In this solo episode, I share a powerful reminder that the very challenges and obstacles we face on the journey to financial freedom are often what make us stronger. I start by revisiting a story I mentioned in my book, Your Journey to Financial Freedom, about the Biosphere 2 experiment where trees grew quickly in perfect, windless conditions but fell before maturing because they never developed the strength to sustain themselves. That missing “wind” […]

If you’re looking to grow your wealth through automated investing, two platforms stand out: Wealthfront and M1 Finance. Both offer low-cost, hands-off investment solutions, but they cater to different types of investors. In this guide, we’ll break down their features, fees, and ideal use cases to help you choose the best investment platform for your financial goals. Contents Toggle Quick Comparison: Wealthfront vs M1 FinanceWealthfront: Robo-Advisor Plus MoreM1 Finance: Self-Directed Investing Plus Automated Solutions Wealthfront vs. M1 Finance Comparison ChartWealthfront vs M1 Finance Review – Which One is Best for You?FAQRelated This article may contain affiliate links which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you sign up or buy through the affiliate link. Quick Comparison: Wealthfront vs M1 Finance Both Wealthfront and M1 Finance deliver automated investing solutions plus self-directed investing. But, there’s more to each platform than meets the eye. Read on to find out which one will fit your investing style. Wealthfront: Robo-Advisor Plus More What is Wealthfront? Wealthfront began as a classic robo-advisor designed for investors who want a fully automated experience. After a quick quiz, Wealthfront offers a diversified investment portfolio, in line with your timeline, risk level and goals. This robo-advisor arm of Wealthfront handles rebalancing, dividend reinvestment, and even tax-loss harvesting to optimize your returns. There’s more > Wealthfront also has individual stocks, ETFs and themed portfolio investing, Automated investing with low fees (0.25% annually). Tax-efficient strategies, including direct indexing for high-net-worth clients. Socially responsible portfolios available. Individual stocks, ETFs and themed portfolios great for self-directed investors. Bond ladders for the fixed income segment of your portfolio. Wealthfront Cash Account is a High-yield cash account that combines checking and savings features.Wealthfront is ideal for long-term investors who prefer a “set it and forget it” approach. Portfolio line of credit and home mortgages are coming soon! Wealthfront – New Investors Get $50 Bonus Free Investment Management at M1 Free investing at M1 with $10,000 balance or loan, otherwise $3/month. M1 Finance: Self-Directed Investing Plus Automated Solutions What is M1 Finance? M1 Finance delivers 1,000’s of ETFs and stocks along with screeners to help you design your ideal portfolio. The M1 expert model portfolios are designed to cater to a variety of investment preferences, including retirement, stock and bond, income, global, socially responsible, aggressive and conservative choices. Whichever types of investment portfolios you choose, the platform will rebalance it back to your preferred asset allocation, upon request. Three dollars per month to zero account fees for those with a $10,000 account balance, or a personal loan. Customizable portfolios with fractional shares. Integrated banking and high-yield cash account. Margin loans available for accounts with $2,000+ invested. [embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=xhopf_qCYZk&si=3sNnosFDfuWShxnQ[/embed] Wealthfront vs. M1 Finance Comparison Chart FeatureWealthfrontM1 FinanceCore FocusAutomated investing with optional self-directed tools.Self-directed investing with automated rebalancing.Portfolio SetupQuiz-based, goal-aligned diversified portfolios.DIY portfolios using stocks & ETFs or model portfolios.Investment OptionsBroadly diversified stock and bond

That “Big Beautiful Bill” (which I dislike the name – I’m not a fan of big bills, and the name is indicative of Trump’s limited vocabulary) that was passed earlier this year means that the overtime my wife earns isn’t going to be taxed this year. But – being the paperwork nerd I am – I wanted to know how I’m going to claim that deduction. It’s simple – really: I’ll enter her W-2 tips […]

Today, more than at any other time in my career, I encounter investors with huge, life-changing returns in single stock positions. This comes as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to the US stock market over the past 15 years. Stock market returns are trending well above long-term averages. Further, the concentration of outsized returns among a small, well-known group of stocks is mind-blowing. I have characterized the post-GFC US stock market as the easiest DIY market of all time. This summer, as a client walked me through positions in a self-directed trading account, I commented, “Yes, there is no denying that the stocks you hear about on financial television are the ones that have beaten the market in recent years.” This has been an era in which amateurs have been able to beat professionals. Perhaps the ubiquitousness of information and data has forever changed the dynamics of investing. Which brings me to the question in the title of this post. How does one sell an astronomical winner? Rather than providing a black-and-white answer, I have developed a framework, albeit an imperfect one, for approaching this decision. With the 20/20 benefit of hindsight, we can always lament what ‘could have been’ had we YOLO’d our winners into the stratosphere. Selling winners relies more on emotion than on data and analysis. There are three paths forward. Never Sell – YOLOIf I had bought $10,000 of Apple Inc. stock in 2003, when I graduated from college and never sold a single share, that investment would be worth $5.6 million today. Gulp! (I actually had $15,000 left in my college savings account at the time. Too bad I spent it on a move to New York City.) But many investors have held onto Apple stock during this time period. Returns of $10,000 invested in APPL October 13, 2003 – October 13, 2025In most of these real-life cases, Apple makes up a large percentage of the investor’s portfolio. Never selling has been a winning strategy so far. One option, therefore, is never to sell. Avoiding the decision completely ensures two things: 1. The investor will not miss a cent of potential future returns from Apple, and2. The performance of a single stock will forever dominate the portfolio. I am personally uncomfortable with betting my financial future on one company, even a great one like Apple. But for some, the mental fortitude of jumping off the winning ride is too great. To them I ask, then what are these life-changing investment returns for? Is it all just a game, a thrill-seeking ride to watch numbers go up on a screen? If that is the goal, by all means, keep playing. But don’t be surprised when the future doesn’t perfectly match the past. Rip the Band-AidA second extreme option is to rip off the proverbial band-aid and sell every share at once. You remember the anxiety-inducing exercise of removing sticky band-aids from your scabs as a child. Removing them slowly is both mentally

Get a $100 bonus thanks to ING with the code CNW116 simply by opening a new everyday account and following these steps until 30 Nov 2025 The post Get $100 for New ING Customers appeared first on The Thrifty Issue.

Pools are crazy expensive to build and sometimes don’t generate good long-term investments, especially when it comes to selling your home. However, the joy of owning a pool can still be enough to want to install one – so here are some ideas to make it a better investment than you might first think. Make … The post How To Make A Pool A More Worthwhile Investment appeared first on The Thrifty Issue.

When I first started to take initiative and improve my finances, the first step was to build a solid savings base. I knew that by having a large pile of savings, I would cover myself if emergencies happened. And having this savings would also allow me to focus on investing my money and growing it faster. Thanks to my finance background, I understood the power of compound interest and wanted to find a savings account […]

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