The First 5 Years After a Salary Jump: How to Handle a Pay Raise Without Buying a Life You Can't...
A salary raise often triggers lifestyle inflation, eroding the potential boost to net worth. Psychological factors like hedonic adaptation and social comparison lead many to upgrade spending before solidifying savings. The article advises automating at least half of any raise into retirement, brokerage, or emergency funds and adjusting budgets, tax withholdings, and credit limits accordingly. Real‑world examples show that disciplined contributors grow wealth, while unchecked spenders see savings rates fall despite higher pay.
5 Money Moves that Made This 32-Year-Old Dad a Millionaire in Just 9 Year...
Blake Edwards and his wife turned a modest $60,000 salary into a $1 million net worth in just nine years. Despite a career shift to a $19,000 teaching salary, a pandemic, and two children, they followed five disciplined financial moves that...
Got a Bonus at Work? Here’s What to Do First
The article outlines a step‑by‑step approach for handling work bonuses, urging readers to first eliminate high‑interest debt, then bolster emergency savings, followed by self‑investment, and finally a modest splurge. Financial experts recommend a 50/30/20 allocation—50% to savings or investments, 30%...
Some Companies Are Pausing 401(k) Matches in 2026: What It Means for Your Taxes and Retirement Savings
Employer-sponsored 401(k) matches, averaging 4.6% of pay, are being paused or reduced by firms such as TTEC and previously Sherwin‑Williams as they trim benefits costs. The loss of a typical $3,450 annual match for a $75,000 earner can erode retirement...
Ask an Advisor: We Earn $350K+ and Can't Contribute to a Roth IRA. Can We Still Do Roth Conversions Now?
High‑income earners over the Roth IRA contribution limit can still benefit from Roth conversions. There is no income ceiling on moving funds from traditional IRAs or 401(k)s into a Roth, but the converted amount is taxed as ordinary income in...
EPF Rolls Out I-Legasi and I-Emas Initiatives for Retirement Income Planning
Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund (EPF) launched three new retirement tools – i‑Legasi, i‑Emas and a Retirement Goal Calculator – via its KWSP i‑Akaun app. i‑Legasi lets members transfer excess savings to spouses or children once they reach withdrawal age, while...
The Checklist that Proves You’re Ready to Retire
Australian retirees are urged to follow a multi‑step checklist that blends personal identity work with rigorous financial testing. Experts from Aware Super and JBS Financial Strategists recommend visualising a post‑work lifestyle, considering phased‑down or part‑time work to capture the government Work...
Your Parents’ Rules for Getting Rich Don’t Work Anymore, Mrs. Dow Jones Says — but This Does
Haley Sacks, known as Mrs. Dow Jones, argues that traditional wealth‑building rules—like buying a home early, maxing out 401(k) contributions, and relying on a single employer—are losing relevance in today’s gig‑driven, high‑inflation economy. In her new book "Future Rich Person,"...
This Inflation-Fighting ETF Is Right for These Times
Inflation pressures and soaring energy prices have revived interest in Treasury Inflation‑Protected Securities (TIPS), but the WisdomTree Inflation Plus Fund (WTIP) distinguishes itself by pairing TIPS with commodities. The ETF has surged 19.07% year‑to‑date, dwarfing the 1.26% gain of the...
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO): The Smartest Investment You Can Make Today
Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is being pitched as a timely buy amid heightened market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. The fund tracks the S&P 500, offering exposure to over 500 large‑cap U.S. companies with an ultra‑low 0.03% expense ratio. At $677.23 per...
Recentering Clients when the World Screams at Them to “Keep up with the Joneses”
Senior Wealth Advisor Laurel Marie Hickey of iii Global Wealth explains how social‑media pressure drives clients to chase lifestyle upgrades, creating financial stress and frequent plan revisions. She emphasizes starting conversations with empathy, recognizing emotional cues before diving into numbers....
College Admissions Are Confusing. The Right Mix of People and AI Can Help
The federal student‑aid system is undergoing its biggest overhaul in decades, introducing new borrowing caps, ending Grad PLUS loans and tightening Pell Grant eligibility. High‑school counselors, already stretched with an average 372‑to‑1 student ratio, cannot fully translate these changes, leaving...
