Andy | Saving to Invest

Nevada Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $631/Week for 26 Weeks

Nevada's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) — raised its maximum weekly benefit to $631 in 2026, up from $469 in 2025. This significant $162 increase follows Nevada's statutory formula, which ties the maximum to the prior year's average monthly wage;…

Alabama Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $275/Week

Alabama's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) — has the distinction of one of the lowest maximum weekly benefit caps in the United States. The 2026 maximum ($275 per week) is already locked in; the open question is whether ADOL adjusts it for 2027,…

Maryland Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $430/Week via BEACON

Maryland unemployment insurance pays between $50 and $430 per week in 2026, with benefits available for up to 26 weeks. That cap hasn't changed in several years, but a law passed in the 2026 General Assembly session (SB 3) will tie Maryland's maximum benefit to 40% of the state average…

2026-2027 Updates: Virginia (VA) Unemployment Benefits — Up to $478/Week Starting July 5

Virginia's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) — is about to get a meaningful boost. For 2026, the current maximum is $430 per week, but that jumps to $478 per week for new claims starting July 5, 2026 thanks to legislation passed earlier this year.…

North Carolina Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount $350/Week Maximum for 12 Weeks

North Carolina's unemployment insurance program, run by the Division of Employment Security (DES), is one of the most restrictive in the United States. The state cap of $350 per week is low compared to peers, and the 12-week maximum duration is tied with Florida for the shortest in the country.…

IRS Refund Interest in 2026: The 7% Rate, the 45-Day Rule and Who Actually Gets Paid

If your refund shows up more than 45 days after the filing deadline, the IRS owes you interest on it. The rate for individual overpayments is 7% a year, compounded daily, and the IRS kept it there for the fourth quarter of 2026. You've probably heard that a tax refund…

Michigan Unemployment Benefits in 2026–2027: $530/Week for 26 Weeks, Rising to $614 in January

Michigan's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) — saw its first significant benefit increase in years starting January 1, 2026. The maximum weekly benefit rose from $446 to $530 per claim filed in 2026, an $84/week improvement following SB 40 signed by Governor Whitmer. Michigan…

Wisconsin Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $370/Week for 26 Weeks

Wisconsin's unemployment insurance program, run by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD), provides benefits for up to 26 weeks. With a 2026 maximum of $370 per week, the benefit amounts are on the lower end for a Midwest state, but the program's partial unemployment rules and access to complementary state…

Ohio Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amounts Up to $842/Week

Ohio's unemployment insurance program — run by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) — pays benefits for up to 26 weeks, with a meaningful boost for workers who have dependents. The 2026 maximum weekly benefit ($624, or up to $842 with dependents) is already locked in —…

Buying a Franchise in 2026? 10 Myths and 5 Risk Factors I Learned the Hard Way

I owned a second-tier franchise for one year before selling it for a $170,000 loss. That's an expensive way to learn what franchisors don't put in the pitch deck, but it means I know exactly what I'm talking about here. Franchises sell an appealing story: brand recognition, a proven system,…

2026-2027 Stimulus Check Updates: No New Federal Payment — State Programs and What’s Being Proposed

No new federal stimulus check has been authorized for 2026. The last round of federal Economic Impact Payments went out in 2021, and a fourth check would require Congress to pass new legislation — which has not happened. That said, there are real payments going out to Americans in 2026,…

The Power of Compounding: $1 Million Now or a Penny Doubled for 30 Days?

Would you rather have $1 million today, or a single penny that doubles every day for 30 days? Most people take the million. However, this would be the wrong decision as the penny doubling ultimately wins by a significant margin. By day 30, it's worth nearly $5.4 million. More than…

State Unemployment Phone Numbers and Getting in Touch With a Live Agent

One of the most common questions I get is simply: how do I reach a real person at my state unemployment office? Most state UI agencies push callers toward their website or an automated line first, and getting through to a live agent for a claim-specific issue can take some…

New Jersey Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $905/Week for 26 Weeks

New Jersey's unemployment insurance program — managed by the NJ Division of Unemployment Insurance — provides some of the strongest UI benefits in the country. The maximum weekly benefit rose to $905 for 2026, up from $854 the year before, following the statutory annual adjustment; the 2027 maximum hasn't been…