Why I Invest In A 529 Plan
Parents are turning to 529 college‑savings plans to lock in tax‑advantaged growth for future education costs. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed last summer, broadened qualified expenses to include K‑12 tuition, vocational training and up to $20,000 annually for non‑degree programs. Unused balances can now be rolled over tax‑free into a Roth IRA—up to $35,000 after a 15‑year holding period—while non‑qualified withdrawals incur only earnings tax and a 10% penalty. State tax credits and lower fees for direct enrollment make 529s a compelling long‑term savings tool.
California Leads the Charge as Privacy Fines Soar
State privacy enforcement is accelerating, with total fines across the U.S. soaring to $3.4 billion in 2025, up from $1.8 billion in 2024 and just $1.2 million in 2023. Gartner reports that 22 states have already enacted consumer‑privacy statutes and another 24 are...
Medicare and Cruises: The 6-Hour Rule
Medicare’s six‑hour rule ends coverage once a cruise ship is more than six hours from a U.S. port, leaving seniors without reimbursement for overseas emergencies. Original Medicare and most Medicare Advantage plans will not pay for treatment or evacuation in...
SpaceX Stock: Should You Buy the Biggest IPO Ever?
The global space economy is projected to reach roughly $1 trillion by 2034, according to market‑research firm Novaspace. SpaceX’s latest internal valuation sits between $1.75 trillion and $2 trillion, positioning it far above any recent public offering. At that valuation, an IPO could...
I'm an Insurance Pro: What You Can Do to Save Yourself Some Moola as the Insurance Market Shifts
After three years of tight underwriting and rising premiums, insurers in California are beginning to relax their guidelines and new carriers are entering the market. The state’s FAIR Plan is shedding policies back to the private market, signaling renewed competition...
Cisco Sends Nasdaq, S&P 500 to New Highs: Stock Market Today
U.S. equity markets hit fresh all‑time highs on Thursday as mega‑cap tech stocks surged. Cisco Systems reported earnings of $1.06 per share on $15.8 billion revenue, beating forecasts and sending its shares up 13.4%, the strongest day since 2020. The company...
Investors Pull in on Chip Stocks After Hot Inflation: Stock Market Today
April's CPI rose 0.6% month‑over‑month and 3.8% year‑over‑year, with a 3.8% jump in the energy index driving the hottest inflation reading since May 2023. The surge pushed markets into a risk‑off mode: blue‑chip stocks nudged the Dow up 0.1%, while the...
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...
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...
Manufacturers Face Crunch on Industrial Metals
The Iran war has sharply disrupted industrial‑metal supplies, pushing U.S. aluminum prices up nearly 90% as shipments from the Persian Gulf falter and tariffs jump from 10% to 50%. Automakers, which now use 30% more aluminum than in 2020, face...
What to Expect From the April CPI Report
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish the April CPI on May 12, with headline inflation expected to rise 0.6% month‑over‑month to a 3.7% year‑over‑year pace, driven by surging energy costs linked to the Iran‑Israel‑U.S. conflict. March’s CPI showed a 0.9%...
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...
The Future of AI-Powered Email
Microsoft announced that Outlook’s Copilot is evolving from a task‑focused helper into an "agentic" personal assistant. The upgraded AI can automatically schedule meetings, draft follow‑up emails, prioritize urgent messages and even suggest which meetings to decline. Users interact via simple...
70% of Savers Forget To Do This One Critical Thing
NerdWallet’s analysis of more than 2,000 savers shows that roughly 70 % regularly set aside paycheck money but fail to attach clear goals to those funds. Without defined objectives, savings often drift into everyday spending, eroding financial clarity. Financial advisor Greg...
As You Near Retirement, Think Like Warren Buffett: Stop Risking What You Need for What You Don't
The article urges retirees to adopt Warren Buffett’s mantra of not risking what they need for what they don’t. It highlights that the S&P 500’s forward P/E ratio sits around 23, which historically limits 10‑year equity returns to roughly ±2 %. Consequently,...
Is Spring Fever Compelling You to Refresh Your Portfolio? 3 Ways You Could Be Acting Impulsively
Spring’s sense of renewal often tempts investors to “refresh” portfolios, but the season can also amplify behavioral traps. Overconfidence, recency bias, herding, and loss aversion may push investors toward concentrated bets, chase hot themes, or sell winners prematurely. The article...
