Radical Finances

The Target problem: Managing (over)spending at the Everything Store

Target and other big retailers that sell a wide range of products present a challenge to those who wish to track their spending. Target has been around for decades, but it only hit my radar in college, when the first … Read MoreRead More

Debunking Ben & Arthur: How to win at investing even if you start later

The parable from the Dave Ramsey team about Ben and Arthur is fatally flawed, which is good news for pretty much everyone. Everyone knows that you should start saving for retirement early. And that makes sense. The sooner you start, … Read MoreRead More

Why inflation might worry you (but probably shouldn’t)

I wade into popular economics to interpret recent higher inflation rates, to see if there is any merit in being concerned. I remember my first savings account that my parents opened for me when I was a kid. It was … Read MoreRead More

Why Ally’s Surprise Savings is terrifying

I explore the Surprise Savings product from Ally and suggest a different way to achieve the exact same results. Last night, I was logging on to Ally to adjust some of my automatic transfers between my checking account and my … Read MoreRead More

Why I don’t talk about FIRE

I discuss the FIRE (Financial Independence / Retire Early) movement, and how it falls short for so many of us, despite all of the hype. FIRE (Financial Independence / Retire Early) is a financial strategy or philosophy that encourages minimalist … Read MoreRead More

What to do with company stock

Some employees receive company stock as part of their total compensation package. Here’s what you want to do with it (and why). Note: This is not financial advice. Please see my disclosure policy for details. If you’re fortunate enough to … Read MoreRead More

Is it really better to wait to claim Social Security until you turn 70?

I challenge the conventional wisdom that you should wait until age 70 to claim Social Security benefits in order to get the most out of it. According to US News, the average monthly Social Security benefit as of 2022 is … Read MoreRead More

2021 in review: The top posts of the year

A look back at the top posts of 2021 on this site, including both my favorites and the ones readers viewed most. Like most people who are engaging with the pandemic, 2021 felt both swift and eternal. It’s hard to … Read MoreRead More

How to start an emergency fund when money is tight

When money is tight, an emergency fund is even more important. Here are some strategies to get you to put something, anything, away. You need an emergency fund. An emergency fund is not savings. You need that too, but that’s … Read MoreRead More

Five reasons why my approach is better than Dave Ramsey

I discuss the many shortcomings of the Dave Ramsey approach to personal finance, and show better ways to help more people. I’ve mentioned Dave Ramsey numerous times over the years. I’m not here to bash Dave, at least not without … Read MoreRead More