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.
Managing Your Retirement Plan Through the Market Turmoil
Jeffrey Snyder of Broadcast Retirement Network interviewed CFA Edward McIlveen of Francis LLC about navigating retirement portfolios amid recent market turbulence. McIlveen urged investors approaching retirement to stay the course, suggesting modest tilts toward international and emerging‑market equities rather than a defensive shift. He highlighted the importance of adding inflation‑sensitive components such as commodities, TIPS, and emerging‑market debt to traditional 60‑40 or 70‑30 mixes. Historical evidence shows markets typically rebound within a year after geopolitical shocks, reinforcing a long‑term perspective.
Even Millionaires Face Bank Upsell Tactics
A millionaire walked into her bank to renew a fixed deposit. Simple transaction. In and out. But the relationship manager had other plans. "Before we process that renewal, let me show you something better."
Building a 15‑stock All‑Weather Portfolio to Beat S&P
If I’m being honest I’m thinking of putting together 15 instruments and treating it like the Ray Dalio all weather strat Never holding more than 15 instruments at any given time Only buying shares no options And attempting to beat the...
MrBeast Is Gamifying Finances for Teens. Will This Help the Next Generation Become Homeowners Faster?
Beast Industries, the company behind YouTube star MrBeast, has acquired the teen‑focused finance app Step, turning it into a gamified platform that teaches credit building, savings and micro‑investing. The app leverages game mechanics—streaks, rewards and trivia—to make personal finance feel...
Down Payment Could Outgrow House: Consider Opportunity Cost
If you bought to buy a $1 million house and put 20% down, your down payment alone would be worth ~$1.6 million in 30 years if invested in the stock market (Yes, accounts for inflation) Always factor in the opportunity cost of...
Automate Small Paycheck Investments for Long-Term Growth
Every time you get paid, take a specific amount ($10, $20, $100, etc) and invest it. Don't know what to buy? Start with simple index funds, like VOO or VTI. Ideally, you should invest before your paycheck even hits (e.g 401k) Automate the...
The Last Hitch 5 Financial Moves Every Mariner Should Make Before Going Shoreside
The article outlines five essential financial actions mariners should take before their final sea assignment ends. It stresses locking in pension choices, de‑risking investment portfolios, leveraging high‑income years for tax planning, establishing a liquid transition fund, and redefining income streams...
Lifestyle Creep Traps You in a Rigid Life
A great life on paper but no optionality? That is exactly what lifestyle creep will do to you.
#696: Q&A: Should Your Emergency Fund Be Invested?
In this episode, Paula Pant and former financial planner Joe Salcihai answer a listener’s question about the optimal size and placement of an emergency fund. They explain that the right fund size depends on personal risk tolerance and capacity, such...
Reframe Retirement Risk: Balance Overspending and Underspending
Pivoting to a more accurate "probability of adjustment" framing, there is a simpler way to talk about "retirement income risk" that relies on the concepts of overspending and underspending. https://t.co/MEL3idSI4O This can help both advicer and client better understand the trade-offs...
How Online Side Hustles Helped Me Pay Off $60K in Debt in 1 Year — Without a Single Social Media...
An entrepreneur eliminated $60,000 of personal debt in one year by relying solely on online side hustles, without building a social media following. The strategy combined traditional freelancing—admin, digital support, and operations work—with tech‑focused user‑generated content (UGC) for brands. By...
Choose the Right Budget Tool to Stop Money Leaks
YNAB or Monarch? 🤔 Which one will actually help YOU stop the money leak? On March 23rd at 6 PM ET, Lindsey and I are diving into the real-world pros and cons of these budgeting powerhouses. What you’ll get: ✅ A live demo...
What Are ‘Deprivation of Assets’ Care Cost Rules? – and How to Stick to Them
Deprivation of assets rules target individuals who transfer wealth to avoid paying care fees. Local authorities evaluate whether the donor could foresee needing care and whether avoiding charges was a significant motive, disregarding the traditional seven‑year inheritance tax window. If...
Higher Income Won’t Save You Without Money Management
Yes... earning more can help. But I’ve also seen plenty of people making six figures who still feel broke every month. Why? Because income by itself doesn’t fix money habits. If there’s no plan for your money, a bigger paycheck usually just means...
Even Small Salaries Can Kickstart Investing Today
Your salary is not too small to invest. The habit of investing is built on small salaries; not big ones. - Pay yourself first, before anything else (10%) - Start with as little as ₦1,000 (Cowrywise, PiggyVest and Risevest) - Cut one unnecessary expense...
Trade Alert: More Defense
The author recommends adding a defensive real‑estate investment trust (REIT) to offset the volatility caused by AI hype and geopolitical tensions. The focus is on Rexford Industrial (REXR), which the writer revisited after a May analysis. REXR is positioned to...
