Late on saving for retirement? Here’s how to catch up
According to a 2022 Bankrate survey, more than half of working Americans say they are behind on saving for retirement. Meanwhile, one in four have no retirement savings at all. 54% of the survey responders attribute their lack of retirement savings to inflation....
Understanding your W-4 and how to fill it out
Picture this. You've just landed your dream job, and you're thrilled to begin a new chapter in your career. But amid the excitement, there's one crucial piece of paperwork standing between you and your first paycheck: the mysterious and often misunderstood W-4 form....
$1.99 vs. $2: How our “left-digit bias” makes us overspend
Browse through any store or online retailer and you’ll see that prices ending in “.99” are extremely common. It’s a tried-and-true sales tactic that’s been used for at least a century, but does it really work? There’s research suggesting that the brain indeed...
The mind-blowing cost of raising a family
What do diapers, braces, and weekly piano lessons have in common? They all serve as reminders of the surprisingly high cost of starting a family and raising kids — a cost that, in general, is only rising as the years go by. This increase can be partially explained by...
Is it ever right to buy a home?
Should you buy a home or rent one instead? It’s a question that nearly everyone must ask themselves, especially when they are about to start a family and have children. We are often told that buying is the superior option. But renting is not as bad of a choice as...
How to overcome “oniomania” — compulsive spending disorder
The term “oniomania,” which is used to describe people with obsessive, problematic shopping and spending behaviors, consists of the Greek words “onios,” meaning “for sale,” and “mania.” Also known as Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) and Impulsive Compulsive Buying...
Will the FIRE movement really allow financial independence and early retirement?
Increasingly popular among millennials, the “financial independence, retire early” movement, or FIRE, is a lifestyle that encourages people to save as much money as possible as quickly as possible to become financially independent and retire earlier than a traditional...
How China gained — and lost — its spot as the world’s wealthiest nation
If you find yourself playing trivia and the question is “Which country has the biggest…?” or “Where do you find the most…?”, it’s a safe guess the answer will be China. The nation is huge. For context, the margin of error in the 2010 Chinese census — 25 million people...
How to psychologically recover from a major financial setback
Three-quarters of American workers over 60 have experienced at least one year without income at some point in their adult lives, according to research by the National Endowment for Financial Education. By age 70, 96% have experienced at least one major life shock like...
Financial planners aren’t just for rich people. They’re for you, too
Do you know the difference between interest and compound interest? Could you tell me what bonds, stocks, or mutual funds are? Can you explain inflation and how it affects your life? If not, don’t worry — you’re in good company. According to the National Bureau of...
