Homeownership Accelerates Generational Wealth
Homeownership timing has become a critical driver of wealth in the United States, with the median age of first‑time buyers climbing from 30 in 1990 to 40 in 2025 due to soaring prices and longer savings horizons. Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics shows that purchasing a home before age 30 yields roughly $119,000 more net worth by age 50 compared with buying in one’s 40s. Children raised in homeowner households are 18.4 percentage points more likely to own by age 35, reinforcing a cycle of intergenerational wealth. Racial gaps persist, as White homeownership stands at 75.1% versus 44.2% for Black households in 2025.
You May Still Be Able to Defer Your 2025 Capital Gains
Recent Treasury regulations cement Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) incentives as a permanent tax deferral tool, allowing any capital gain—except ordinary income—to be postponed by reinvesting within 180 days. For direct sales, the clock starts at closing, while partnership and S‑corp...
How Alternative Assets Are Reshaping the IRA: The Rise of Self-Directed Retirement Investing
A recent survey of over 6,000 IRA Financial clients shows self‑directed IRAs are gaining traction as investors seek alternative assets alongside traditional stocks and ETFs. Real estate tops the list at 58.5%, while crypto, private equity and precious metals also...
Implications of the Trump Retirement Accounts Proposal
President Trump’s proposed Trump Retirement Accounts (TRA) would offer a federal match up to $1,000 per worker, aiming to extend retirement savings to the 63 million Americans without employer plans. RAND modeling shows the program is deficit‑neutral after 23‑31 years if account...
Should You Pay Off a Personal Loan Early?
A bonus or tax refund often prompts Canadians to consider a lump‑sum payoff of a personal loan. Early repayment can reduce total interest and free up monthly cash, but the benefit depends on loan type, interest rate, remaining term, and...
Why SA Parents Are Changing How They Help Kids Buy Property
South Australian parents are moving away from cash gifts and increasingly using guarantor loans to help their children purchase homes. Rising property values have left many families with substantial home equity, which they now pledge as security rather than provide...
You Can't 'Borrow Your Way Out of Debt,' Expert Says — but More Consumers Are Trying
U.S. consumers are increasingly using balance‑transfer cards and personal loans to consolidate debt, a trend highlighted by record credit‑card balances of $1.28 trillion at the end of 2025. Personal loans carry an average rate of 12.26%, notably lower than the 19.58%...
Avant Card Review: A Credit-Building Card With No Security Deposit
Avant’s cash‑back credit card targets consumers who are building or rebuilding credit without requiring a security deposit. Applicants can pre‑qualify online, which does not impact their credit score, and the card reports to all three major bureaus. Rewards and the...
Inflation Has Broken the Steady 60/40 Portfolio. Bank of America Gives Other Ways to Diversify
Bank of America warns that the classic 60/40 portfolio is faltering in 2026 as inflation and stagflation push stocks and bonds into positive correlation, eroding the model’s defensive edge. The iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF has barely moved YTD...
‘I’m so Screwed’: How Can I Afford to Care for a Mom with Dementia and Se...
A 50‑year‑old caregiver in California faces mounting costs caring for a mother with dementia while funding a teenager’s college. The column highlights that caregivers are not legally required to pay out‑of‑pocket and urges early engagement with local Area Agencies on...
Aven Rewards Visa Card Review: Earn 3% Back on Purchases
The Aven Rewards Visa is a no‑annual‑fee cash‑back card that delivers 3% back on all purchases up to $10,000 of annual spend, then a flat 2% thereafter. Rewards are redeemable as statement credits or through Aven’s travel portal, but the...
The Big Money Changes Coming in April – Are You Ready?
A wave of fiscal adjustments hits the UK on 1 April, including roughly 5% council‑tax hikes, water‑bill increases of up to 13%, and a modest rise in the TV licence fee. The government‑mandated energy price cap will lower average household bills...
Where It’s Cheaper to Buy a Home than Rent – or Almost the Same Price
Research from Cotality shows that in several Australian metros, especially Melbourne’s city core, buying a unit can be cheaper than renting, with savings of up to $322 per fortnight. In Sydney’s western suburbs, the mortgage premium over rent is as...
The No. 1 Thing to Know Entering Retirement: How Much Are You Really Spending?
Federal employees planning retirement should first quantify their actual spending before tackling Social Security timing, health‑benefit choices, or annuity projections. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows seniors spend about $60,000 annually, often 20‑30% more than their rough estimates. Tracking every...
We're 62 and Plan to Sell Our $1.2 Million House to Retire, but Our Daughter and Grandkids Live With Us....
At age 62, a couple with $1.1 million savings and a $1.2 million home consider downsizing to fund retirement, but their daughter and two grandchildren currently live with them. Selling the house could generate roughly $500 k in equity, boosting their retirement portfolio...
