Happy New Year! 🎉 🥳 It's time to take a look back and see how the year went for the broad asset classes that I track. Per Morningstar, here are the total annual returns (includes price appreciation and dividends/interest) for … [Read the rest]
2023 Year-End Review: Annual Broad Asset Class & Target Fund Returns
Posted on January 1, 2024 // 3 Comments
Last updated: January 1, 2024
Worried about Overfunded 529 Balances? The Half-Time Community College Method
Posted on December 27, 2023 // 9 Comments
If you are considering a year-end contribution to a 529 college savings plan, you may be concerned about the possibility of not using the full balance. To be honest, this is not something that I worry about at all (spread across three kids, I … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 27, 2023
NASA FCU Premier eChecking Account: $300 Bonus
Posted on December 21, 2023 // 2 Comments
NASA Federal Credit Union (NASA FCU) has a new checking account promotion that is a bit of extra work, but may be worth it when you consider they often have pretty good certificate rates (see current special rates including 9-month CD at 5.70% APY). … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 21, 2023
Lowe’s: Buy $50 Gift Card, Get $10 eGift Card Free
Posted on December 21, 2023 // 2 Comments
We are in the home stretch of 2023. I hope that you all will be able to spend time with friends and family this holiday season. Posting will be extra brief and sporadic for the rest of the year. Buy $50 in Lowe's Gift Cards, get a $10 bonus … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 21, 2023
M1 Brokerage: $75 Referral Bonus w/ $10,000 Deposit
Posted on December 18, 2023 // 11 Comments
Updated January 2025. M1 is offering a $75 bonus if you open a new account with $10,000 and maintain it for 30 days. Here are the referral bonus details. Here is my M1 referral link (thanks if you use it!) from which you must start opening your new … [Read the rest]
Last updated: January 5, 2025
Targeted Fidelity Customers: Free TurboTax Premium Online ($5 for Download)
Posted on December 17, 2023 // 18 Comments
Fidelity Investments is offering selected customers free access to TurboTax Online Premium (Federal and State), or $5 for the TurboTax Premier Desktop edition. To find out if you are eligible, it is suggested that you look for the offer under … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 16, 2024
Top FDIC-Insured Savings Account Interest Rate vs. Inflation (2017-2023)
Posted on December 15, 2023 // Leave a Comment
Whenever an article mentions the "average savings account rate", I find that information useless. There are a lot of zeros in that average! But this Axios article has an interesting chart comparing the top savings rate vs. the rolling 3-month … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 15, 2023
Healthcare FSA Warning: Average Lost Contribution was $300-$400 Per Person
Posted on December 13, 2023 // 3 Comments
It's mid-December. Do you know where your Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution are? If it's still sitting in your FSA, your employer may be waiting to pocket it shortly (subject to possible carryover or grace period). … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 13, 2023
Mint to Credit Karma Transition: Financial Account Tracking and Budgeting Alternatives
Posted on December 11, 2023 // 19 Comments
Mint.com, the financial dashboard and budget tracking website bought by Intuit in 2009, is "shutting down" on January 1st, 2024 (update: now extended to March 2024). Shutting down doesn't feel like quite the right word, as though the Mint brand is … [Read the rest]
Last updated: January 9, 2024
Costco.com: Disney Gift Card 10% Off ($25 off $250, Limit 2)
Posted on December 11, 2023 // Leave a Comment
Costco.com is selling $250 Disney gift card for $224.99 (limit 2 per membership). These are eGift cards, but you can use them anywhere a normal Disney gift card would work. You are saving 10% off up to $500 in gift cards. These aren't available … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 11, 2023
Donor-Advised Funds Allow Private, Anonymous Donations
Posted on December 8, 2023 // 2 Comments
My favorite feature of donor-advised funds is the ability to easily donate appreciated stock to maximize tax-efficiency. My second-favorite feature has become the ability to donate anonymously. When I was starting out and figuring out how and … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 8, 2023
Best Interest Rates on Cash – December 2023
Posted on December 6, 2023 // 2 Comments
If you're leaving your cash in a checking account earning zero interest, you're missing out on a lot of potential interest. Here's my monthly roundup of the best interest rates on cash as of December 2023, roughly sorted from shortest to longest … [Read the rest]
Last updated: December 7, 2023
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Big List of Free Stocks from Brokerage Apps
Best Interest Rates on Cash - 2025
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Big List of Free Consumer Data Reports (Credit, Rent, Work)