Money and Finance
Personal finance, taxes, and the long math on wealth.
Why Is Your Emergency Fund Probably Too Small?
The three-month rule was written for the 1990s job market. The current data on job loss duration and income volatility says most households...
Financial Advisors Don't Want You to Know About the Augusta Rule
A small section of the tax code lets business owners rent their personal home to their company for up to 14 days a year and keep the rental...
The 20-25 Percent Savings Rate Nobody Talks About
The median American household saves 4.6 percent. The math on that does not retire anyone. Here is what actually works.
Why Do HYSA Yields Still Beat Money Market Funds?
High-yield savings accounts have consistently paid more than money market funds for the past 18 months. The mechanism is not obvious. The...
What IRS Agents Don't Want You to Know About Audit Triggers
The IRS publishes audit statistics but rarely the patterns. Internal data, FOIA-released documents, and former-agent interviews point to...
Your Emergency Fund Might Be Too Big
The standard advice of six months of expenses in cash is not wrong for everyone, but for plenty of stable households it is parking too much...
7 Numbers Every 30-Year-Old Should Know About Their Money
Most 30-year-olds can name their credit score and not much else. Seven numbers actually matter, and the gap between knowing them and not is...
The Weekly Money Date Saved Our Marriage More Than Counseling Did
Most couples do not have a fight about money. They have the same fight about money 50 times because they never sit down and look at the...
REITs Are Quietly Outperforming the S and P 500 in 2026 and Most Investors Are Not Paying Attention
While the stock market has grabbed headlines with record highs, real estate investment trusts have been delivering stronger returns in key...
Four in Ten Americans Are Now Using Buy Now Pay Later Loans to Buy Groceries
A new Lending Tree report shows 40% of Americans used pay-later loans for groceries in the past year, up from previous years, as...
The New Roth 401(k) Catch-Up Rule Is Now Active for High Earners
The SECURE 2.0 provision requiring high-income earners to make catch-up 401(k) contributions as Roth is now in effect for 2026 after a...
PMI Is Tax-Deductible Again in 2026. Most Homebuyers Have No Idea.
Private mortgage insurance premiums are tax-deductible again this year for buyers earning under $100,000. It is a real financial benefit...
Credit Card Debt Just Hit 1.3 Trillion And The Real Problem Is The Minimum Payment
American credit card debt passed 1.3 trillion dollars in Q1 2026. The number is not the scary part. The scary part is what is happening to...
2026 Tax Refund Averages Are Up, and the IRS Data Reveals Where the Money Is Going
With the filing season wrapping up, the IRS has released its latest figures. Refunds are bigger this year, processing is faster, and the...
30 Year Mortgage Rates Slip To 6.07 Percent As Spring Homebuying Window Opens
The average 30 year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 6.07 percent this week, down from 6.15 percent last weekend, with the 15 year fixed loan...
The Mega Backdoor Roth Strategy That Lets High Earners Move 47,500 Dollars Of After Tax Money Into A Roth Each Year
For 2026, the IRS allows total 401(k) contributions of 72,000 dollars or 80,000 if you are 50 or older. After your salary deferral and any...