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Retirement

IRA deadline 2026: what you can still fund

2025 IRA closed April 15. Next clock is April 15, 2027. A tax extension does not move the IRA. SEP with Form 4868 still has October 15.

Debt

Student loan IDR vs refinance in 2026

SAVE is gone. RAP vs IBR vs a private recast. Forgiveness clock and the 2026 tax bomb.

Cash

I bonds vs T-bills vs HYSA in 2026

$10k cap, 12-month lock, 3-month penalty. T-bills skip state tax. Type your rates.

Taxes

HSA vs FSA at 2027 open enrollment

A general FSA blocks the HSA. $4,500 / $9,000 caps, HDHP tests, run last year’s billed charges.

Retirement

Mega backdoor Roth in 2026

After-tax 401(k) plus a conversion path. $72k 415(c) cap. Not the IRA backdoor.

Housing

HELOC vs cash-out refinance in 2026

Keep the cheap first lien vs replace it. Tracing, $750k cap, CLTV.

Taxes

Self-employment tax and quarterly estimates in 2026

1099 / Schedule C: 15.3% SE tax, $184,500 wage base, 1040-ES dates, SEP vs solo 401(k).

Retirement

Backdoor Roth IRA in 2026

When MAGI shuts the front door: nondeductible IRA, conversion, pro-rata rule.

Housing

Debt-to-income ratio: how lenders actually qualify you

Front-end vs back-end, 28/36 vs FHA 31/43, and the 0.5% student-loan recast.

Income

How to fill out a W-4 in 2026

No allowances. Step 2, credits, extra withholding so April is boring.

Debt

When a 0% balance transfer actually saves money

Fee vs interest, promo clock, payment that finishes on time.

Retirement

Should you roll over your 401(k) when you leave a job?

Keep, new plan, IRA, Roth conversion, or cash out — vesting, rule of 55, 20% withholding.

Cash

How much should you have in an emergency fund?

Size a 3–12 month fund from essential expenses and job risk.

Budgeting

The 50/30/20 budget rule (and when it breaks)

How the split works on take-home pay.

Debt

Debt snowball vs avalanche: which method actually wins?

Compare with real interest math.

Investing

Compound interest: why starting early usually beats saving more later

Monthly compounding, time, contribution rate.

Housing

How much house can you actually afford?

PITI, the 28/36 rule, cash-to-close.

Retirement

401(k) vs IRA vs Roth: the 2026 order of operations

Match first. Then HSA. Then IRA $7,500. 401(k) $24,500. Notice 2025-67.

Cars

The true cost of a car is not the monthly payment

Depreciation, interest, insurance, fuel, maintenance.

Cash

HYSA vs CDs vs money market: where cash should sit

Tuesday money vs a known date. FDIC $250k. Type your APY — T-bills skip state tax.

Saving

Sinking funds: the missing piece between budget and emergency fund

So the emergency fund stays an emergency fund.

Credit

Credit utilization: the FICO lever that moves fastest

How card balances affect FICO.

Taxes

The HSA triple tax advantage — if you qualify

Deductible, tax-free growth, tax-free medical.

Investing

Index funds vs target-date funds

Pick the one you will not abandon.

Housing

Refinance or just pay extra? Run the break-even

When a refinance beats extra principal.

Investing

How to start investing with $100

401(k) match first, then a target-date or index fund.

Foundations

What net worth actually measures

Assets minus liabilities — and what cash flow still has to do.

Retirement

Your FIRE number: 25× spending, then the 2026 fine print

$52,000 at 4% is $1,300,000. The 3.3% button is $1,575,758. IRA gross-up, SSA average is not your PIA. 8 FAQ.

Retirement

When should you take Social Security?

FRA 67 if born 1960+. 62 is 70% of PIA; 70 is 124%. Run the calculator.

Family

529 vs brokerage for college 2026

Gift exclusion $19,000, superfund $95,000, K-12 $20,000. Grandparent FAFSA lag is dead.

Income

How to read a paycheck

Gross, FICA, withholding, and what you actually keep.

Taxes

Roth conversions: fill 12% or 22% without lighting IRMAA

Extra tax this year vs Medicare two years out. Pay from cash. Run the calculator.

Investing

Dollar-cost averaging: how it works (and when lump sum wins)

DCA vs lump sum, payroll investing.

Insurance

Term vs whole life insurance: which should you buy?

Term covers a deadline cheaply.

Taxes

Capital gains tax: short-term vs long-term in 2026

0% to $49,450 single. Ordinary fills first. Calculator: proceeds − basis + NIIT flag.

Housing

How to remove PMI from a mortgage

Request at 80% LTV, automatic at 78%.

Cars

Buy vs lease a car: run the 2026 math

Compare cash-out minus leftover equity.

Investing

How to choose an ETF (expense ratio is not everything)

Tracking difference, spreads, overlap.

Retirement

401(k) and IRA catch-up contributions in 2026

Age 50+ and the 60–63 super catch-up.

Cash

How inflation quietly taxes cash

Purchasing power, HYSA, T-bills.

Housing

How much rent can you afford?

Leftover money vs the 30% rule.

Credit

How to build credit from scratch

One card that reports, used like debit.

Investing

ETF vs mutual fund

Fees, taxes, and when the wrapper matters.

Estate

Beneficiaries, TOD, and POD

A will does not move a 401(k). ERISA spouse default, TOD/POD titles, SECURE 10-year. 8 FAQ.

Income

How to negotiate a raise

The number, the script, and the walk-away.

Medicare

IRMAA Medicare surcharges: the two-year MAGI cliff

2026 premiums use 2024 MAGI. First cliff $109k / $218k. $95.70/mo extra per enrollee.

Taxes

Asset location: taxable vs IRA vs Roth

Put bonds in tax-deferred, growth in Roth. Calculator + 12-step playbook.

Taxes

Tax-loss harvesting in 2026

Offset gains, $3,000 ordinary, avoid the wash sale.

Retirement

Required minimum distributions (age 73 or 75)

Uniform Lifetime 26.5 at 73. 2026 QCD $111,000. Still-working does not pause an IRA.

Retirement

The rule of 55: 401(k) withdrawals after you leave work

Penalty-free at 55 — if you do not roll to an IRA. 12-step playbook; numbers on the rollover calculator.

Housing

Home sale capital gains exclusion ($250k / $500k)

The 2-of-5 test, partial exclusions, depreciation recapture.

Retirement

Never skip the employer 401(k) match

Usually the highest risk-free return at work.

Housing

Mortgage refinance break-even in 2026

Costs ÷ P&I savings. Match remaining term. A 30-year reset can fake a faster recoup. PMMS is an average.

Taxes

2026 tax brackets

$80k single wages: taxable $63,900, tax $8,770. Marginal 22% is not 22% of the pile.

Insurance

Insurance you actually need

Health, auto, disability, term life.

Credit

How credit scores actually move

Payment history, utilization, myths.

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