Decisions

If you were automatically enrolled in an IRA, would you opt-out?

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A look at the state-run auto-IRA plans and whether they are a net benefit for employees who don’t have (or utilize) other retirement options. Not everyone has access to a workplace-retirement account like a 401(k). A few years ago, I … Read More … Read More

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Year in review 2020: Top 10 posts

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A look back at the best posts of 2020 on this site, including both my favorites and the ones readers viewed most. It has been a year of changes, to say the least. I went full-time as a money coach, … Read More … Read More

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Why holiday shopping is more complex this year

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Black Friday deals have a greater urgency this year because of the pandemic, but it doesn’t mean that you should do your holiday shopping indiscriminately. I can’t lie; I’ve always had challenges with this time of year. It’s not the … Read More … Read More

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Why you may want to ignore the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals

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The creator of the “4% rule” for safe retirement portfolio withdrawals doesn’t even believe in 4% anymore. That’s good news, as the actual safer percentage appears to be higher. So you’ve spent decades of your life building up a sizable … Read More … Read More

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Don’t stop, no matter how (painfully) long it takes

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In light of the 2020 election, it’s worth remembering that some dreams take years to come true. Or even decades. History says, Don’t hopeOn this side of the grave,But then, once in a lifetimeThe longed-for tidal waveOf justice can rise … Read More … Read More

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Why a new fee on mortgage refinancing shouldn’t affect you

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Refinancing a mortgage is getting pricier due to the Adverse Market Refinance Fee, but refinancing doesn’t offer the benefits you think. There’s a new fee in town. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has instituted a 0.5% fee on refinancing of … Read More … Read More

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How to pay off a $10,000 debt

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Paying off debt requires drive, focus, patience, and accountability. In this post I show how you can pay off a large debt. In a recent YouTube video, I talked about a hypothetical $10,000 debt. Now, for many people, this sort … Read More … Read More

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Should you let your partner handle your money for you?

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When you share finances with a partner, you can outsource the budgeting to the one who is most interested, but there are good reasons not to. After doing this for many years, I’ve learned a surprising fact: not everyone is … Read More … Read More

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How to take advantage of a student loan payment freeze

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During the student loan payment and interest freeze, if you are able to make payments now, you’ll have a much greater impact on your loans. A lot of the benefits that were passed to ease the crisis for people dealing … Read More … Read More

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Freed from the golden handcuffs: the surprising joy of being laid-off

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Anyone can feel like they have golden handcuffs even if they don’t make a lot of money. But breaking free can give you surprising relief. There is a lot to be unhappy about right now. Rampant injustice, an economy that … Read More … Read More

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