers. It highlights how simple habits—saving first, budgeting, and avoiding unnecessary expenses—can transform money into a tool for freedom rather than stress....
The episode explains the upcoming 2026 reforms to Parent PLUS loans, which will impose a $20,000 annual and $65,000 lifetime borrowing cap and eliminate income‑driven repayment options for new loans. It contrasts these changes with the limited borrowing limits of...
In this episode Clark Howard breaks down the tax season landscape, explaining why a large refund often means you over‑paid throughout the year and urging listeners to adjust their withholding to keep more money in their pockets. He offers practical...
In this episode of The Retirement Answer Man, Roger Whitney walks listeners through the three primary health‑care options available before Medicare eligibility: COBRA continuation coverage, ACA marketplace plans, and part‑time employer group insurance, while also noting other alternatives like private...
In episode 1943, Farnoosh explores the challenges couples face when their incomes differ, covering how to set up shared and individual accounts, allocate spending responsibilities, and communicate about financial priorities. She offers practical frameworks for deciding who pays what, how...
In this episode, hosts Jim Saulnier and Chris Stein field listener questions about cash balance pension plans, focusing on their suitability for self‑employed owners and businesses with fluctuating but potentially large future income, such as farmers. Guest expert Steve explains...
In this Money Box Live episode, presenter Felicity Hannah and experts Clare Moffat, a pension and tax specialist, and Nina Sperring, a wealth‑protection solicitor, demystify inheritance tax, explaining who must pay it, how the rates are calculated and what thresholds...
The U.S. private‑sector retirement system is witnessing a historic shift, with IRA balances now exceeding 401(k) assets by roughly $7 trillion. This migration moves workers’ savings out of the ERISA‑protected 401(k) framework into a less regulated IRA environment. IRAs lack the...
Buying silver bars online is presented as a practical way to add a tangible, low‑cost precious metal to a diversified portfolio. The article highlights that online bullion dealers offer broader product ranges, real‑time pricing and lower overhead, which translate into...
The guide walks sellers through every stage of a Swiss property sale, from initial pricing and mortgage planning to the final notary signing. It highlights the choice between DIY sales and hiring an agency, emphasizing the cost‑benefit of professional marketing...
House Republicans have trimmed a proposal to raise fees on Department of Veterans Affairs home loans after pushback from veterans groups and lenders. The revised plan leaves purchase‑loan fees unchanged but nearly triples the refinance fee to 1.4% and doubles...
TurboTax is offering a limited-time promotion that lets new mobile‑app users file federal and state returns for free, covering all forms included in its Deluxe and Premium tiers. The offer excludes the web platform and any TurboTax Experts products, requiring...
The 2026 tax filing season (for the 2025 tax year) officially began on January 26, 2026, with the deadline set for April 15, 2026. Inflation adjustments raised tax brackets, standard deductions, and contribution limits, while the OBBBA legislation expanded the SALT cap to $40,000...
The IRS still permits tax payments via credit or debit cards through two processors, ACI Payments (1.85%‑2.95%) and Pay1040 (1.75%‑2.89%) for 2026. By pairing a cash‑back card that earns at least the processing rate, taxpayers can offset fees and even...
The Treasury announced a new enrollment pathway for Trump accounts following a Super Bowl 60 commercial. Parents can now submit IRS Form 4547 online via TrumpAccounts.gov or attach it to their 2025 tax return to claim a $1,000 seed deposit for...
Fundrise announced that its Innovation Fund will list on the NYSE as a closed‑end fund, shifting from an open‑end structure that trades at NAV to a fixed‑float vehicle. The article explains how ETFs, open‑end mutual funds, and closed‑end funds differ...
In this episode Clark Howard warns listeners about the surge in restaurant closures and the risk of losing unused gift cards, urging prompt use to avoid forfeiture. He answers listener questions on topics ranging from gift‑card expiration to personal finance...
The episode explores six unconventional stock‑market indicators—from the Super Bowl winner and lipstick sales to the nationality of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover models—highlighting their surprising historical success rates, such as the Super Bowl’s 71 % accuracy since 1978. It explains the...
The episode investigates a widespread HMRC error that suspended Child Benefit for over 60% of eligible parents after mistakenly interpreting travel data as a move abroad, affecting payments worth at least £100 a month. It reveals that 63% of suspensions...
In this episode Farnoosh answers listener questions about buying a home and investing for a mid‑term goal, such as a child's education or a career change. She outlines the three‑step framework for home‑buying: assess true affordability, prioritize a solid down‑payment...
Retirement planners have long relied on the 4 percent safe‑withdrawal rule, which suggests taking 4 % of a portfolio in the first year and adjusting for inflation thereafter. The article explains that the rule’s appeal rests on historic U.S. market performance, low...
In this First Friday episode, host Paula Pant reviews the economic landscape of January 2026, highlighting a 2% S&P 500 pullback, a near‑10% Bitcoin drop, and a cooling labor market with job openings falling to 7.6 million. She discusses the surprise nomination of...
The article warns investors that unprecedented market volatility—from a 25% drop in silver to record concentration among AI‑driven mega‑caps—calls for a reassessment of traditional portfolio guidance. It highlights stress in U.S. bond and money markets amid political attacks on the...
The 2025 filing season arrives with a landmark tax and spending bill that adds $129 billion in individual tax cuts, boosting average refunds by roughly $1,000. Key provisions include a permanent larger standard deduction and new credits that favor higher‑income households....
The episode debunks the popular claim that U.S. colleges suffer from administrative bloat by examining federal staffing and enrollment data. It shows that student‑to‑staff ratios are far lower than viral rumors suggest—about 6.4 : 1 overall and 5.2 : 1 at four‑year institutions—and that...
