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FORGOTTEN HISTORY: 6 - The Untold Story

When Should You Start Saving For Next Summer’s Family Vacation?

The best time to start saving for next summer’s family vacation is usually the fall before you plan to travel. Starting in September or October gives families several months to build a travel fund before airfare, lodging, meals, and activities begin competing for their attention. Waiting until spring can turn…

The Free Financial Advisor · Oct 1

Earn More Than $150,000 and Over 50? Your 401(k) Catch-Up Rules Changed in 2026

Turning 50 used to open the door to extra traditional 401(k) contributions without much fuss. In 2026, higher earners face a new wrinkle: workers whose wages exceed a federal threshold generally must make their catch-up contributions on a Roth basis.

The Free Financial Advisor · Oct 1

Social Security Says You Owe $10,000 — What Happens If You Can’t Pay It Back?

A $10,000 Social Security overpayment notice can turn a routine mail delivery into a financial emergency. If your monthly benefits cover groceries, rent, medication, and utilities, repaying that amount may seem impossible. However, Social Security has procedures for disputing overpayments and requesting relief when repayment would cause hardship. You do…

The Free Financial Advisor · Oct 1

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Made Money From a Side Hustle in 2026? Don’t Confuse a 1099-K With What You Actually Owe the IRS

A 1099-K can make a profitable side hustle look more lucrative than it really was. If payment apps, online marketplaces, or gig platforms report thousands of dollars in transactions, that figure does not automatically represent taxable profit or the amount owed to the IRS.

The Free Financial Advisor · Oct 1

Medicare Advantage Plans Are Finalizing 2027 Changes — 7 Things to Check Before October 15

Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 deserve a closer look before October 15, when the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period begins. A plan that covered a familiar doctor, affordable prescriptions, and convenient specialist visits this year may offer different terms next year.

The Free Financial Advisor · Oct 1

The Mortgage Market Is Sending Two Opposite Signals—Here’s What Buyers Should Know

Mortgage lending is picking up, yet getting a mortgage has not necessarily become easier. That contradiction sits at the center of the housing market right now.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 30

After the Fed’s September Move: 7 Holdings That Reprice Within Weeks, and the One Costing You Income Now

The Federal Reserve changed interest rates again in September, but it did something the original headline gets wrong: It raised the federal funds target by a quarter point, bringing the range to 3.75% to 4%.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 30

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The IRS October 15 Deadline Is Getting Close: 7 Things Extension Filers Should Do Now

The IRS October 15 deadline for 2025 federal tax returns is getting close. For taxpayers who requested an extension, this is the point where waiting can turn a manageable filing into a frantic scramble.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 30

$1 Million at 65: How Long Does It Last if You Withdraw $4,000 a Month?

A $1 million retirement portfolio can provide $4,000 a month at age 65, but the answer to “How long will it last?” depends on what happens between the first withdrawal and the last. At $4,000 per month, the portfolio faces $48,000 in annual withdrawals before considering taxes or inflation.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 30

Your Credit Limit Jumped to $30,000: Asking the Bank to Lower It Can Cost You Points Before a Mortgage

A credit card issuer just raised your limit to $30,000, and your first reaction might be to ask for a smaller number. That can feel sensible if a huge limit seems like an invitation to overspend, but lowering it can create a credit-score problem before a mortgage application.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 30

Credit Card Balances Are Funding Groceries Again—What That Means for Your 2027 Budget

Credit cards are increasingly covering grocery bills, and that changes what a household budget really needs to accomplish in 2027. The concern is not simply that people use plastic at the checkout. The bigger issue appears when grocery purchases remain on the card after the due date and become part…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 29

8 Signs Your Debt Is Becoming a Retirement Problem Instead of a Budget Problem

Debt becomes a retirement problem when monthly payments start affecting more than this month’s cash flow. The warning signs often appear years before retirement, through decisions that quietly reduce savings, limit flexibility, or force future income to cover yesterday’s purchases.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 29