The Rapid Rise of Cell Towers in Space
Satellite firms are racing to deliver direct‑to‑device (D2D) broadband, with SpaceX planning 15,000 new satellites and spending $17 billion on spectrum, while Amazon bought Globalstar for $11.6 billion to launch its own constellation. Market analysts forecast cumulative D2D revenue of $100 billion by...
Nasdaq Fades Late as Hormuz Tension Flares: Stock Market Today
U.S. equity indexes closed lower on Wednesday after the Wall Street Journal reported the Trump administration is preparing to restart “Project Freedom,” an effort to force open the Strait of Hormuz. Crude oil fell to under $90 per barrel before...
Nasdaq Jumps to New High on AMD Earnings: Stock Market Today
U.S. equity markets surged on Wednesday as the Nasdaq hit a fresh record of 25,838, buoyed by a tentative Iran‑U.S. cease‑fire outlook, robust ADP payroll data and a sharp 7% drop in oil prices. The S&P 500 rose 1.5% to 7,365...
Who Is Getting Your Money?: The Beneficiary Designation Quiz
Choosing and maintaining beneficiary designations is a critical yet often overlooked component of estate planning. The Kiplinger quiz highlights common misconceptions, such as the belief that a will can override a life‑insurance beneficiary or that divorce automatically changes retirement account...
Your Insurer Owes You a Discount for Taking a Defensive Driving Course in These States
Defensive‑driving courses can lower auto‑insurance premiums, and 24 states now require insurers to offer a discount for completing an approved online class. Discounts range from no minimum up to 10 % and usually stay in effect for three years before a...
Would Illinois's New Insurance Law Help or Hurt Your Wallet?
Illinois Senate Bill 1486, championed by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, seeks to tighten consumer protections for auto and home insurers. The bill would require insurers to give 60‑day notice of any rate increase above 10%, ban cost‑shifting from out‑of‑state...
I'm a Financial Adviser: This Retirement Income Plan Could Be Your Key to Sweet Dreams
The article advises financial advisers on building a retirement‑income plan that can withstand market volatility. It highlights the bucket strategy, annuities, bond ladders, dividend stocks and REITs as core tools for creating a predictable cash flow. It stresses delaying Social...
I'm a Retired Financial Adviser: If You Haven't Saved Enough for Retirement, These Are Your Options
A retired financial adviser outlines practical steps for people who are behind on retirement savings, emphasizing the urgency of starting contributions now and leveraging compound interest. He recommends maximizing employer‑matched 401(k) plans, using traditional or Roth IRAs for tax advantages,...
Is the 'AI Bubble' A Myth? Why Tech Experts Say AI's Boom Is Just the Beginning
The debate over an AI bubble overlooks that AI is already embedded in daily life, with 99% of Americans using AI‑enabled products—though only 64% recognize it. Investment is surging: U.S. AI venture funding hit $109.1 billion in 2024, and Nvidia reports...
Dow Drops 557 Points as Iran Tensions Ramp Up: Stock Market Today
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.1% to 48,941 as Middle East tensions escalated, pushing West Texas Intermediate crude above $106 a barrel. Norwegian Cruise Line’s stock plunged 8.6% after it missed Q1 revenue targets and warned that higher fuel...
We Want to Give Our Daughter $200K for a Home. We Already Paid for Her Wedding, and Our Sons Say...
Retired parents in their 60s are considering a $200,000 advance on their daughter’s inheritance after already contributing $75,000 toward her wedding, while her brothers claim the assistance is sexist. Experts advise treating the advance as a documented gift or a...
Here's What It Takes to Join the 1% Club: The Real Numbers and Habits Behind the Super Wealthy
The article clarifies that the U.S. top 1% is defined by net worth—roughly $10 million to $12 million—rather than salary alone. It breaks down wealth tiers, showing how $250 k to $2 million places households in the top 10% and above $10 million lands them...
Gary Has a Plan for Retirement: Crash on the Sofa and Veg. Here's the Problem With That …
Gary, a 40‑year construction veteran, plans to spend retirement on the sofa after a solid financial plan. The article argues that a passive retirement quickly erodes mental and physical health because work provided essential stimulus, structure, and identity. Research shows...
We've All Heard the Buzz About Roth Conversions, But Not Everyone Will Like the Reality
Roth conversions, moving money from traditional IRAs or 401(k)s into a Roth IRA, have surged in popularity as investors seek tax‑free retirement income. The strategy requires paying income tax on the converted amount now, making it attractive only when future...
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...