I’m a Retirement Planner: 3 Categories Wealthy Retirees Spend the Most on During Year One
Wealthy retirees often overlook the biggest first‑year expenses, with healthcare and housing topping the list. Research shows 76% of Americans underestimate retirement health costs, even though Medicare Advantage can provide free preventive care, dental and vision benefits. Housing costs persist...
My Retirement Fund Is Like an AI Version of Me. It Keeps Working when I’m...
A retired reader describes building an AI‑like “Marathon Man” that works for his retirement, noting that his household earned $195,000 annually and has already amassed 22 times that amount, aiming for 30–32 times before his wife’s retirement. He highlights a tax‑efficient mix...
5 Do's and Don'ts for a Successful First Meeting With Your Financial Adviser
Preparing for a first meeting with a financial adviser is crucial for effective guidance. Clients should gather key documents such as tax returns, statements, and income‑expense details, and conduct background checks via FINRA’s BrokerCheck and firm websites. During the interview,...
How to Unlock the Value of Your Employee Stock Options (and Help Avoid Taking a Financial Hit)
Employee stock options give private‑company executives the right to buy shares at a fixed strike price, turning compensation into a potential wealth‑building asset. Timing the exercise—favoring low‑strike, near‑expiry grants—can protect against downside while preserving upside. Tax treatment varies dramatically: Incentive...
When Data Tells an Impactful Story: Standard Bank's Money Reels Earns Top Industry Honour
Standard Bank introduced Money Reels, a personalized year‑end video recap that turns each customer’s financial activity into a short, mobile‑first story. The feature sparked a social‑media buzz and saw 450,000 customers engage, with an 80% completion rate. It also drove...
What Is the Saskatchewan Pension Plan?
The Saskatchewan Pension Plan (SPP), launched in 1986, has become Canada’s 21st‑largest defined‑contribution pension with about $800 million CAD (≈$580 million USD) in assets and over 33,000 members. In 2023 the plan removed its annual contribution cap, letting participants contribute up to...
Feeling the Pinch? Here Are some Ways to Find Savings – and Even Fight Inflation
Australian households are feeling the squeeze as the Reserve Bank of Australia has hiked interest rates three times this year, undoing last year’s cuts. Inflation, already volatile after pandemic‑era easing, has surged again due to higher fuel prices and global...
Thais Urged to Move Into Japanese Stocks
Principal Asset Management Thailand is urging investors to increase exposure to Japanese equities, citing a rare blend of structural reforms, the end of decades‑long deflation, and a new stimulus agenda dubbed “Sanaenomics.” The firm highlights stronger corporate governance, rising pricing...
Before You Claim Social Security at 67, Ask These 3 Questions
The article advises retirees to pause before claiming Social Security at age 67 and to answer three critical questions about cash needs, expected longevity, and spousal considerations. It explains that waiting until the full retirement age of 67 secures the...
We Thought Our Friends of 30 Years Were in the Same Financial Boat We Were. We Couldn’t Have Been More...
Ilyce Glink advises a long‑time friend group after one couple, Jay and Lea, revealed they can retire at 60 and buy a beachfront condo thanks to multi‑million‑dollar family wealth. Their friends, especially Rob, feel betrayed, assuming they shared the same...
I’m Getting My Parents’ Entire Estate for a Cruel Reason. I Can’t Have This on My Conscience.
Slate’s Pay Dirt column highlights a family where parents intend to leave their entire estate to the child with grandchildren, excluding the childless daughter who chose sterilization. The columnist advises the son to confront his parents, explain his intent to...
Hourly Workers Are Drowning in Liquidity Gaps, and FinTech Has a Lifeline
PYMNTS Intelligence’s Wage to Wallet Index reveals that hourly, Labor‑Economy workers face severe liquidity gaps, with nearly half missing or delaying bills as paychecks lag. The “liquidity tax” – overdraft and late‑fee costs – eats about 3.4% of their monthly...
Paltry S&P 500 Yield Makes This ETF Appealing
The benchmark S&P 500 ETF yields just 1.06%, the lowest in five decades, leaving income‑focused investors searching for alternatives. NEOS’s S&P 500 High Income ETF (SPYI) provides a 12.09% distribution rate, paid monthly, and manages about $9.44 billion in assets. Over the past...