Should Couple in Their 50s Who Want to Retire Tap Into RRSPs or Apply for CPP?
Timothy (57) and Margaret (53) aim to retire in two years with a combined after‑tax income target of $84,000. Their defined‑benefit pensions will deliver roughly $67,000 after tax until Timothy turns 65, leaving a shortfall that must be covered by...
This ‘Money-Saving Perk’ Sounds Too Good to Be True. It’s a Scam, Right?
The column tackles three personal finance dilemmas: why cash‑back rewards aren’t free money, how to split rent fairly when one partner supports a dependent, and whether beneficiaries can be added or changed without informing them. It explains that interchange fees...
Managing the Financial Dominoes of Special Needs Planning: A Practical Guide for Long-Term Security
Families of children with special needs face soaring care costs that can exceed $100,000 annually and outpace inflation, prompting a need for comprehensive financial planning. The article outlines how to estimate lifetime expenses, structure savings through special needs trusts, ABLE...
How to Create Breathing Room in Your Family Budget This Year
Families planning spring‑break trips are urged to audit their recurring phone and internet expenses before finalizing travel budgets. The article highlights that many households overlook wireless bills, which can be renegotiated or replaced with Verizon’s flexible myPlan, offering customizable lines,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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....
Americans Have Been Waiting 40 Years for This FSA Rule Change
The 2026 legislation permanently raises the dependent‑care flexible spending account (DC‑FSA) contribution limit from $5,000 to $7,500, the first increase since 1986. The change addresses the gap between outdated caps and today’s soaring child‑care expenses. Employers can choose to implement...
3 BNY Mellon Mutual Funds to Consider for Your Portfolio
BNY Mellon’s mutual‑fund arm recommends three actively managed funds that have earned Zacks’ #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) rankings. The Equity Income Fund posted a 20.5% three‑year return, the Developed Markets Real Estate Securities Fund returned 6.1% over the...
Best Money Market Account Rates Today, March 9, 2026 (Earn up to 4.01% APY)
Money‑market accounts are still delivering double‑digit yields, with TotalBank Online topping the list at 4.01% APY for balances of $2,500 or more. Several online banks and credit unions, including Quontic, Brilliant Bank and Northern Bank Direct, offer 4% APY, while...
Best High-Yield Savings Interest Rates Today, March 9, 2026 (Earn up to 4% APY)
High‑yield savings accounts are offering up to 4 % APY as of March 9, 2026, with SoFi and Valley Bank Direct leading the market. The Federal Reserve’s three rate cuts in 2025 have pushed overall deposit rates lower, making premium yields increasingly scarce....
Millions Turn to AI for Pension Planning
A wave of consumers is leveraging artificial‑intelligence platforms to design and monitor their retirement savings, with usage estimates reaching tens of millions worldwide. FinTech firms report a 40% year‑over‑year increase in AI‑driven pension queries, driven by user‑friendly chatbots and predictive...
Prosperity without Worries: Welcoming the Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year 2026 brings festive spending to the Philippines, but household debt has surged to $60.9 billion, pushing the debt‑to‑GDP ratio to 12.8%. Average credit‑card balances now sit at ₱54,000 across 20 million accounts, highlighting the risk of a debt trap....
The Real Reasons Many People Miss Out on Years of Investment Growth
The article explains how cognitive biases—analysis paralysis, loss aversion, and the sunk‑cost fallacy—keep investors on the sidelines, causing them to miss years of market growth. It highlights that waiting for perfect conditions or fearing short‑term losses forfeits the compounding power...
How Some Investors Use Gold to Protect Their Savings During Market Shocks
Retirees increasingly turn to gold to cushion their savings when equity markets tumble. While Social Security and pensions provide a baseline, many seniors need additional buffers against inflation and sudden corrections. Financial advisers typically suggest allocating 5%‑10% of a portfolio...
Boosting After-Tax Returns: An “All of the Above” Effort
The article argues that boosting after‑tax returns requires a holistic, "all‑of‑the‑above" strategy, not just higher pretax performance or lower tax bills. It highlights how high‑turnover, short‑term gains can erode gains with steep tax rates, while tax‑efficient assets and structures can...
Why Refinancing Your Mortgage Can Reshape Your Financial Strategy — Not Just Your Rate
Homeowners are drawn to refinancing mainly for lower rates, but the decision should also consider loan term adjustments, rate‑type switches, and equity extraction. A 0.75 percentage‑point rate cut can slash monthly payments, while moving from a 30‑year to a 15‑year...
Warren Buffett’s Lesson on How Much Cash You Should Really Keep in Retirement
Warren Buffett’s habit of holding billions in cash gave Berkshire Hathaway flexibility to seize opportunities and weather market drops. He stresses that a sizable cash reserve isn’t about hoarding wealth but about strategic liquidity. For retirees, the lesson translates into...