These 7 Investment Behaviors Hurt Retirees the Most, But It's Not Too Late to Change Your Ways
Morningstar research shows retirees lose an average 1.2% of portfolio value each year due to behavioral mistakes, a drag that compounds quickly once withdrawals begin. The article outlines seven common habits—excess cash holdings, market timing, tax‑inefficient withdrawals, yield chasing, inconsistent rebalancing, over‑reacting to news, and failing to adjust strategy—that erode retirement security. It offers practical alternatives, such as defining cash purpose, staying invested, sequencing withdrawals tax‑efficiently, focusing on total return, and establishing a written investment policy. Implementing even a few of these changes can markedly improve long‑term outcomes.
How Can I Get the Bank to Take My Husband Off Our €120k Mortgage as Part of Our Divorce?
An Irish couple facing divorce can have the husband removed from their €120,000 (≈ $131,000) mortgage, but the process requires bank approval. The spouse seeking sole ownership must first obtain an approval‑in‑principle, demonstrating sufficient credit, income and ability to service the...
A Tax Guide for Canadians with Disabilities
Canada’s “disability tax” imposes significant costs on roughly 27% of the population, but a suite of federal and provincial credits can offset those expenses. The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) offers up to $7.5k USD for adults and $11.9k USD for children in...
Money Happens: Expert Tips for Managing Medical Debt
Jennifer Vall, a Minnesota health‑care specialist, faced $21,000 in medical debt after battling cancer herself and caring for her son’s leukemia. Despite a strong credit score, the ongoing bills forced her to enlist a debt‑management firm to negotiate repayment. Financial...
Chase Cashback Cards: Which One Should You Get?
Chase offers six cash‑back cards—three consumer and three small‑business—each with a $0 annual fee except the Ink Business Premier’s $195 fee. The consumer Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex provide $200 sign‑up bonuses and tiered earnings, while Freedom Rise targets beginners...
The 3 Bank Fees Retirees Pay Without Realizing — And How to Eliminate Every One
Retirees often overlook small bank fees that can erode their fixed incomes, with typical costs running a few hundred dollars each year. The three most common charges are monthly maintenance fees, overdraft or non‑sufficient‑funds (NSF) fees, and out‑of‑network ATM or...
7 Ways Retirees Can Save Money at Costco
Costco’s executive membership adds a $65 annual fee but returns 2% cash back on purchases, breaking even after $3,250 of annual spend. Retirees can also tap Costco’s lower‑priced pharmacy, travel bundles, gas stations, and in‑store hearing‑aid and eyeglass centers for...
‘Saver’s Paralysis’: Why Having Too Many Options Is Keeping You From Growing Your Wealth
The article warns that an abundance of savings and investment options can trigger "saver's paralysis," where consumers delay any allocation of funds. This inaction leaves money stuck in low‑yield checking accounts, eroding purchasing power as inflation bites. It stresses the...
Why Keeping More Than $250,000 in One Bank Account Could Put Your Money at Risk
Saving large cash balances in a single bank can expose more than $250,000 to uninsured risk. The FDIC and NCUA each insure deposits up to $250,000 per depositor per institution, and any amount above that is not protected if the...
5 Hidden Costs You Don't Think About When Buying A Used Car
Buying a used car often looks cheaper upfront, but hidden expenses can erode the savings. Financing a pre‑owned vehicle typically carries a 10.8% APR—about 4% higher than new‑car rates—adding thousands in interest over a standard loan. Buyers also face extra...
Does Your 401(k) Balance Beat the Average Millennial's?
Fidelity reports that the average 401(k) balance for millennials hit $80,700 in Q3 2025, outpacing Gen Z’s $17,000 but lagging far behind Gen X ($217,500) and Baby Boomers ($267,900). The data suggests many mid‑career millennials are not on track to meet the rule‑of‑thumb...
She Never Merged Finances with Her Husband and He's Been Accumulating Debt. Why Ramsey Says She Has No Right to...
Anne kept her finances completely separate from her husband for a decade, only to discover he carried an $18,000 Amex balance at 30% interest and a larger disability pension than she believed. Host Dave Ramsey argued she forfeited any right...
