Andy | Saving to Invest

2027 Military Pay Chart and 7-6-5% Raise (Projected)

For 2027, President Trump has used his own statutory authority to set the tiered military pay raise the House already passed — 7% for junior enlisted, scaling down to 5% for senior officers — even though the Senate's NDAA hasn't moved. That doesn't finalize the number (Congress can still supersede…

The Tax and Financial Planning Playbook: Maximizing Deductions, Credits, and Retirement Savings for 2026–2027

The IRS has finalized its 2026 inflation adjustments, and paired with provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), they add up to real opportunity: a higher standard deduction, wider tax brackets, bigger retirement contribution limits, and two brand-new deductions for hourly and tipped workers. This page is my running…

Changes to Your 2026 Medicare Coverage — Plus the 2027 Part B Premium and Part D Outlook

Here is a snapshot of the major changes to your 2026 Medicare coverage, primarily driven by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Following the snapshot are details that can help you manage your out-of-pocket health costs and refine your plan benefits. Part I: Key Changes to Prescription Drug (Part D) Costs…

SECURE 2.0 Act Updates for 2026 and 2027: Roth Catch-Up Rules, the New Saver’s Match, and Mandatory Auto-Enrollment

SECURE 2.0 has been rolling out in phases since it passed in 2022, and 2026 is the year several of its biggest provisions stopped being “coming soon” and started being real. The Roth catch-up mandate for high earners is now in effect. Mandatory auto-enrollment applies to newly created plans. And…

2026–2027 OBBBA Tax Changes: What the One Big Beautiful Bill Means for Business and Energy Credits

If you run a business — whether it's a solo consulting practice, a restaurant, or a mid-size manufacturer — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) changes your tax picture significantly. Some changes are genuinely good news for investment planning. Others close doors that were previously open, especially on the…

2026–2027 Auto Loan Interest Tax Deduction: New Cars, Made in America, Up to $10,000

When you're staring at a new car loan at 6–8% interest, the monthly payment can sting. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) gives you a way to take some of that sting back: a federal income tax deduction on the interest you pay, up to $10,000 per year, for…

How to Claim Your Child’s Trump Account and the $1,000: Auto-Enrollment, 2027 Limits and the Tax Catch at 18

Your child probably already has a Trump Account. Starting October 1, 2026, Treasury opened accounts automatically for eligible children, so you no longer have to sign up first. What you do have to do is claim the account, and for kids born 2025 through 2028, separately elect the $1,000. Until…

2026–2027 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): What Every Tax Filer Needs to Know

If you've filed taxes in the last few years, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has already shown up on your 2025 return — and will do so for every return through 2028. In this post I will walk you through exactly what changed, what it means for your…

The $1,000 Charitable Deduction for Non-Itemizers Is Now Law — Here’s How OBBBA Changed Giving in 2026

Non-itemizers can now deduct charitable cash gifts on their federal return for the first time since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) nearly doubled the standard deduction and pushed most filers out of itemizing altogether. This isn't a proposal working its way through Congress anymore — it's enacted…

Should You Skip Filing a Tax Return? Minimum Income to File and What Skipping Costs You in 2026

For tax year 2025 — the return most people filed by April 2026 — you were required to file if your gross income was at least $15,750 as a single filer under 65, or $31,500 married filing jointly with both spouses under 65. Below that, the IRS generally doesn't require…

BOI Reporting for LLCs: Domestic Companies Are Now Exempt (Here’s Who Still Has to File)

If you own an LLC and have been putting off dealing with the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement, here's the update you've been waiting for: you almost certainly don't need to file, and haven't since March 2025. This page has gone through several rounds of "wait and see" as…

2027 GS Pay Scale and Pay Chart: No Raise and Freeze at 2026 Rates

The General Schedule (GS) pay scale sets base pay for roughly 1.5 million civilian federal employees. This page tracks confirmed raises and the latest proposals for each year. For 2027, the debate is almost over: President Trump's August 26, 2026 letter to Congress set a pay freeze for most civilian…

“We Received Your Return and Sent You a Letter Requesting More Information” — What This WMR Message Means in 2026

Plenty of filers checking Where's My Refund (WMR) or the IRS app this season have hit the same status: the IRS received your return, but a letter requesting more information is on its way to you. Your refund is on pause — but this message is a to-do item, not…

IRS Code 806 Explained: What Your Withholding Credit Means for Your 2026-2027 Refund

Code 806 on your IRS transcript is the total federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax withheld on your behalf for the year. It isn't your refund — it's the credit the IRS weighs against your actual tax liability to figure out whether you're getting money back…