An oversized IRA creates a tax-planning question. It does not create an automatic Roth conversion mandate. Oversaved physicians often treat Roth conversions like a protocol. Large pretax balance. Age 65. Required minimum distributions in a decade. Therefore convert. That is […]

My Mari Credit Card review. Why a no-annual-fee, 0% FX card with 1.5% cashback is the ideal first card even if you have no income, how the S$500 no-income route works, and where it falls short. The post Mari Credit Card Review (2026): The Best First Card Without $30k Income Requirement appeared first on Turtle Investor.

Libby is a fantastic app and to get the most of it, you’ll need access to catalogs. If you want to drastically reduce your wait times for books, especially popular ones, it helps to get more catalogs. Most libraries will only give library cards, and Libby access, to residents in their region. Some libraries will give library cards to anyone for free. Others will if you’re willing to pay an annual fee. A few will even give you a free card if you were born there but have since moved (Broward County). Unfortunately, that list of libraries changes. The problem with some lists is that they are not kept up to date, which can be a bit frustrating. The list below is accurate as of September 2026. Table of ContentsCheck ReciprocardBooks Unbanned (Free)Free Libraries With No Age RestrictionsPaid Libraries for Non-Residents Check Reciprocard Libby made an update in September that made it unnecessary for you to get a card at any libraries with reciprocal lending agreements with your existing library memberships. Libby will now search across those partnerships automatically, prioritizing the library where you have a card. ReciproCard is still a useful tool for finding out catalog sizes and whether paying for a library makes sense. It’s just slightly less useful than before since joining partner libraries is no longer necessary. ReciproCard is a free resource that helps you find libraries with reciprocal relationships with your existing library memberships. As a Howard County Library System member because of where I live, I can get a card at the Baltimore County Public Library, Montgomery County Public Library, and Prince George’s County Memorial Library for free. This may require a visit to a branch but I know I can get a card. Check this first but then also check this after you’ve gotten new library cards because you won’t know what it unlocks. Books Unbanned (Free) Books Unbanned is a program that gives teens and young adults access to free digital library cards from six libraries. They typically only require you to be a U.S. resident and fit within the age groups, but the libraries and requirements are: Brooklyn Public Library – U.S. residents ages 13 to 21. Boston Public LIbrary – U.S. residents ages 13 to 26. Los Angeles County Library – California residents ages 13 to 18. San Diego Public Library – U.S. residents ages 13 to 26. Seattle Public Library – U.S. residents ages 13 to 26. Long Beach Public Library – U.S. residents ages 13 to 19. Once you get a card, double check ReciproCard to see if it unlocks more. Free Libraries With No Age Restrictions Books Unbanned is great but what if you’re older than 18, 21, or 26? Fortunately there are a few options here: The Queer Liberation Library is absolutely free with the emission of building “a vibrant, flourishing queer future by connecting LGBTQ+ people with literature, information, and resources that celebrate the unique and empowering diversity of our community.” The

I’m excited to share that I’ve joined one of the fastest-growing, most forward-thinking independent financial planning firms in Upstate NY. Not just as an advisor, but as a partner, as an owner.  I’m happy to share that I’ve joined Rialto Wealth. I’m incredibly excited about the change. Rialto’s philosophy aligns perfectly with what I share with you every week. A focus on detailed, long-term retirement planning. Keeping investing simple and low-cost. Fiduciary and fee-only. Not only serving our clients, but educating them.  …but I’m anxious about the change, too. With two girls under two years old at home, this isn’t the simple path, per se. I’m making this big change, in large part, because my wife Kelly believes in me. She is not a mere “rockstar” or “hero,” but much more than that. Thank you, Kell!   Our elder daughter loving on Sadie. Why the Change?! Why the change, though? I have a few important reasons. Clients need to trust their advisor. Staying independent is important to me. Especially since that’s the commitment I’ve made to my clients for many years. Rialto Wealth has no shareholders, no private equity ownership. We are 100% employee-owned. There’s no incentive to push proprietary products, no far-away owners pressuring us on quotas. Financial planners can bring a lot of expertise to their clients – but that comes after a deliberate choice: putting service above sales. Complex investments sound sexy, I know. But did cigarettes (at least, for many decades). Not coincidentally, both have similar results: higher long-term costs and worse long-term outcomes. While some advisors push fancy, complex products on unsuspecting clients, the fact remains that simplicity beats complexity. I’d much rather follow Jason Zweig’s second way of making a living: “Tell the truth to those who want the truth.” (I’ll let you look up the first way.) I’m excited to keep my client count smaller, to focus more energy on each client. While working with hundreds of clients might increase profit margins, I’m fine with sacrificing some profit margin to better serve clients.  Rialto’s philosophy emphasizes our clients and our employees. Good things will follow. Who Makes a “Good” Client? Rialto isn’t a perfect fit for every potential client. Our ideal clients see their world this way: Retirement is the big, audacious goal. It might mean you’re retired. It might mean you hope to retire in 2 or 5 or 10 years. But retirement is the big goal you’re planning for. Investing and planning – both are vital. Retirement brings many interesting conversations about withdrawal strategies, income and tax planning, Social Security, healthcare and Medicare, IRMAA, and RMDs. If you have these questions, we’re a good fit. Our clients want an ongoing, year-over-year relationship. They are not looking for a one-time thought partner.  Our ideal clients buy into a low-cost, academically rigorous investment philosophy. If you want your advisor to beat the

An unexpected delight of the funemployment job I’ve had for several years has been many of my coworkers.  What’s maybe odd about this is that I share little in common with most of them. In any other context, I’d have little reason to talk—much less hang out—with them.  Buddy guy One coworker in particular—whom we’ll call: Buddy—-embodies this paradox perfectly. We differ in sssooo many ways: upbringing, education, full-time professional lives, politics, hobbies, religion, and […]

Shopify founder and CEO Tobi Lütke joins Shane Parrish to discuss AI agents, better decision-making, and the future of work. He explains how he uses an AI council to examine his hardest decisions and why taste, judgment, and responsibility become more valuable as AI becomes more capable. They go inside Shopify’s work with River, an AI colleague with memory, personality, and permission to challenge the CEO. They explore how to choose between several good options, […]

When I first read today’s article, it resonated immediately. I knew that I had to share it as my “Best Of The Month” guest post.   The article put into words the thoughts I’ve been having, but hadn’t found a way to explain. I suspect, as you read Marian’s words, many of you will feel the same.  As Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, we’re the last generations born in an Analog world.  It’s gone Digital.  We […]

The Capital One Venture Rewards Card is a premium travel rewards card with a minimum of a flat 2 “miles” per dollar on all purchases. These “miles” are very flexible, and can be redeemed directly against any travel purchase made with the card within the past 90 days (any direct airline website, any direct hotel website, portals like Expedia, AirBNB stays, Uber rides, etc). This makes it effectively a flat 2% cash back card when […]