5 Surprise Costs to Expect When Relocating in Retirement
Retirees increasingly consider relocation for climate, cost of living, and lifestyle benefits, but the move can introduce unexpected expenses. New state or international taxes, higher Medicare Advantage premiums, and increased homeowners insurance can erode savings. Frequent travel back to family...
Become a ‘Lazy’ Millionaire: This One Habit Can Add a 20% Bonus to Your R...
After the S&P 500 recorded its best monthly gain since 2020, MarketWatch columnist Mark Hulbert reminded investors that the most reliable way to capture that upside is to ignore short‑term market noise. He argues that the single habit of avoiding...
‘They’ll Be Rich’: Trump Reveals How Americans Can Build a $465,000 Nest Egg on $165 a Month — with Help...
President Donald Trump announced an executive order to launch TrumpIRA.gov by Jan. 1, 2027, a federal portal that will compare low‑cost individual retirement accounts for workers lacking employer‑sponsored plans. The White House highlighted a scenario where a 25‑year‑old saving $165 a month...
Netflix’s 'Beef' Highlights a $5,000 Deductible — How to Handle Your Own Healthcare Costs
Netflix’s drama “Beef” uses a hospital scene to spotlight a $5,000 health‑insurance deductible, illustrating widespread confusion about cost sharing. A 2024 NAIC survey finds only one‑in‑four Gen Z adults can define a deductible, while KFF data shows 88% of workers now...
5 Money Lessons From People Caring for Their Elderly Parents
A recent New York Times piece gathers money lessons from Generation X caregivers handling elderly parents, highlighting the hidden costs of home repairs, health care, and long‑term housing. The article notes that roughly 11,400 Americans turn 65 each day, and many underestimate how...
Starting to Invest in Your 40s? Here’s What It Could Take to Catch Up
Investing in your 40s may feel late, but time remains a powerful ally when contributions are consistent. Most employers (over 80%) offer a 401(k) match averaging just under 5%, essentially free money that can boost early savings. A modest $50...
I’m a Retirement Expert Who Just Turned 65. Here’s the Advice I’m Actually Following
The author, a longtime retirement writer, turned 65 and shifted from theorizing to living retirement. He distills five durable lessons: keep portfolios simple with low‑cost ETFs and a trusted adviser, build risk capacity rather than just confidence, resist reacting to...
Best Money Market Account Rates Today, May 2, 2026 (Best Account Provides 4.01% APY)
Money market account (MMA) rates have rebounded, with the national average at 0.57% APY—up from 0.07% four years ago—while several banks now offer over 4% APY. TotalBank leads with a 4.01% APY, requiring a $2,500 balance, and Brilliant Bank follows...
To Love, Honor and to Pay: 4 Ways to Keep Wedding Costs From Ruining Wedded Bliss
Wedding expenses in the United States average roughly $36,000 and have been climbing as inflation pushes up vendor prices for flowers, food, and staffing. About 30‑40% of couples count on parental contributions, yet many now shoulder the full cost themselves....
New Free Financial Advice Plan Aims to Help Britons Build Savings
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has launched a regulated "targeted support" service that lets banks, building societies and platforms provide free, commission‑free investment suggestions to customers with cash savings. The scheme, aimed at the estimated 7 million adults holding £10,000 (≈ $12,500)...
Your Initial Savings of ₹20 per Day Can Help in Getting a ₹6 Lakh Monthly Pension. Here's How
A 30‑year‑old investor who saves roughly ₹20 a day and starts a ₹6,000 monthly equity SIP can amass about ₹9 crore (≈ $1.1 million) over 30 years by applying a 10% annual step‑up and assuming a 15% return. The corpus, invested in a systematic...
‘I’m Very Late to the Game’: I’m 48, Earn $65,000, Have $48,000 in Debt and No Retirement. Am I Doomed?
A 48‑year‑old wine director earning $65,000 annually faces $48,000 of mixed debt and no employer‑provided retirement plan. The writer lives rent‑free in a family‑owned home, giving a low cost of living but no savings or investments. Financial advice emphasizes eliminating...
