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.
The SECURE 2.0 Act removed required minimum distributions (RMDs) from Roth 401(k) accounts, effective 2026. The change gives higher‑income workers greater control over retirement cash flow and forces advisors to revise long‑term income strategies.
A recent poll shows one in five Australians regret postponing private health insurance, citing cost‑saving shortcuts that could trigger a surge in future enrollment. The finding comes as households grapple with higher fuel, food and housing expenses, prompting insurers to...
The article provides a practical guide to the essential phone numbers for federal student loan borrowers, including the Federal Student Aid Information Center, Direct Loan Servicing Center, and Default Resolution Group. It explains how to locate your loan servicer via...
The article explains how the Credit for Other Dependents (ODC) and related tax provisions can lower the tax burden for caregivers of aging parents. The ODC offers a $500 non‑refundable credit for qualifying dependents, but eligibility hinges on support levels,...
The U.S. and Israel’s recent strike on Iran prompted Tehran to shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting roughly 20% of global oil shipments and pushing crude above $120 a barrel. Higher oil prices quickly feed inflation, lift mortgage rates and...
Retirees face rising costs as inflation outpaces many fixed‑income assumptions, even though Social Security’s cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) typically tracks overall price gains. The 2025 inflation rate of 2.6% led to a 2.8% COLA for 2026, but the CPI‑E, which weights...
Sunk cost fallacy has probably destroyed more portfolios than any bear market. "I can't sell now, I'm down too much." The market has no memory of your entry price. It doesn't know. It doesn't care.
The Internal Revenue Service has begun strict enforcement of the 10‑year withdrawal rule for inherited IRAs, requiring most non‑spouse beneficiaries to fully distribute the account within ten years of the original owner's death. The move compels millions of Americans to...
Retirees seeking low‑risk cash growth are urged to evaluate high‑yield savings accounts, money‑market accounts, standard CDs, and jumbo CDs. High‑yield online accounts can offer APYs that outpace inflation, while money‑market products add debit‑card access at a modest rate trade‑off. For...
The article examines whether constructing a dividend portfolio that delivers steady monthly cash flow is worthwhile. It outlines the psychological comfort of predictable income but warns that relying on REITs and income trusts can concentrate risk and limit growth. The...
Families caring for adult children with disabilities face a double‑layered retirement challenge: they must secure their own financial future while ensuring lifelong support for their dependents. With nearly one million U.S. households in this situation, advisors recommend special‑needs trusts, targeted...
The latest Dividend Growth Bi‑Weekly Chat highlighted a 7‑fund portfolio delivering a 9.42% trailing yield on cost and a 14.67% annualized return, beating the S&P 500 while exhibiting 20% lower volatility. It also examined the primary risk in Business Development Companies...
In this episode Clark Howard warns listeners that credit report errors are soaring, highlighting a ProPublica study that shows Equifax resolves about 62% of complaints, TransUnion about 33%, and Experian less than 1%. He advises consumers to regularly check their...
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Americans in their 40s and 50s hold an average FICO score in the low 700s, roughly matching the overall U.S. average of 715. Experian’s data shows scores climb steadily as borrowers age, reflecting longer payment histories and broader credit mixes....
The article explains how Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) in mutual funds can build long‑term wealth, emphasizing that time in the market beats timing. It highlights the power of compounding, rupee‑cost averaging, and financial discipline as core benefits. A SIP calculator...
Financial stress hits teens early, shaping confidence and future choices. A Harvard‑based study shows money habits form in childhood, making high school a pivotal moment for intervention. Today 35 of 50 states mandate personal‑finance courses, but effective programs must blend...
📌 Tax Harvesting Opportunity – Act Today Those who are planning to do tax harvesting, today is the perfect day to execute it. As the financial year ends on 31st March, from 1st April a new financial year begins. 👉...
What if there was an investment that was safer than crypto, easier than stocks, and more rewarding than your savings account? There is. It is called a MONEY MARKET FUND. There is no simpler, safer or smarter first investment than a Money Market...
UK savers must act before the 5 April Easter deadline to use the cash ISA allowance of £20,000 (≈ $25,600). Contributions hit a record £14 bn (≈ $17.9 bn) in April 2025, the highest monthly total since 1999. After this tax year the allowance drops to...
"When I was young, I read The Richest Man in Babylon, which said to under-spend your income and invest the difference. Lo and behold, I did this and it worked." — Charlie Munger https://t.co/dlvwys5Q0r
The MoneySense guide shows Canadians how to squeeze more value from credit‑card rewards without inflating spending. It advises matching card categories to personal purchase habits, consolidating to a primary high‑earn‑rate card, and using budgeting tools to stay on track. The...
Morgan Stanley’s wealth‑management arm cautions business owners that the real risk of a sale comes after the closing table. Citing a 2023 Exit Planning Institute study, the firm says 70% of sellers depend on the windfall for their post‑exit lifestyle...
Ireland’s finance minister Simon Harris unveiled a state‑backed savings and investment account that will eliminate capital gains tax for retail investors. Modeled on Sweden’s Investeringssparkonto, the scheme is slated for inclusion in the 2027 budget and could redirect €170 billion of...
You’re 45. You’ve saved $800K. You check a retirement calculator online and it tells you you’re on track. You feel good for about a week. Then someone asks you one question.
I never activated my HSA debit card and you shouldn’t either Pay all medical expenses with a credit card, then reimburse yourself from HSA via direct transfer to your bank. Bonus strategy: reimburse yourself in 20+ years (keep documentation) and invest HSA...
A Certified Financial Planner with 35 years of experience outlines five ways high‑net‑worth households manage money differently from middle‑class families. Wealthy families treat money as a productive tool, allocating capital across diverse assets rather than merely preserving it. They approach...
