After speaking to dozens of parents, a principal a couple of times, and a financial aid officer, I’ve determined the biggest financial misconception about applying to college is that you have to be poor or middle class to receive financial aid. The feedback I’ve received from everybody is that you can earn a multiple-six figure […]
The Biggest Financial Misconception About Applying To College Read More »
Real estate is inherently local, with property values closely tied to the economic drivers and characteristics of specific regions. While understanding the national housing price forecast for 2025 provides valuable context, savvy investors should focus on identifying cities and states with stronger growth potential. After all, outperforming the market is just as important as generating
Capitalizing On The Return To Office: Big City Real Estate Insights Read More »
Now that I’ve shared the 2025 S&P 500 target price forecast, let’s dive into housing price forecasts for 2025. The outlook from housing analysts is positive, with expected gains ranging from -0.4% to 10.8%, and an average of about 3%. The only negative housing price forecast comes from Moody’s, which predicts a slight decline of -0.4% largely
2025 Housing Price Forecasts: Continued Strong Gains Read More »
Sin—actions deemed morally wrong or harmful—can be difficult to resist, especially when money is involved. A hefty paycheck or a prestigious title can make it easier to overlook the potential harm our work may cause society. Moreover, unless you’re working for free, there’s often a moral trade-off involved—someone or something usually has to bear a cost
Wealth vs. Morality: The Dilemma of Profiting From Sin Read More »
I recently had dinner with Steve Chen, founder of Boldin, in San Francisco, and I’m excited to deepen my partnership with his company. Since first writing about Boldin (formerly NewRetirement) in 2020, I’ve seen how much the platform has evolved and expanded its offerings. It is one of the most powerful financial planning tools today.
Boldin Financial Planner Review: Financial Freedom Made Easier Read More »
There’s a lot of enthusiasm for Roth IRA conversions and Mega Backdoor Roth IRAs—and for good reason. Paying taxes upfront on your retirement accounts can be a savvy move, especially if you’re in a mid-to-lower federal income tax bracket, as it allows for tax-free withdrawals in the future. That said, thanks to the latest standard
Maximizing Tax-Free Income and Withdrawals In Retirement Read More »
The 2025 Wall Street S&P 500 forecasts are rolling in, and so far, the outlook is all bullish. I haven’t found a single bearish forecast, which is somewhat worrisome. Most firms project the S&P 500 will close 2025 around 6,500—a solid 8.3% gain from the 6,000 level. If 2024 ends as expected, with the index
2025 Wall Street S&P 500 Forecasts Are All Bullish – Uh Oh! Read More »
I firmly believe that above-average wealth is largely a result of luck – around 60% – 70%. If we fail to recognize our lucky financial breaks, we risk confusing our abilities with good economic times. This overconfidence can lead to poor decisions and increase the likelihood of financial ruin. Since starting Financial Samurai in 2009, I’ve witnessed
How One Lucky Financial Break Can Change Everything For Good Read More »
The Santa Claus Rally refers to a historically observed stock market phenomenon where U.S. equity markets tend to perform well during the last five trading days of the year and the first two trading days of the new year. Historically, the average gain during this seven-day period is around 1.3%. As time has gone on, largely thanks to
The Santa Claus Rally Phenomenon And Its Origins Read More »
Ever since I started saving for retirement in 1999, I’ve been a proponent of tax-deferred retirement vehicles like the 401(k) and skeptical of tax-now vehicles like the Roth IRA. Working in banking, I was already being taxed out the wazoo and had no desire to pay even more. Frankly, I wasn’t even familiar with the
Mega Backdoor Roth IRA: Supercharging Your Retirement Savings Read More »