How (and when) to Dispute a Credit Card Charge
The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) gives consumers the right to dispute unauthorized, incorrect, or undelivered credit‑card charges. Cardholders should first contact the merchant, but if the issue isn’t resolved they can file a dispute with the issuer, typically online,...
Who Pays Property Taxes on a Land Contract? Rules and Examples
Land contracts let buyers gain equitable ownership while the seller retains legal title, but property tax responsibilities usually fall on the buyer. The contract may dictate direct tax payments, seller‑collected payments, or an escrow arrangement, making precise language essential. Failure...
Markets Have Felt Shaky for Months, but the Returns Tell a Very Different Story
Despite months of headline volatility, federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) funds have posted solid gains this year. The C Fund swung from a 4.3% loss at the end of Q1 to a 4.5% gain by mid‑April, while the S Fund...
10 Best Low-Risk Investments in May 2026
Tom Lee told CNBC that easing geopolitical tensions, a softer private‑credit market and clearer Federal Reserve leadership are reducing risk, allowing the S&P 500 to target above 7,700. He highlighted AI‑driven productivity as a new engine for earnings growth in...
Good Financial Reads: The Business Owner’s Financial Operating System
The article guides small business owners through three critical financial pillars: selecting the optimal retirement plan—SEP IRA, Solo 401(k), or SIMPLE IRA—based on income, employee count, and growth goals; avoiding costly bookkeeping errors, especially the failure to reconcile bank accounts;...
Utility Bills Are Likely to Be Higher This Summer. Here’s What You Can Do.
The National Energy Assistance Directors Association forecasts an 8.5% rise in average U.S. electricity bills this summer, reaching $778 for the June‑September period. Southern states face steeper hikes, with Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas projected at $860 (13.5% increase) and...
3 Questions to Ask Before Raiding Your 401(k) for a Hardship Withdrawal
A record 6% of Vanguard‑administered 401(k) participants took hardship withdrawals in 2025, up from a pre‑COVID average of 2%. The 2022 law broadened qualifying emergencies to include domestic‑abuse victims, disaster losses and terminal illnesses, but withdrawals still incur ordinary income...
Ask the Tax Editor, May 1: 10-Year Rule for Inherited IRAs
The 2019 SECURE Act eliminated the lifetime stretch for most non‑spousal inherited IRAs, imposing a 10‑year distribution window. Beneficiaries must fully withdraw the account by the end of the tenth year, with annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) only if the...
‘We Are Old School’: I’ve Been Married for 40 Years. Should I Have Kept My Money Separate?
The Moneyist notes that joint accounts remain common but are declining, with 77% of married couples now sharing checking, savings and CD accounts versus 85% in 1996. Separate accounts have risen to 25% of couples, up from 15% three decades...
Did Andrew Make a Mistake in Preventing His Mom From Buying Annuities?
Andrew stopped his 64‑year‑old mother from moving $300,000 into a traditional annuity after learning the product’s drawbacks. The article outlines how annuities lock up capital, provide no inflation protection, and end income at death, while also noting research that guaranteed...
Forecasts Are Generally of No Use when It Comes to Achieving Better than Average Investment Results
Financial columnist Noah Solomon argues that, despite occasional accurate predictions, forecasts rarely add value for investors. He explains that consensus forecasts are right most of the time, so only non‑consensus predictions that also happen to be correct can generate outperformance,...
Is It More Efficient To Drive Your Truck With The Tailgate Open?
Recent analyses confirm that keeping a pickup truck's tailgate closed yields modest but measurable fuel savings. A Consumer Reports test showed a V8 Ram dropped from 22.3 mpg with the gate up to 21.5 mpg with it down, a roughly 4% loss....
Buy 2 North Square Mutual Funds for Balanced Returns
North Square Investments, a multi‑boutique asset‑management platform, recommends two of its mutual funds for long‑term investors. The Spectrum Alpha Fund (ORIGX) focuses on U.S. small‑cap equities and has posted a 14.5% annualized return over both three‑ and five‑year periods with...
Which Makes More Financial Sense in 2026: Buying or Renting?
Desjardins’ latest report finds that rising home prices and borrowing costs are making ownership less affordable, while a surge in rental supply is softening rents and boosting tenant incentives. Vacancy rates in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area climbed to...
