Personal Finance Blogs
Featuring the Best Personal Finance Blog Articles
Today's Personal Finance Articles
View articles only on the topic you search below.
Do you want to diversify your investments and invest in one of the most stable real estate crowdfunding platforms out there? EstateGuru is for you! In this EstateGuru review, we will go into the details of the platform, and you will learn everything you need to get started. To further diversify my investments, I started investing in EstateGuru in 2019. I regularly invest in new platforms to try them out and see how they work. […]
Finding the right city can make homeownership far more achievable for first‑time buyers. Some cities offer affordable housing, manageable living costs, and strong potential for future growth, giving new buyers a real chance to enter the market without overwhelming financial pressure. By choosing a budget‑friendly location, individuals and families can take meaningful steps toward owning … Read more
A variety of classic, analog alarm clocks rest on a neutral surface, casting soft shadows. Understanding the exact markdown clock for meat departments allows you to time your grocery trips strategically and catch clearance discounts right when they drop. Pexels. The meat department is consistently the most expensive section of any weekly grocery run, but it also offers the most predictable markdown window for budget-conscious shoppers. Every package of fresh poultry, beef, and pork is […]
Incapacity does not automatically give an adult child access to a parent’s individual bank account. A durable financial power of attorney can provide legal authority when properly established. Nicoleta Ionescu/Shutterstock Most people know what happens to a bank account after its owner dies, or at least know that wills, beneficiaries, and estate rules come into play. A much less comfortable question is what happens if you are still alive but suddenly cannot manage the account […]
Don’t miss an episode of our podcast, Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors. Available on all podcast players. Here’s the latest episode: Reader Doug wrote to me this week: Any thoughts on using one of the ‘Big Three’ as a financial advisor. Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard have different programs at different price points (shown below). For some background…it’s vital to remember that these companies swim in various lanes at the same time. They are custodians – places where you can open and keep accounts. They are fund managers – organizations that offer ETFs, mutual funds, etc. that you can pay to invest in. They also offer advisory services. These organizations can be great custodians and excellent fund managers, yet have different standards for their advisory services. I’ve got some thoughts for you, Doug. There’s a Spectrum I’m biased here. It’s important I disclose that. Though I’d like to think my bias is “pro-client.” Here are some great questions to help you discern between good, bad, and ugly advisors. And definitions about how fees are charged. I’d also recommend this podcast episode too: The broader point is that: Some advisors provide detailed planning. Others don’t. Some advisors sell commissioned products (insurance, annuities, etc) and others are fee-only. Some advisors charge high fees, others low fees. Some advisors intentionally work with 40, 60, 80 clients. Other advisors work with 200+. All else being equal, you’d probably prefer an advisor who provides detailed planning, is fee-only, spends plenty of time with you, and charges reasonable fees. So – is that what the “Big Three” provide? Service Tiers We should be looking at the “dedicated advisor tier” in the table below. The robo-only and hybrid tiers provide very little human expertise. They are essentially “investing-only” services. That’s fine – if that’s what you want. But if you are looking for true financial planning, we want to look at the “Dedicated Advisor” tier. Fees Vanguard is the clear winner here at 0.30%. Fidelity and Schwab charge fees much closer to what small, independent financial planners charge. Fidelity’s fees start very high. Well above 1.0% on the first $1M in a client’s portfolio. Schwab’s fees are more reasonable. Client Service and Planning Client service and in-depth planning are where the rubber meets the road. I’ve had a ~dozen prospective clients (and a handful of actual clients) talk to me after working with one of these Big Three. I also regularly read online communities – both of individual investors (customers of the Big Three) and of other financial advisors (including many who work for the Big Three). The commentary always sounds the same. Advisors at the Big Three are overworked. They have too many clients to serve each client well.
Taking charge of your money doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With a few clear steps, you can build real financial stability, ease everyday stress, and move toward your long‑term goals with confidence. Once you understand the basics and put them into practice, managing your finances becomes far more straightforward and far more rewarding. Step 1: … Read more
A hand uses a yellow pen to write out an ingredient list in a grid notebook. Shifting away from rigid meal planning and organizing your purchases around store sales is a smart way to lower your weekly food costs. Pexels. Most home cooks approach grocery shopping by picking a favorite recipe and then buying the necessary ingredients. While this creates a delicious menu, it is also the fastest way to blow your weekly budget. This […]
Serving as executor can mean months of managing assets, debts, taxes, probate paperwork, and beneficiary questions. Understanding the legal and financial responsibilities before accepting can help protect both the estate and the person administering it. (Pexels). Being named executor in someone’s will can feel like an honor, but saying yes may mean accepting months of paperwork, financial decisions and responsibility during an already emotional time. An executor doesn’t simply read the will and hand out […]
Your loan servicer sent another email. This one says your SAVE plan payment is changing. Interest is back, your due date moved, and the letter reads like legal language, not help. You are not the only borrower confused right now. The SAVE plan is winding down, and federal student loan repayment looks different in 2026. Here is what changed and what you can do about it. Why the SAVE Plan Is Ending Now A federal […]
Hands use a calculator surrounded by an open notebook and a laptop. Calculating the hidden expenses of visiting multiple supermarkets reveals when chasing scattered deals stops saving money and starts costing extra. Shutterstock. In the quest to save money on weekly provisions, many dedicated shoppers fall directly into the “just one more store” trap. They visit the local supermarket for general pantry needs, drive across town to a big-box warehouse for bulk paper goods, and […]
A joint credit card can simplify shared expenses, but large purchases, cash advances, gambling, and other risky charges can leave both account holders facing the consequences. Clear spending rules can help protect credit scores and household finances. (Unsplash). Sharing a credit card can simplify groceries, utilities, vacations, and other household spending, but there is an important detail couples sometimes overlook: if it’s a true joint credit-card account, each account holder can be responsible for the […]
A federal judge in the Western District of North Carolina sentenced Jianfei Lu to 15 years in prison for his role in a money laundering organization that prosecutors say processed more than $92 million in illicit funds. J. Michael Jones/Shutterstock A Chinese national has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $25 million for his role in a Chinese money laundering organization (CMLO) that processed more than $92 million in […]
The Transportation Department is seeking input on an initiative that could allow power lines, pipelines, fiber-optic cables and other infrastructure to share existing highway and rail corridors. vietanh85/Shutterstock The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an official Request for Information (RFI) seeking public and stakeholder input on a new initiative called America’s Great Corridors of Commerce (AGCC), which would allow electric transmission lines, pipelines, fiber optic cables, and broadband infrastructure to be built alongside […]