Savings Rate vs Rate of Return Key takeaways: Why savings rate matters more when choosing between savings rate vs rate of return How compound interest and contributions work together over decades Why you shouldn’t count on your investments to “bail you out” if you...
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...