The Evolution of Passive Investing
Passive investing has shifted from simple market‑cap index funds to a sophisticated toolbox of factor‑based and equal‑weight products. Evelyn Partners’ Lead Portfolio Manager Dan Caps describes an "active‑passive" model that layers low‑cost index tracking with tactical asset allocation and style...
4 Questions to Ask About Your Financial Health
The Good Men Project article outlines a four‑question self‑assessment to gauge personal financial health, emphasizing an emergency fund, progress toward goals, choice of financial products, and a sense of control. It frames financial wellness as a pillar of overall mental...
PPFAS Mutual Fund Among 15 AMCs to Offer Voluntary Lock-In for Folios. Here Is How Sebi’s Rule Works
SEBI has authorized a voluntary lock‑in facility for mutual‑fund folios, and 15 asset‑management companies—including PPFAS Mutual Fund—have launched the service via the MF Central platform effective 30 April. Investors can freeze redemptions, switches and other debit transactions for both demat and non‑demat...
Looking for Best Equity MFs to Invest for 3 Years? Check These 6 Funds with over 27% Returns
ET Online highlights six Indian equity mutual funds that have delivered over 27% cumulative returns in the past three years. Bandhan Small Cap Fund tops the list with a 30.72% gain, managing roughly ₹20,129 crore (≈ $2.4 billion) and a five‑star rating. The other...
The Universal Worry: Can We Afford Our Children’s Future?
Parents across Canada are increasingly worried about affording their children’s post‑secondary education. While 73% have opened a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and 74% know about the Canada Education Savings Grant, only 33% feel confident they can fully fund tuition,...
Better Access, Better Quality for Individual Investors, Says StepStone Group
StepStone Group announced that its Private Wealth division is extending institutional‑quality private‑market access to individual investors, particularly high‑net‑worth clients. The firm highlighted new due‑diligence tools, lower minimum commitments and a streamlined onboarding process. Executives Brett Schlemovitz and Miguel Sosa said...
Saving for Retirement when You Make Less than $35,000 Won’t Be Much Easie...
President Trump’s administration issued an executive order to enhance the Saver’s Match, slated for Jan. 1, 2027, aiming to boost retirement savings for low‑income earners. However, experts warn it will not substantially help the roughly 56 million Americans without workplace retirement plans, whose...
Forget the Toyota Camry—This Subaru SUV Costs Less to Own
The 2026 Subaru Uncharted, a compact electric SUV priced at $34,995, is positioned as a direct alternative to the long‑standing family favorite, the Toyota Camry, which starts at $29,595. While the Camry still offers longer range and a familiar hybrid...
Now Is the Time to Rebalance Your Portfolio and Snap up These Bonds, UBS Says
UBS’s chief investment officer for the Americas, Ulrike Hoffmann‑Burchardi, says the S&P 500’s record highs create a strategic moment to rebalance portfolios toward high‑quality government bonds. Recent spikes in Treasury yields, especially on two‑year, five‑year and 10‑year notes, provide a “compelling...
High Earners Are Feeling the Pain of Wealth Creep—And It’s Leading to a New Tradeoff in Their Spending
Affluent consumers are increasingly swapping everyday luxuries for high‑impact experiences, opting to buy discount groceries while splurging on travel, fine dining and concerts. Financial planners observe this selective thrift as a conscious trade‑off rather than a sign of financial strain,...
I Left My Full-Time Job at 50 and Retired to Mexico. After 3 Years, I've Built a Life I Love...
Pharmacist Ivy Ge retired at age 50 and relocated from San Francisco to Ajijic, Mexico, where she has now lived three years. She crafted a sustainable early‑retirement plan by budgeting for a 17‑year horizon until full Social Security benefits, emphasizing...
North Carolina’s $15,000 Forgivable Mortgage: How to Qualify in 2026
North Carolina’s 1st Home Advantage Down Payment program offers first‑time buyers and veterans up to $15,000 in 0% interest assistance for homes priced up to $495,000. The second‑mortgage is forgiven incrementally—20% per year after the tenth year and fully after...