You’re 36, Tech Sales Director, Austin. $200k-$500k income. Married, 2 kids. $700k retirement, $300k brokerage, $50k cash. Your comp is highly variable. How much to you budget for expenses each year
If you haven't filed your 2025 taxes yet and you had a side hustle for the 2025 tax year You can still open a solo 401(k) for your side hustle and use this to get up to $70K into this plan....
Fidelity International unveiled a UK inheritance‑tax strategy that blends the £3,000 annual exemption with Junior ISAs, potentially delivering $140,000 per grandchild. The guidance has reignited a cross‑Atlantic conversation about the ideal age to inherit, highlighted by Kiplinger’s analysis of longer...
Things we do on Sundays to get our money right for the week: 1. Pay off credit cards from the prior week 2. Grocery shopping /meal planning 3. Review our joint checking account 4. Review sinking fund accounts 5. Plan for the week's...
Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund (GOF) now yields about 20.6% annualized, trading at $10.61 per share—a near‑zero discount to its $10.64 NAV. After five years of premiums that topped 36%, the premium has collapsed, offering investors a price‑aligned entry point. The...
UK energy experts say a two‑minute boiler tweak can cut gas bills by roughly £325 (about $406) a year. By lowering the boiler’s flow temperature to around 60 °C and enabling summer mode, households keep modern condensing boilers in their most...
The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) can theoretically turn a $10,000 investment into more than $1 million in 44 years if its 11.1% average annual return holds. The fund’s 2.55% dividend yield, low 0.35% expense ratio, and focus on...
Ed Slott, a leading IRA distribution specialist, outlines tax‑free retirement strategies centered on Roth IRA conversions while current tax rates are low. He emphasizes that 65 % of Americans feel their retirement savings are off track, with a median account balance...
Friendly Reminder: The average car payment is $749/mo. If you invest that money instead? You'll have: $142,789 in 10 years. $485,350 in 20 years. $1,311,510 in 30 years. That "new car smell" is your money on fire 🤣
I will become a millionaire before 30 by doing basic things: - don’t spend money on stupid stuff - max 401k, put it in S&P 500 fund - max Roth IRA - max HSA, invest it - every 2 weeks put money in brokerage invested...
Cohen & Steers REIT & Preferred & Income Fund (RNP) advertises an 8.3% distribution yield, but most of that payout stems from return of capital and capital gains rather than operating cash flow. The fund’s leverage sits near 29% of assets, and upcoming...
The Internal Revenue Service announced that Roth 401(k) accounts will no longer be subject to required minimum distributions, a change effective 2026 under the SECURE 2.0 Act. The move aligns Roth 401(k)s with Roth IRAs, giving high‑income workers a tax‑free growth...
The article argues that building wealth is never too late, whether you start at 35, 45, or 55, and outlines practical steps to catch up. It highlights how consistent investing, income growth, and automation can generate substantial retirement balances despite...
The article breaks down how patients can cut prescription costs amid a growing maze of discount options, from brand‑name sites like TrumpRx to coupon‑heavy platforms such as GoodRx and Cost Plus Drugs. It highlights the stark price gap between brand drugs—e.g., Protonix...
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A new National Institute on Retirement Security report reveals that married workers enjoy dramatically larger retirement balances and total assets than their single, divorced, widowed, or separated peers. Median retirement accounts sit at $20,000 for married employees versus $2,000 for...
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Investopedia evaluated nine solo 401(k) providers using 21 weighted criteria and ranked Fidelity as the best overall option for self‑employed investors. Charles Schwab earned the top spot for low‑fee transactions, while E*TRADE was highlighted for its extensive account features, including 401(k)...
Robert Kiyosaki warned on the *Iced Coffee Hour* podcast that U.S. baby boomers face a looming homelessness crisis driven by Federal Reserve‑induced inflation. He blames the Fed’s fiat‑money expansion for rising living costs, noting Social Security will only cover about...
President Donald Trump announced a plan to create a new retirement account that would give eligible workers a government match of up to $1,000 a year. The proposal, unveiled in the February 2026 State of the Union, aims to boost...
Aaron Laniewicz, a 40‑year‑old former Booz Allen Hamilton digital‑transformation consultant, has been searching for full‑time work for seven months after a layoff. He cashed out roughly $50,000 from his 401(k) and survived on a month of severance and limited unemployment...
Retirees with substantial real‑estate income often wonder if a 90% stock allocation is prudent. Financial planner Liz Weston advises maintaining some equity exposure for inflation protection but cautions against excessive concentration, recommending a balanced mix that includes bonds or annuities...
Target‑date mutual funds have become the default retirement vehicle for many U.S. workers, swelling to over $4 trillion in assets by 2024 after the 2006 Pension Protection Act encouraged automatic 401(k) enrollment. While marketed as a "set‑it‑and‑forget‑it" solution, these funds often...
Gen Z faces a steep learning curve as they transition into independent finances, often skipping budgeting, emergency savings, insurance, retirement contributions, and credit building. The article outlines five common pitfalls and offers concrete fixes, from the 50/30/20 budgeting rule to...
The UK state pension, currently £230.25 a week (about $292), can be reduced for people who were "contracted out" of SERPS or S2P via private or workplace pensions. Contracting out lowered National Insurance contributions, leaving many retirees with fewer qualifying...
State Street’s SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB) has earned a buy rating as its yield‑to‑maturity climbs to roughly 4.7%, outpacing money‑market and Treasury rates by about 1.1 percentage points. The fund offers low‑cost, diversified exposure to high‑grade U.S. investment‑grade...
