Latest posts
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Debt Management Plan vs Consolidation Loan: Pick Smart
The debt management plan vs consolidation loan question comes down to two things you can measure: what each path costs in dollars, and which one fits how you handle credit. Both turn a pile of card payments into one monthly payment. And with a few numbers in hand, you can compare them in an afternoon.…
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Student Loan Repayment Options 2026: Your Move Now
The student loan repayment options 2026 landscape looks very different from a year ago. The SAVE plan has ended, a new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) opened on July 1, 2026, and servicers have been sending notices that start a clock. If you hold federal Direct Loans, the best thing you can do this week is…
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Credit Card Payoff Plan: Pick the Fastest Path
A credit card payoff plan is a written schedule that tells every dollar you can spare where to go, and in my view it’s the most effective thing you can do about card debt. The reason is simple arithmetic. According to the Federal Reserve’s data on FRED, the average interest rate on credit card accounts…
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Low Income Year Roth Conversion: The Smart Playbook
A low income year roth conversion is, in my view, one of the few tax moves that can reward you for a year when money is tight. If you’re between jobs, on a sabbatical, running a business with a down year, or retired but not yet taking Social Security, your tax rate may be lower…
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Hidden Marginal Tax Rate: Avoid the Costly Zones
A hidden marginal tax rate is the real tax cost of your next dollar when other rules react to it, and it can be higher than the bracket label on your return. The good news is that these zones sit at published income levels, so you can find yours in a few minutes. This post…
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Calculate Your Effective Tax Rate Exactly
You can calculate your effective tax rate in about ten minutes with your last tax return and a calculator. The result is a percentage that shows what share of your income went to federal income tax, and you can use it when you plan a budget or compare your paycheck withholding with your actual tax.…
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The Electricity Supplier Teaser Rate Trap — And How to Shop Safely
In states where you can choose your electricity supplier, a low introductory price can be followed by a much higher variable rate. The good news is that the rules and notices built into these markets give you everything you need to shop safely. This post covers two documented Connecticut examples, the contract disclosures and notices…
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Heat Pump Water Heater Federal Tax Credit — What’s Still Real in 2026
Some pages still advertise a federal tax credit for heat pump water heaters. The IRS page for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit covers improvements made through December 31, 2025, so a unit installed after that date is not covered by it. Below are the sourced rules, an assumed example and my own suggestions. What…
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Age in Bonds Rule — The 2026 Update Nobody’s Making
The age-in-bonds rule is popular because it fits on a sticky note: pick a number, subtract your age, and you have a stock percentage. The title mentions an “update nobody’s making,” and the useful update is not a new constant. It is a short list of adjustments that turns the rule into a better starting…
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Do Active Funds Beat the Index? What Morningstar, SPIVA and a New Study Show
“Very few active funds beat the index” is a popular statement, and the number attached to it changes depending on how it is measured. What the published scorecards show is more useful anyway: a range of results that depends on the category, the time period, the cost and the method. This post lays out three…