The Most Common Tax Traps in Retirement — and How to Avoid Them
Retirees are increasingly worried about taxes, with 70% of surveyed Americans fearing higher bills as they shift from wages to portfolio withdrawals. Misunderstanding Social Security taxation can turn a sizable benefit into a hefty liability, as up to 85% of...
Ask an Advisor: Can I Retire at 62? I’m 60 With a Pension, $700K Annuity and $100K in Cash
A 60‑year‑old with a $1,300 monthly pension, a $711,000 annuity and $100,000 cash wonders if retiring at 62½ is feasible. Assuming a 4‑5% withdrawal rate, the annuity could add $28,000‑$36,000 of annual income, bringing total guaranteed cash flow to roughly...
‘I’m Not an Extravagant Spender’: I’m in My 70s with a $90,000 Income. Can I Afford My Dream Home with...
A 70‑year‑old retiree earning $90,000 annually wants to buy a dream home with a pool, preferring a cash purchase. The Moneyist advises that the size of the retiree’s investment portfolio, not just income, determines affordability, suggesting a target price of...
Garry Marr: Will Falling House Prices Delay Your Retirement?
Canadian home prices are slipping, with Toronto’s average selling price dropping 4.9% YoY to about $780,000 USD and Vancouver down nearly 7% in April. Nationwide, residential real estate value fell 0.2% to roughly $6.3 trillion USD, while total household net worth...
Why You Need to Start Your Social Security Claim 4 Months Early: 7 Steps to Prevent a Delay at the...
The article urges retirees to start their Social Security claim at least four months before benefits begin, treating the process as a logistical project rather than a simple decision. It outlines seven steps: set up and test online account access,...
3 Things That the Ultra-Rich Do to Protect Their Wealth That You Can Do, Too
The article argues that a simple estate plan isn’t enough to preserve wealth across generations. It outlines three practices used by ultra‑rich families—drafting a living family constitution, focusing on defensive tax strategies, and consolidating assets in shared structures—that can be...
The New Retirement Math: Is $465K Really ‘Rich’ Enough To Keep You in Your Home in Retirement?
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 30, 2026 to broaden access to individual retirement accounts for workers without a 401(k). The administration highlighted a $465,000 retirement target, based on a 25‑year‑old saving $165 a month, receiving a...
High Earners Who Choose Direct Energy Investing Can Reap Tax Advantages and Other Wins: Here's How
Direct oil and gas investing lets accredited high‑income investors tap tax incentives such as intangible drilling cost (IDC) deductions, 100% bonus depreciation on tangible assets, and depletion allowances. These deductions can be taken in the current year, reducing taxable income...
‘I Nearly Made a Major Misstep’: I Claimed My Social Security Benefits at 64 Instead of 70. Here’s Why.
A retiree chose to claim Social Security at age 64 rather than waiting until 70 after realizing his teenage daughter would receive two‑thirds of his benefit for five years. Incorporating that dependent benefit shifted his break‑even point from the low...
UK Savings: Six Traps to Avoid when You’re Finding a New Deal
Around £90 bn (~$115 bn) of UK fixed‑rate savings are set to mature between April and June, joining an estimated £329 bn (~$418 bn) in zero‑interest current accounts and £99 bn (~$126 bn) earning 1 % or less. The article flags six common traps—irregular contribution limits, temporary...
Poppi's Cofounder on Why She Put $5,000 in Each of Her Children's Investment Accounts
Poppi co‑founder Allison Ellsworth opened three Fidelity brokerage accounts, depositing $5,000 for each of her children aged four, seven and nine. The kids have already bought blue‑chip stocks such as Apple, Microsoft and even PepsiCo, and the accounts have lost...
Save Up to 50% Off Amazon Purchases by Redeeming Just a Few Credit Card Points
Amazon is rolling out targeted credit‑card promotions that let select Amex and Discover cardholders slash purchases by up to 50 percent. Amex members can redeem a single Membership Rewards point—at least 429 points, roughly $3—to receive as much as $80...
