Should I Use My Home Equity to Buy My Next Rental Property? (Rookie Reply)
The episode advises investors to tap home equity through commercial lines of credit or second‑position loans rather than standard HELOCs, emphasizing rate differentials and ADS‑CR loan structures. It outlines the Burr strategy—buy, rehab, rent, repeat—as a way to recycle equity, but warns it requires below‑market deals and rehab expertise. Rent estimators like BiggerPockets and PropStream are useful starting points but need manual cross‑checks, especially in rural markets. Finally, it details a systematic hiring process for short‑term rental cleaners, stressing team size, software integration, and proper 1099 accounting.
The Inner Life of a Long-Term Investor
Vishal announces his new book, *The Long Game*, now available for pre‑order, featuring reflections from 30 seasoned long‑term investors. The book explores how self‑awareness, patience, and philosophical inquiry can help investors navigate market cycles and avoid emotional pitfalls. Pre‑orders start...
PSECU $300 New Checking Account Bonus (Updated 2026)
Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) is running a 2026 promotion that awards a $300 bonus to new checking account holders who meet specific criteria. Applicants must join the credit union (or its affiliated PRPS group) with a $10 fee,...
Stop Me Before I Open Another Account!
The article urges consumers to trim the growing tangle of credit‑card, bank, brokerage and retirement accounts that most Americans juggle. It highlights how the average U.S. adult now holds four credit cards and multiple savings, investment and inherited accounts, creating...
Don’t Give up on Your Part D Costs
The author recounts a recent struggle with Medicare Part D after a prescription fell off the plan’s formulary, raising the out‑of‑pocket cost from the expected $500 to nearly $600. By appealing the denial, the drug was reinstated on the formulary, the...
HEI Vs. HELOC Over 10 Years: Which Costs More?
The article compares home equity investments (HEIs) with traditional home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) over a ten‑year horizon, showing how each product’s cost structure reacts to home‑price appreciation. While a HELOC accrues interest on the borrowed balance, an HEI...
Budgeting For A Car Saving Money
Budgeting for a car requires a structured plan that goes beyond the purchase price. The guide emphasizes setting a clear, realistic savings goal, accounting for the full cost of ownership, and choosing between new and used vehicles. It recommends automating...
IRA Flat Tax Proposal
A proposal to replace the graduated tax on IRA withdrawals with a flat 6% rate has sparked a lively debate among retirees and advisors. Commentators argue the low flat rate could trigger a wave of large Roth conversions as individuals...
Bank of America Rewards: Higher Balance Requirements for Credit Card Boosts + New Monthly Credits (Effective May 2026)
Bank of America is rebranding its Preferred Rewards program as BofA Rewards on May 27, 2026, introducing new tier names and higher balance thresholds. The Premier tier now requires a $1 million combined balance to earn the top 75% credit‑card rewards...
IRS Says Average Tax Refunds Rise to $2,290; Higher than Last Year Due to Trump’s Tax Law
Early IRS data shows the average 2026 tax refund has risen to $2,290, an 11 % increase over the previous year. The surge is linked to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which introduced retroactive tax cuts and seven new deductions while withholding tables...
A Very Sensible Conclusion
The author admits that holding two individual stocks consumes disproportionate mental energy despite representing less than 0.1% of total wealth. He notes strong recent returns—55% and 35% over the past year—but recognizes that fear of missing out and loss aversion...
New York City Mayor Mamdani Eyes 9.5% Property Tax Hike that Could Affect Middle-Class Residents
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a $127 billion preliminary budget that includes a 9.5% property‑tax increase to address a projected $5.4 billion shortfall. The hike would affect over 3 million residential units and more than 100 000 commercial buildings and can be...
Single-Family Vs. Multifamily Rentals: Which Is the Best First Rental?
The BiggerPockets podcast dissected entry‑level rental strategies, recommending small multifamily (2‑4 units) for stronger cash flow but noting price constraints may make a quality single‑family more realistic. It outlined a transparent, data‑driven approach to raising an inherited tenant’s rent, emphasizing...
How To Teach Kids About Budgeting Money
JustStartInvesting’s guide breaks down twelve practical steps for teaching kids budgeting, beginning with simple money basics and the needs‑versus‑wants concept. It recommends using a regular allowance as a hands‑on budgeting tool, encouraging early saving, and creating clear spending categories. The...
The Really Long Game
Vishal Niveshak announces his new book *The Long Game*, now available for pre‑order with shipping slated for the end of February 2026. The work distills lessons from 30 seasoned investors on cultivating patience, resisting short‑term market noise, and building a...
More Mortgage Competition Could Mean Better Rates for Buyers
Federal regulators are considering easing mortgage‑related capital rules, which could entice large banks to re‑enter the mortgage market in force. After the 2008 crisis, banks’ share of origination fell from about 60% to 35% while non‑bank lenders filled the gap....