Invest $288 per Paycheck, Retire with $2M Tax‑free
If you... - Put $288 per paycheck in a Roth IRA - Invest in low cost ETFs - Starting at age 30 - Until retirement You'll only pay $263k. But you'll EARN $2,032,680 (tax free). Here's exactly how it works:
Balance Debt Repayment and Investing to Avoid Future Harm
Both paying off debt and investing are important, but you don't want one goal to end up hurting you down the line.
63 Delightful Things to Buy With Your Leftover FSA Funds
The article reminds readers that the 2025 Flexible Spending Account deadline is March 15, after which unused pretax dollars are forfeited. It offers a curated list of 63 FSA‑eligible products, spanning everyday medical supplies, skincare, oral care, and high‑tech wellness gadgets....
Earn More, Spend Intentionally to Avoid Lifestyle Drift
A big income jump doesn’t automatically create financial progress. One person I spoke with is jumping from six to seven figures in one year. Lifestyle should grow as your life grows. But it should be intentional. Without a plan, spending quietly expands alongside...
Retirement Savings by State – 2026 Study
SmartAsset’s 2026 study ranks 40 states by median retirement savings in tax‑advantaged accounts. Massachusetts tops the list with $150,000 median savings and a 74.8% account‑holding rate, while Mississippi sits at the bottom with $35,000 and only 41.8% participation. Maryland leads...
What Happens to a Home Equity Loan on Inherited Property?
An inherited property that carries a home‑equity loan does not erase the debt; the loan can be assumed by a family heir or must be settled by the estate for non‑family successors. Federal rules, including the Garn‑St. Germain Act and the...
Skip Netflix: 5 Videos, 3 Hours, Smarter Investing
Skip Netflix tonight, instead watch these 5 videos and become a better investor in 3 hours. You’ll learn the fundamentals of economics, investing, and assets like gold, bitcoin, and stocks, taught by some of the greatest investors of all time.
How to Fund Apple Cash and Maximize Apple Card 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...
Oregon Man Won $5K a Week for Life From PCH — They Went Bankrupt and His Income Vanished. How to...
John Wyllie, a 61‑year‑old Oregon resident, won a $5,000‑per‑week lifetime annuity from Publishers Clearing House in 2012, receiving $260,000 annually. In 2025 PCH filed for bankruptcy, abruptly stopping the payments and leaving Wyllie and at least nine other winners unpaid....
Obsessed With Rate Moves? This Financial CEO Explains How to Focus Less on the Fed
A financial‑services CEO urges Americans to stop chasing Fed rate forecasts and instead build cash plans anchored in current needs. He argues that despite rates stabilizing, lingering fear from the 2025 surge is causing delays in home purchases, borrowing and...
10 Books Dave Ramsey Recommends Again and Again
Dave Ramsey, a leading personal‑finance voice, repeatedly recommends ten core books that shape his teachings on money, leadership, and personal growth. The list spans classics like Dale Carnegie’s *How to Win Friends and Influence People* and Jim Collins’s *Good to...
Skip a Meal, Buy Silver, Advises Robert Kiyosaki; Predicts Biggest Market Crash Is Arriving Now
Robert Kiyosaki is urging anyone to start investing in silver with as little as $10, framing the purchase as a practical lesson in money management. He couples this advice with a stark warning that a massive stock‑market crash is imminent,...
How to Invest: What Are the Risks of Leaving Your Money on Deposit?
Irish household wealth has hit a record €724,000 per family, yet 38 percent of assets sit in low‑yield deposits. The Central Bank reports Ireland has one of the lowest investment participation rates in Europe, with only about 2.3 percent in equities and...
Have Your Finances Stalled? Use These Three Ways to Break Through
Financial growth often stalls when individuals rely on endless hustle, fear perceived costs of advancement, or chase short‑term gains. Paridhi Jain outlines three mental traps—overworking, cost anxiety, and short‑term focus—and offers practical steps to replace effort with systematic savings, challenge...
Simple Money Lessons Kids Can Learn From Everyday Banking Tasks
Parents can turn everyday banking activities into practical financial lessons for children, turning routine tasks like deposits and bill payments into teachable moments. By showing kids how money moves in digital apps, explaining needs versus wants, and setting up goal‑specific...
Retirees: Beware Social Security Scam Threats
Social Security is a key part of many retirees’ financial plans. If that’s you, make sure you’re not overlooking a potential danger: scams. https://t.co/tfaNsH0Nih
3 Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Rule Changes Retirees Must Know in 2026
The SECURE 1.0 and SECURE 2.0 Acts have pushed the required minimum distribution (RMD) start age from 70½ to as high as 75 for retirees born in 1960 or later, effective 2026. The SECURE 2.0 legislation also eliminates RMDs for Roth 401(k) and...
We Need to Talk About Your Retirement ‘Spending’
Christine Benz warns that many retirees underspend, leaving sizable balances that often become inheritances. Morningstar research shows a 3.9% initial withdrawal on a $1 million portfolio can leave a median of $2 million after 30 years, especially with equity‑heavy allocations. She argues...
