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.
How Advisers, Pre-Retirees Can Resist Volatility-Inspired Trades
Financial advisers are increasingly worried about U.S. fiscal policy and geopolitics, prompting a stronger emphasis on long‑term vehicles such as target‑date funds (TDFs), which grew 20.3% in 2025 to $4.8 trillion and now represent roughly 40‑50% of defined‑contribution allocations. Research shows pre‑retirees are the most prone to volatility‑driven trades, but professionally managed accounts and default re‑enrollment into TDFs can curb impulsive moves. The article also notes senior talent shifts: Blackstone appointed Rashmi Madan and Simona Maellare to lead private‑wealth growth, Lenox Advisors promoted three partners, and Northern Trust named David Albright global head of sales. These developments underscore a dual focus on disciplined investing and competitive talent acquisition in the retirement‑services market.
How Paying Off Your Mortgage Early Can Affect Your Taxes
Paying off a mortgage early eliminates interest payments but also removes the mortgage interest deduction, potentially increasing taxable income. Homeowners must weigh the loss of that deduction against the interest savings, especially if they currently itemize. Property tax deductions remain,...
Long-Term Stock Investments: Tax Rules and Growth
The article outlines how long‑term stock investing leverages lower capital‑gains taxes, compounding returns, and reduced trading costs to build wealth. Holding assets for more than a year qualifies gains for 0‑15‑20 % rates versus higher ordinary‑income taxes, and a 7 % annual...
Buy 500 Days Pre‑Halving, Sell 500 Days Post‑Halving
20.01.2026 #BTC You’d outperform 99% of Bitcoin investors by Buying ~500 days before the Halving and Selling ~500 days after the Halving It’s easy to say in hindsight It was also easy to say with foresight $BTC #Crypto #Bitcoin 11.10.2023 #BTC Buying Bitcoin on a...
The IRS May Owe You Money From the Pandemic Years—But You Have to Claim It
A February 2025 U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruling in Kwong v. United States broadened the interpretation of IRC Section 7508A, extending tax filing, payment and refund deadlines to July 11, 2023. The decision means the IRS may have improperly...
Block Ads, Protect Your Wallet From Unnecessary Purchases
The best money hack is becoming immune to ads trying to sell you crap you don’t need.
Financial Counselor Vs. Financial Advisor: Services and Examples
The article clarifies the distinct roles of financial counselors and financial advisors, outlining their core services, typical client bases, and compensation structures. Counselors concentrate on budgeting, debt reduction, and short‑term cash‑flow stabilization, often through nonprofit or salaried positions. Advisors handle...
No Tax on Tips: How to Deduct Up to $25K of Your Income
The Treasury’s new “no tax on tips” deduction lets eligible tipped employees deduct up to $25,000 of tip income from their federal returns, running from 2025 through 2028. The benefit phases out once single filers earn $150,000 or joint filers...
Stay-at-Home Mom Budget Hacks: Making the Most of Extra Space in Your Home
Stay‑at‑home moms can turn underused rooms into financial assets by renting them, creating home offices, or launching small businesses. The article outlines practical steps for generating supplemental income, reducing housing costs through shared living, and improving organization to avoid wasteful...
Biden’s SAVE Plan for Student Loans Is Officially Dead. Here’s What Experts Suggest Now
A federal district court has struck down the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) income‑driven repayment plan, effectively ending the program that offered low monthly payments for millions of student‑loan borrowers. The rule was challenged by Republican attorneys general, and...
Most Overlook Simple Rules: Save, Invest, Avoid Debt
Simple rules: save, invest, avoid bad debt, earn more, be patient—most ignore them. Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more on build-to-rent and real estate investing. #realestate #investmentproperty #buildtorent
Contribute Pre‑tax in High‑tax State, Retire Tax‑free Elsewhere
An easy tax arbitrage many people don't think about: Do a pre-tax 401(k) in a state with a high income tax vs withdrawing in a 0% tax state. Example - contribute pre-tax in CA/NY (say 10% marginal) but retire in 0% state,...
Barcelona Tourist Tax 2026: How Travellers Can Legally Pay Less
Barcelona will increase its combined tourist tax to between €8 and €12 per person per night in 2026, depending on accommodation type. The levy consists of a regional Catalonia tax and a municipal surcharge that applies only within the city...
T‑CRUT Bypasses 10‑Year Rule as IRA Beneficiary
As a non-person entity, the T-CRUT is not subject to the 10-Year Rule and can be designated as the IRA beneficiary while naming the original non-spouse beneficiary as an income recipient of the trust and a charitable organization as the...
Switch to an S‑Corp, Save Up to $20K
Most coaches and creators focus on getting to $10k/month. But nobody talks about what happens after you get there. You: Hit $100k/year as a solopreneur. Congrats. The red sea parts and you finally see through the looking glass... Then... You realize you're paying 15.3% in...