HSBC Premier Elite Card Review: 60,000 Points Signup Bonus and $495 Annual Fee
HSBC’s Premier Elite card carries a $495 annual fee and offers a 60,000‑point sign‑up bonus after $4,000 of spending in the first three months. Cardholders earn 5× points on all travel, 2× on dining and 1× on other purchases, plus...
How to Buy Five Short-Term Rentals in Five Years
The article outlines a five‑year roadmap to acquire five short‑term rentals without burning out or over‑leveraging. It frames the first Airbnb as tuition, emphasizing system building over profit maximization. In year two it recommends co‑hosting to generate cash flow without...
Why Thousands Are Flocking to North Carolina’s Explosive Real Estate and Job Market
North Carolina attracted 84,000 new residents from July 2024 to July 2025, making it the third‑fastest‑growing state and a magnet for millennials seeking tech and finance jobs. Lower housing costs—median $328,611 versus the national $355,328—combined with a diversified employment base are driving...
HEI for Condos and Multi-Family: Eligibility and Options
Home‑equity investment (HEI) products are now available to condo owners and 2‑4‑unit multi‑family homeowners, though eligibility varies by provider. Companies such as Point, Hometap, Unison, Unlock and Splitero accept these property types, typically requiring 25‑30% equity, owner‑occupancy and a stable...
HEI Impact on Home Lien: What Every Homeowner Must Know
Home‑equity investors (HEIs) place a junior lien on a homeowner’s title without becoming a co‑owner, leaving the primary mortgage as the senior claim. The lien is repaid when the property is sold, refinanced, or at the agreement’s maturity, rather than...
Games To Teach Budgeting Or Money Management For Adults
A growing number of board games and digital apps are being used to teach adults budgeting and money‑management skills. Titles like Monopoly, Cashflow, Payday and the Budget Challenge app let players experiment with cash flow, debt, savings and passive‑income concepts...
How a Low Cost of Living Provides Me with More Freedom
After divorcing, the author relocated from Pennsylvania to a medium‑sized Idaho town to benefit from a lower cost of living. The move cut commuting times, allowed her to work fewer hours, and gave her more time to support her son’s...
Your Due Diligence Checklist to Help Buy Your New Business
Buying a business without thorough due diligence can turn a promising investment into a costly liability. The article outlines a comprehensive checklist covering assets, employees, finances, legal matters, marketing, and operational structure to evaluate a target company. It emphasizes that...
Made Money Mistakes? Here’s How To Forgive Your Financial Past
The piece guides readers through forgiving past financial mistakes by reframing mindset and taking concrete actions. It outlines a six‑step process—naming the error, separating identity, stopping regret loops, acting immediately, practicing self‑compassion, and celebrating resilience. By converting guilt into growth,...
Investing Blog Roundup: Maximizing Spending in Retirement
Morningstar analyst Amy Arnott released research comparing retirement‑spending strategies, highlighting which approaches maximize total lifetime consumption. The study contrasts three objectives: maximizing overall spending, boosting early‑retirement outlays, and ensuring predictable cash flow. Findings suggest flexible withdrawal rules outperform static safe‑withdrawal...
15 Best Websites To Sell Old Stuff
The article lists the 15 top websites for selling used items, from broad marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace to niche platforms such as The RealReal and Ruby Lane. Each site is evaluated on its strengths—global reach, local convenience, specialty...
Trump Administration CFPB Pullback Cost Americans $19 Billion, Report Says
A Senate‑staff report estimates that the Trump administration’s scaling back of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cost U.S. consumers roughly $19 billion in lost relief. The agency’s enforcement slowdown, abandoned overdraft‑fee caps and a blocked credit‑card‑late‑fee rule account for the bulk...
35 Ways To Get $1000 Fast In 2026
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...
Keep It Simpler
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...
How To Make Money During School
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...
Retirement Tax Planning Is About Managing Tradeoffs, Not Following Rules
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,...
Frugal Living Tips For Beginners
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...
35 Frugal Living Ideas For 2026
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...
100 Frugal Wisdom Quotes
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....
Americans Now Have Much More Money in IRAs than 401(k)s. Why That Leaves Workers More Vulnerable.
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...
Why Buying Silver Bars Online Is a Smart Investment Choice
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...
Selling a House in Switzerland: The Complete Guide
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...
Switch to TurboTax & File All Forms Free by 2/28 Promotion (+ 10% Off for Previous Users)
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...
How to Do Your Taxes in 2026: A DIY Tax Filing Guide
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...
How to Pay Taxes with a Credit Card (and Profit) in 2026
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...
How ETFs, Open End Mutual Funds, and Closed End Funds Actually Trade
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...
Why the 4% Rule Is a Starting Point, Not a Plan
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...