S&P 500 Hits New High on Apple Earnings: Stock Market Today
Apple’s fiscal Q2 beat expectations, driving the S&P 500 to a fresh 7,230 record and lifting the Nasdaq 0.9% to 25,114. The iPhone segment posted a 22% YoY revenue jump, with China sales up 28%, prompting a 3.3% stock surge and...
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...
America Plays Catch Up on Drones
The Pentagon has launched a $1.1 billion Drone Dominance Program to close a widening gap with China, which controls roughly 90% of the global commercial‑drone market. While China’s DJI can churn out millions of units, U.S. maker Skydio produces only thousands...
We’re New Yorkers With $3.8M. We Plan to Retire in South Carolina, but My Wife Worries We Will Regret It.
A New York couple with $3.8 million retirement savings is weighing a move to South Carolina, where a $1.3 million home could be sold and a comparable property bought for about $600 k, freeing roughly $700 k in equity. New York’s top income tax...
How to Watch Formula 1 Racing
For the 2026 Formula 1 season, Apple TV+ becomes the exclusive U.S. broadcaster, consolidating practice, qualifying, sprint and Grand Prix sessions into a single streaming platform. The move replaces the fragmented ESPN/ABC arrangement and pairs F1 coverage with the broader Apple One...
The 'Wait-to-Win' Rule of Retirement Spending
The article explains the “Wait‑to‑Win” rule, urging retirees to delay Social Security claims to boost monthly benefits. Claiming at age 70 can increase payments by $1,125 compared with claiming at 62, potentially adding $500,000 over a 90‑year lifespan for maximum...
How to Negotiate to Lower Your Medical Bills: These Strategies Can Help Reduce Your Costs
The article outlines how Americans can negotiate lower medical bills by leveraging new pricing transparency, the No Surprises Act, and publicly available cost estimators. It explains the billing process, common errors, and the wide gap between Medicare rates and private...
You Don't Have to Sell Out to Grow: A Case for Staying Independent as an RIA on Your Terms
Record RIA M&A activity in 2025—466 deals, a 27% rise, with 72% driven by private equity—has accelerated pressure on independent firms to consider sell‑outs. While PE offers high valuations, capital, and infrastructure, advisers report post‑sale regrets over lost autonomy and...
Using Google AI Tools Can Give Your Advisory Firm the Edge — If You Do These 5 Things First
Google’s AI suite, anchored by the Gemini engine, is now embedded in Workspace, letting advisory firms automate drafting, summarization, and data extraction without new software. Tools like NotebookLM, Nano Banana Pro, Veo 3, Flow and Google Vids turn research, graphics, and...
Nasdaq Nosedives as OpenAI Is Off Target: Stock Market Today
U.S. equity markets slipped on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq Composite dropping 0.9% to 24,663 while the Dow and S&P 500 fell modestly. The decline was driven by a sharp sell‑off in AI‑linked stocks after the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI...
9 No-Capital-Gains-Tax States in 2026 Ranked by Cost of Living: Are They Really Cheaper?
A new ranking evaluates the nine U.S. states that do not levy a state capital‑gains tax against 2026 cost‑of‑living data, housing prices, and local tax burdens. While states like Missouri and South Dakota combine low living costs with full capital‑gains...
April Fed Meeting: Live Updates and Commentary
The Federal Reserve’s April 28‑29 meeting is expected to keep the federal funds rate unchanged as higher energy prices push inflation higher. It will be Chair Jerome Powell’s final meeting before his term ends, and the DOJ has just closed...
10 Things You Should Know About Oil and Prices
The U.S. and Israel’s strike on Iran has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, cutting roughly 25% of global oil flow and triggering a sharp rise in energy prices worldwide. Crude prices have surged above $100 a barrel, pushing U.S. gasoline...
Feeling a Tax Bite? Municipal Bonds Could Be More Compelling Than You Think
Municipal bonds are gaining attention as the yield curve steepens, rewarding investors who hold longer‑dated issues with higher nominal yields. Valuations for long‑term munis are historically cheap, offering attractive relative value versus taxable Treasuries. The tax‑exempt nature of municipal income...
Will You Have to Retake Your Driving Test? What Retirees Must Know About State DMV Rules
State DMVs are tightening licensing rules for older drivers, with many requiring in‑person renewals, vision screenings, or road tests. Illinois currently mandates a behind‑the‑wheel test for drivers 79 and older, but a new law will raise the cutoff to age...