Reinvest Dividends or Take the Cash? Takeaways: Total return beats price return by factoring in dividends, which can meaningfully boost long-term gains. S&P 500 vs. NASDAQ: Over the past 5 years (up to August 2025), dividends helped the S&P 500 slightly...
Transfer on Death Accounts Transfer on Death (TOD) and Payable on Death (POD) accounts can unintentionally change inheritance plans. Life changes, such as selling a home, can shift large assets into TOD/POD accounts. Unequal distribution from TOD accounts can cause...
Preparing For Retirement - What Most People Forget About Retirement Takeaways: Retirement success depends on more than just the math. Your physical and mental well-being matter. Nearly 30% of adults over 70 struggle with basic mobility. Don’t let poor health limit...
Peace of Mind - working with an advisor: Vanguard Key Takeaways from the "Peace of Mind" video: Vanguard: 88% of advised investors working with an advisor feel more peace of mind vs. do-it-yourself. Working with a financial advisor saves an average of 2.2 hours/week...
Modified Adjusted Gross Income Key Takeaways: Modified Adjusted Gross Income determines Medicare premiums (IRMAA). MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) isn’t a line on your tax return. If you exceed the IRMAA threshold by $1, you'll pay higher premiums. Medicare uses...
One Big Beautiful Bill Key Takeaways: 1. SALT Deduction Increase: From $10,000 to $40,000 (indexed for inflation through 2029) — but phased out at certain income levels. 2. Tax Brackets from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are now permanent for individuals and...
How Much Should I Contribute To My 401k Here are some of the key take-aways from the video "How Much Should I Contribute To My 401k?" - 61% of retirement plans feature automatic enrollment - Two-thirds of those plans automatically increase 401(k) deferrals - Those...
Some Investors May Beat Their Funds Key take-aways: In some Vanguard Target Date Funds, some investors may beat their funds on their own, from April 2022 to April 2025 The role of dollar-cost averaging and consistent contributions during market downturns helps some...
One Thousand Dollars for Every Newborn Key takeaways: The proposed government-funded one thousand dollars for every newborn account raises concerns about long-term impact, parental control, and financial responsibility. 529 plans may be a more established and flexible...
Worried About Outliving Your Money in Retirement? How to Combat Inflation Key Takeaways: Inflation is a long-term threat to retirement security Retirees need a strategy—not just savings The "bucket strategy" helps manage retirement income Growth investments are still...