How ISA Millionaires Are Investing Their Money
In this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and guests discuss recent market turbulence driven by Middle East conflict and volatile oil prices, as well as sector updates on UK house builders like Persimmon and...
3 American Century Funds for Long-Term Growth
American Century Investments, founded in 1958, recommends three mutual funds—BIGRX, ASQIX and ARYVX—for long‑term investors. Each fund holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of #1, reflecting strong buy signals, and posts solid three‑ and five‑year annualized returns. Their expense ratios...
Age‑Based Stock Rule Costs More Than 60/40
Most investors follow a rule nobody ever properly tested: subtract your age from 100, put the rest in stocks. A new Yale study finally ran the numbers. Following that rule costs the equivalent of 2% of lifetime consumption. A static 60/40...
Five Essential Steps to Maximize Social Security in Your 60s
Here are five steps everyone in their 60s should take now to help ensure they make the most of Social Security. https://t.co/G4kqCF6jjT
The Anatomy of a Threshold Rebalance: April 2025
An investor with a rule‑based policy rebalanced his retirement portfolio in April 2025 after a 15% equity decline triggered by the "Liberation Day" tariff announcement. Using a threshold rebalance, he sold overweight bonds and bought underweight stocks within a tax‑advantaged...
Time Horizon, Not Volatility, Determines Investment Risk
The biggest risk in investing isn’t volatility. It’s a short time horizon. Worst S&P 500 annualized returns since 1928: 1 year: -44% 5 years: -13% 10 years: -2% 20 years: +2% 30 years: +8% The longer you stay invested, the smaller the risk of a bad outcome. https://t.co/E6zeCB4Ir8
How to Cancel a Home Equity Loan | 3-Day Rule
Federal law grants borrowers a three‑business‑day right of rescission for home‑equity loans and HELOCs on their primary residence. The rescission period begins only after the borrower signs the loan, receives the Truth‑in‑Lending disclosure, and gets two copies of the Notice...
How Much of Your Portfolio Should Be in Stocks?
A new Yale working paper challenges the ubiquitous “100‑minus‑your‑age” rule for equity allocation, showing it costs investors about 2 % of lifetime consumption compared with the true optimum. The research treats future salary as human capital—a bond‑like asset that dramatically shifts...
‘What a Waste of Money’: Shark Tank Star Kevin O’Leary Urges Couples to Ditch the Extravagant Wedding and Do This...
Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary warned that spending $30,000‑plus on a wedding is a financial misstep, urging couples to opt for a modest civil ceremony and a small celebration. He suggested redirecting the saved funds toward a down‑payment on a...
Don’t Inherit a Crisis: How to Manage a Parent’s Debt Before They Pass
Many Canadians mistakenly believe a parent’s debt disappears at death, but it remains in the estate and must be settled before any distribution to heirs. A "deemed disposition" treats all assets as sold at death, often creating large capital‑gain taxes,...
Moving to the U.S.? Your Locked-In RRSP May Not Be as Locked in as You Think
Canadians who relocate to the United States can potentially unlock their locked‑in RRSP (LIRA) after maintaining non‑resident status for at least 24 consecutive months, though eligibility varies by the pension jurisdiction governing the account. Provinces such as Ontario, BC and...
Avoid These Pitfalls to Protect Your Wealth
5 ways to lose everything quickly: 1. Choose the wrong spouse. 2. Finance your lifestyle with credit card debt. 3. Put all your money in one investment. 4. Trust the wrong person. 5. Addiction (drugs, gambling...). What else?
The Executive-to-Investor Transition Nobody Talks About
The article highlights a growing shift among senior women executives from earning salaries to becoming active investors. As they accumulate wealth, many are confronting an identity transition, leveraging strategic and operational skills to navigate private markets. Community salons hosted by...
Cut Hidden Bill Costs, Not Just Subscriptions
Just because it's an essential doesn't mean you should overpay for it. Most people look to their subscriptions as the first thing to go when they need to cut back, and they don't even notice the bills that are actually...
Wealth Management for Entrepreneurs: Services and Examples
Entrepreneurs often tie the bulk of their net worth to their businesses, creating financial complexity that extends beyond daily operations. Wealth management offers a coordinated strategy that blends investment diversification, tax planning, retirement, estate, and risk management to protect and...
What, Me Worry?
Investors confront two distinct threats to wealth: inflation and market bear markets. Historical data shows bear markets can plunge 20‑50% in months, with recoveries ranging from five months to seven years, while a steady 3% inflation rate trims purchasing power...
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Top 4 Total Market Index Funds for Comprehensive U.S. Equity Coverage
Total‑market index funds give investors a single‑ticket exposure to the entire U.S. equity market, tracking benchmarks like the CRSP Total Market Index or Russell 3000. Vanguard VTSAX, Schwab SWTSX, iShares IWV, and Wilshire WFIVX are highlighted for their low fees, diversification,...