We Ran Avalanche vs. Snowball on the Same $30,000 Debt — The Cheaper Method Isn’t the One Most People Finish

The debt avalanche and debt snowball start with the same pile of $30,000, yet they attack it from completely different directions. One targets the highest interest rate first, while the other wipes out the smallest balance first.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 29

Roth Contributions in Your Peak Earning Years: The Bracket Math That Can Cost You Thousands in Retirement

Roth contributions can make retirement income tax-free, but that benefit comes with a price today. During peak earning years, that price can land in a much higher federal tax bracket than the one that applies after leaving work.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 29

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The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 29

One Spouse Wants the Mortgage Gone, the Other Wants to Invest: the Math That Settles It — and the Tax Trap Both Miss

One spouse wants to send a giant check to the mortgage company. The other wants to keep the money invested and let the portfolio grow. Both can point to a reasonable argument, but the household cannot optimize for two different outcomes with the same dollars.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 28

A 0% Credit Card Offer Lasts 18 Months — How Much Do You Need to Pay Every Month to Beat the Deadline?

An 18-month 0% APR credit card offer gives a balance a temporary vacation from interest. It does not, however, make the balance disappear.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 28

Money Market Yields Slide After the September Fed Cut—When to Move Cash to a CD

Money market yields are moving after the Federal Reserve’s September decision, but there is a twist worth catching before moving a pile of cash. The Fed raised its benchmark rate by a quarter point on September 16, taking the target range to 3.75% to 4%.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 28

A Couple Has $2 Million and Won’t Touch It — The Underspending Trap That Hands Their Savings to the IRS

A couple with $2 million saved might look like the picture of retirement success. But if most of that money sits inside traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, refusing to spend it can create a tax problem later.

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The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 28

Your Advisor Turns Up in SEC Records — What That Filing Does Not Promise Before You Wire Money

An advisor appearing in SEC records can make a financial pitch look much more official. But an SEC filing does not automatically mean the SEC registered, approved, endorsed, or investigated that person or firm.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 28

Your 401(k) Match Isn’t Free If You Quit Too Soon: The Vesting Cliff That Erases 30 Years of Growth

Your 401(k) balance can look impressive on paper, yet part of that money may not belong to you yet. Employer matching contributions often come with a vesting schedule, and leaving a job too early can cost some or all of that match.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 27

What Happens If You Accidentally Pay Your Credit Card Twice?

Paying a credit card twice can turn a routine bill into a brief financial mystery. The account may show a zero balance, then suddenly display a negative number, even though nothing went wrong with the card itself.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 27

Your House Makes You a Millionaire on Paper — Here’s the Retirement Trap That Creates

A $1 million house can make a homeowner a millionaire on paper without putting $1 million in the bank. That distinction becomes much more important after the paychecks stop, because a home can build enormous wealth while producing very little spendable income.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 27

Mortgage Originations Are Jumping—But Getting Approved Has Actually Become Harder

Mortgage originations are climbing again, but that does not mean lenders have suddenly opened the gates for everyone. More loans can close because market activity improves, while individual borrowers still face a demanding approval process. For someone preparing to buy a home, that distinction matters far more than a headline…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 27

Past 800, Lenders Stop Raising Your Limit — Where Chasing More Points Quietly Costs You Money

An 800-plus credit score can put a borrower in an enviable position, yet that number does not guarantee another credit-limit increase. Lenders consider more than a score when deciding how much credit to extend, and pushing for a few additional points can create costs that outweigh the benefit.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 27

$500,000 in a 401(k) and $100,000 in Cash: Spending the Wrong One First Can Raise Your Medicare Premium Two Years Later

A retiree with $500,000 in a 401(k) and another $100,000 sitting in cash has more than a simple spending choice. Taking money from the 401(k) can increase taxable income, and that income can affect Medicare premiums two years later.

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