Back in November, I spotlighted a letter from a reader who agonized over a debt dilemma that involved his retirement savings. "Nick from Michigan" wanted to tap his 401(k) to pay off $12,000 in credit card debt, but couldn't pull the trigger. I … [Read more...]
The Five (And Only Five) Times it Might be OK to Tap a Retirement Account
February 14, 2013 by 3 Comments
Your Tax Document Checklist: The No-Stress Guide To Filing Your Taxes, Part 1
February 12, 2013 by
This Website is all about taking confusing, boring topics and presenting them as clearly as possible. And few topics are more confusing and boring than taxes. So whether taxes simply fail to excite you or flat out freak you out, we're going to try … [Read more...]
What The Fiscal Cliff Deal Means For Your Taxes
February 12, 2013 by
A month ago, all everyone was hearing about was this darn fiscal cliff. Are we gonna go off the cliff? Are taxes going up? Going down? What exactly is Congress doing up there on that hill? Is the world going to end as we know it?! Phew, it was … [Read more...]
How Do You Balance Saving for Retirement With Other Goals?
February 7, 2013 by
It’s perhaps the biggest financial quandary facing every young saver: Personal finance advice –- including our own --- implores you to save as much for retirement as possible. But the younger you are, the more likely you have other important … [Read more...]
ETFs: What They Are and Why They (Probably) Belong in Your Portfolio
January 31, 2013 by
An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a diversified investment product that can be bought and sold in shares on the stock market in the same way you can buy and sell shares of stock in an individual public company. In a single share of an ETF, you can … [Read more...]
Q&A: Should I Invest Money I Need in Two Years?
January 24, 2013 by
Q: I just started my first full-time job (this Monday!) and found your blog doing a search trying to make sense of my 401(k) options. I have been so inspired reading all over your blog since then and learning more about investing and saving for … [Read more...]
What’s Happening to My Taxes? The Fiscal Cliff Compromise in 60 Seconds
January 2, 2013 by
I don't write about politics until those rare days Washington actually does something that affects our daily lives. And after months of grandstanding and stonewalling over the “fiscal cliff”, today is one of those days. Here’s what the … [Read more...]
Can I Cash Out My Old 401(k) And Take The Cash?
January 1, 2013 by
It's a basic but all-too common question posed on financial blogs like this one: "I just left my job. I have like $1,000 sitting in my old 401(k) and I'm short on cash. Can I just cash out the 401(k)?" About cashing out old 401(k)s Technically, … [Read more...]
Say Auld Lang Syne to Five Misconceptions About Charitable Giving
December 27, 2012 by
A few weeks back, my Money Under 30 colleague (and Chicago homie) Maria LaMagna wrote How to Donate Your Money Sensibly about charitable giving during the holidays. To be sure, giving is still on a lot of people's minds, though the focus changes … [Read more...]
Ask David: What Should I Do With My Year-end Bonus Check?
December 20, 2012 by
After many years of school, I now have my first job and I expect to receive a year-end bonus somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000. What should I do with my bonus check? What kind of saving options do I have? (I will already have maxed out my 401k.) … [Read more...]