Top Wall Street Analysts Recommend These 3 Dividend Stocks for Stable Income
Wall Street’s top analysts highlighted three dividend‑paying stocks—Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP), Diamondback Energy (FANG) and Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)—as reliable income sources. BIP announced a 46‑cent quarterly distribution, a 6% YoY increase, and a 5% yield, while maintaining a buy...
My Beloved Husband Has Early-Stage Dementia. He Is 'Doing Well,' But How Do I Protect Our $1.6 Million Savings Right...
A 73‑year‑old woman faces early‑stage dementia in her husband and worries about protecting $1.6 million in savings. Experts recommend establishing an immediate durable power of attorney and updating healthcare directives, restructuring account ownership, and adding safeguards like trusted contacts. They also...
I'm a Financial Planner: This Is How the Tax Torpedo Targets Wealthy Retirees (and How You Can Step Out of...
The column warns that retirees with roughly $3 million in assets face a series of hidden taxes dubbed the “tax torpedo.” Using a case study of a couple with two‑thirds of their wealth in tax‑deferred accounts, it shows how required minimum...
Is This 1950s Investing Strategy Holding Your 2026 Portfolio Back?
Modern portfolio theory (MPT), introduced in the 1950s by Harry Markowitz, still underpins many 60/40 stock‑bond recommendations. The article highlights key flaws: bond allocations often lag inflation, international funds have underperformed the S&P 500, and the model assumes all investors are...
I'm a Financial Adviser: Are You a Woman Who Sees Financial Planning as Another Job You Don't Have Time For?...
The article urges women, who often juggle caregiving, careers, and household duties, to stop treating financial planning as an optional extra and to engage a financial adviser early. It highlights that many women delay creating a financial roadmap, leading to...
Buying a Commercial Rental Property for Income vs Investing in REITs
Direct ownership of commercial real estate has long been viewed as a reliable income source in India, but investors are increasingly turning to REITs for greater efficiency. The article contrasts the two approaches, noting that REITs require lower capital, offer...
The Best Budgeting Tips Are Available on Wealth Start Today
Wealth Start Today launched a comprehensive budgeting guide that walks users through foundational techniques such as the 50/30/20 rule, expense tracking, emergency‑fund building, and automation of savings. The resource emphasizes defining personal financial "why" and provides downloadable templates and step‑by‑step...
2026 Market Turmoil? These 10 Classic Investing Rules Still Hold the Key
Veteran strategist Bob Farrell’s ten classic investing rules are revisited as a guide for navigating the 2026 market turbulence marked by geopolitical tension, soaring oil prices, and AI‑driven rallies. The article argues that despite algorithmic trading and real‑time data, human...
Mother’s Day: What Multi-Cap Investing Borrows From a Mother’s Wisdom
The article likens multi‑cap investing to a mother’s balanced budgeting, emphasizing a single fund that spreads assets across large, mid and small‑cap stocks. By mandating at least 25% allocation to each market‑capitalisation tier, multi‑cap funds aim to deliver true diversification...
Teach Gen Z the Power of Money
Financial journalist Salve Ibañez uses her Mother’s Day essay to argue that teaching Filipino Gen Z about money requires a values‑first approach. She highlights the generation’s 41 million size, their blend of idealism and pragmatism, and the failure of the old “save...
Just Graduated? Here’s Your Financial Cheat Sheet for Building Real Wealth.
MarketWatch’s Gen Z‑focused cheat sheet advises new graduates to treat their first paycheck like a strategic investment. It highlights that only 39 % of Gen Z feel financially secure, according to a 2026 Northwestern Mutual study, underscoring the urgency of disciplined money habits....
Can One Bad Week Ruin Your Retirement Savings? How About Three Bad Years?
A new MarketWatch column warns that early retirees who face a market slump and overspend can permanently diminish their nest egg. Research shows that a single bad week may not be catastrophic, but a prolonged downturn combined with high withdrawals...
The Smartest Dividend Stock to Buy With $100 Right Now
VICI Properties (NYSE: VICI) trades near $29 per share and offers a dividend yield above 6%, making it one of the few affordable REITs with high income potential. The company owns 61 gambling venues and 39 non‑gaming entertainment assets, maintaining...