Screen Out 95% of Stocks with Six Simple Metrics
Use these criteria to eliminate 95% of stocks: Revenue growth 12% Shares outstanding <2% Net debt to FCF below 5x Free cash flow growth +15% Return on Invested capital +15% Earnings per share growth +15%
Smooth RMD Withdrawals with Rolling Three‑Year Averages
Modified RMD: Utilizing Rolling Three-Year Averages To Reduce Volatility ➡️In our modified RMD approach, the average of the last three years of portfolio values is used to calculate the withdrawal, rather than the value on a single (arbitrary) day. The total...
War, Market Volatility and $100 Oil: Is Now the Right Time to Buy Energy Stocks and ETFs?
The war with Iran has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, cutting roughly 20% of daily global oil shipments and pushing Brent crude to $105 per barrel, its highest level since July 2022. The supply squeeze lifted gasoline...
Buy the Dip: Invest More as Markets Fall
You can't pick a stock market bottom, you can only pick a stock market discount. The strategy for investing is simple: 1. Always stay invested at an asset allocation 2. If the stock market falls 25%/50%/75%, invest 25% of the allocation not...
Instant Pay Can Boost Low-Income Workers’ Savings Habits, Report Finds
A new study by KAIST and George Washington University finds that modest, consistent use of earned‑wage access (EWA) lifts low‑income workers' savings frequency by 3.7%, boosts financial‑dashboard monitoring by 12%, and raises goal‑setting by 1.3%. The research, based on transaction...
Why You Should Factor Property Taxes Into Your Long Term Budget Plan
Homebuyers often focus on purchase price and mortgage rates, but property taxes represent a variable, recurring expense that can significantly affect cash flow. Because taxes are tied to assessed values and municipal budgets, they can rise unexpectedly, altering the total...
How to Remove Someone From a Mortgage | No Refinancing
The article explains that a co‑borrower can be removed from a mortgage without refinancing, though this route is uncommon. It outlines five alternatives—mortgage assumption, court‑ordered removal, lender release, bankruptcy, and quitclaim deed—detailing their requirements, benefits, and drawbacks. Cost analysis shows...
These 4 Tips Are Essential for Any Retiree Who Wants to Travel
Retirees can stretch their travel budgets by timing trips, swapping homes, and using rewards. Traveling in off‑peak seasons reduces airfare and lodging expenses, while home‑exchange or housesitting eliminates accommodation costs. Credit‑card points and airline loyalty programs further offset travel spend,...
Turn ₦10k Into a Wealth Habit Blueprint
₦10,000 won't make you rich overnight. But how you handle ₦10,000 is exactly how you will handle ₦10,000,000. Here is exactly how to invest your first ₦10,000 wisely: PUT ₦5,000 IN A MONEY MARKET FUND (Cowrywise or PiggyVest, 15-18% AR) LOCK ₦3,000 IN A FIXED SAVINGS...
The Best Defensive Strategies: Two Centuries of Evidence
The paper extends defensive‑strategy testing back to 1800, revealing that systematic trend‑following and a revised defensive‑absolute‑return overlay (DAR4020) consistently protect a 60/40 portfolio during its worst months. Traditional safe‑haven assets such as gold and continuously‑bought equity puts underperform or erode...
Half of Households Lack 3‑Month Emergency Cushion
How much cash should you have on hand? Tarun Ramadorai says enough emergency savings to cover three months of expenses. The reality is nearly half of households don’t have that cushion— it’s often because the system itself makes building that...
Switch to EV, Save $31,500 Over 15 Years
Good time to replace your gasoline car with a battery-electric car and save $31,500 in fuel cost over 15 years: = 15,000 mi/y x 15 y x ($5/gal-gas - $0.8/gal-equivalent-electricity) / 30 mi/gal = $31,500 Gasoline prices could reach $5 a...
Can My Wife Switch to My Social Security Benefits if She’s Born After 1954? I Receive a Lot More than...
The Social Security Administration separates spousal benefits (up to 50 % of a worker’s primary insurance amount) from survivor benefits (up to 100 % of the deceased spouse’s benefit). A 2015 amendment introduced the “deemed filing” rule for anyone born in 1954...
Buy These 3 Top-Ranked Balanced Mutual Funds for Mitigating Risk
Balanced mutual funds combine equities and bonds to lower volatility while delivering higher returns than pure fixed‑income products. Zacks Investment Research has identified three top‑ranked funds—Davis Appreciation and Income Fund (RPFCX), Fidelity Balanced Fund (FBALX), and State Farm Balanced Fund...
How to Calculate Mortgage Payments: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
The article provides a step‑by‑step guide to calculating mortgage payments, breaking down the PITI components and presenting the standard fixed‑rate formula. It walks readers through a detailed 30‑year, $320,000 loan example, showing how interest rate and term affect monthly obligations....
Effortless Onemain Financial Payment Options: Manage Your Loan Online
OneMain Financial now offers a suite of digital tools that let borrowers pay, track, and manage their personal loans entirely online. Customers can choose from several disbursement methods, including a SpeedFunds® debit card that delivers funds within an hour, ACH...