Buffett Chooses Stocks Over Real Estate for Liquidity
Investing legend Warren Buffett explains why he often prefers the stock market over real estate. Stocks can be bought or sold in seconds, while real estate deals can take months of negotiations. A powerful lesson in value investing, smart capital...
Avoid These 5 Habits to Stop Staying Broke
5 steps to guarantee you stay broke: 1. Trade time for money permanently 2. Lifestyle creep 3. Limiting or wrong beliefs about investing 4. Buying things to impress others 5. Waiting too long and loosing compound interest
I Cancelled Every App Subscription Under $10, and I Barely Miss Most of Them
Tech writer Nolen Jonker cancelled every app subscription under $10, saving roughly $780 over the past year. He discovered that dozens of low‑cost SaaS fees quickly added up to over $100 per month, mainly for design, AI, and productivity tools....
60/20/20 Beats Traditional 60/40 with Gold, International
It has been my thesis for the past 5 years that the “new” 60/40 is more like a 60/20/20. To illustrate this the chart below shows that a hypothetical 60/20/20 portfolio, allocated as noted in the chart, could have sharply...
This Is an 'Overlooked Tax Break' For Retirement Savers — and Many Couples Miss It, Advisor Says
A spousal IRA lets a non‑earning spouse open a Roth or traditional IRA, effectively doubling a single‑income household’s tax‑advantaged retirement space. For 2025 the contribution limit is $7,000 plus a $1,000 catch‑up for those 50+, with a hard deadline of...
Zephyr's Adjusted for Risk: A New Era of Annuities - Insights From David Lau
On Zephyr’s Adjusted for Risk podcast, David Lau, founder and CEO of DPL Financial Partners, outlined how commission‑free annuities are reshaping retirement planning. He highlighted the proliferation of more than 100 low‑cost, fee‑only annuity products that address the growing income...
Prioritize Sustainable Returns Over Maximum Short-Term Gains
Instead of asking: "How can I earn the highest return possible?" Investors should ask: "What are the highest returns I can sustain for the LONGEST period of time without going bust." This changes entirely how you invest.
Step‑up Basis Wipes Out Taxes on Inherited Gains
Step up in basis is one of the most powerful tax provisions and can wipe out a lot of taxes. Say your dad bought $200k of stocks in a brokerage account that are now worth $2M. He passes them down to you...
65 or Older? These 5 Tax Breaks Could Lower Your Taxes This Year
Turning 65 unlocks several tax advantages that can materially lower a senior's federal liability. For 2025 returns, taxpayers 65+ receive an extra $2,000 standard deduction and a temporary senior bonus deduction of up to $6,000 per individual. Additional savings stem...
Anxious About Finances During Global Upheaval? Here’s What You Can Control
Canadian households are being urged to reinforce financial resilience as geopolitical tensions drive up gas, grocery and insurance costs. The article stresses that solid budgeting habits, accessible savings, and disciplined debt management are essential foundations during global upheaval. It recommends...
5 No-Load Mutual Funds With Strong Returns to Watch for 2026
Zacks Investment Research highlights five no‑load mutual funds that combine strong three‑ and five‑year returns with low expense ratios, positioning them as attractive options amid heightened market volatility driven by geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns. The funds—spanning precious metals, semiconductors,...
Hold ISOs 1‑Year/2‑Year for Capital Gains
ISOs are attractive because, under the right conditions, gains from their exercise and sale can qualify for long-term capital gains treatment. However, to receive this preferential tax treatment, employees must wait to sell the employer stock until at least one...
Steady Boring Business Beats Chasing Quick‑rich Trends
Have a lot of friends who hopped around to get rich quick Tech during the run up, private credit All late, pretty much none of their equity ever materialized Better to just run a business in a boring field where you’ll get rich...
6 Best Stock Trading Apps for Beginners
The article ranks six stock‑trading apps tailored for beginners in the UAE, including Sarwa, eToro, Interactive Brokers, Saxo Bank, Emirates NBD Securities, and ADCB Securities. It highlights each platform’s standout features such as fractional share purchasing, commission‑free trades, demo accounts,...
Stay Calm in Volatile Markets with Proven Habits
The best investors stay calm when markets are volatile, and these financial habits can help you stay the course. https://t.co/hO1oDA3Gyi
Switching to Cost Plus Drugs Saves $800 Annually
My wife just moved a prescription to @mcuban @costplusdrugs and will save $800 a year over CVS/Target. That’s real money.
Small Investors Should Use Tax Wrappers for Yext Tender
$YEXT spread for an odd lot tender at low end of Dutch Auction range is now ~$50 on ~$520 deployed for ~10 day capital lock-up. This is the stuff small investors should locate within tax wrappers to maximize after tax...
Bilt's Simple Redemption Turns 30¢ Into $1
The Best Bilt Cash Redemption Is The Most Boring — But It Turns 30 Cents Into A Dollar - View from the Wing https://t.co/z6kxNi1nO9