Andy | Saving to Invest

2026 Medical Expense Deduction: The 7.5% AGI Floor and What You Can Actually Write Off

I get asked about this deduction every tax season, usually from someone who just had a rough year medically and wants to know if any of it comes back at tax time. The honest answer: sometimes, but the bar is higher than most people assume. The rule itself is simple.…

3-Fund Portfolio in 2026: Vanguard vs Fidelity vs Schwab — Which Index Funds to Use

After a year of stock-picking and sector ETF trading that took more time than it was worth, I switched to a simple 3-fund index portfolio — and I haven't looked back. The strategy is straightforward: hold one US total market fund, one international fund, and one bond fund. Rebalance quarterly.…

Mortgage Rates and Home Prices in 2026: Why 6.5% Rates Haven’t Cooled the Market (Plus the 2027 Outlook)

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is running about 6.5%–6.7% as of late July 2026. The median existing home price is $440,600, up 1.8% from a year ago. Those two facts sitting next to each other confuse a lot of people — rates are more than double where they were…

2026–2027 ACA Marketplace Health Insurance Subsidies: The Enhanced Tax Credits Are Gone — Here’s What You Actually Pay Now

If you bought ACA marketplace coverage for 2026 and your premium jumped — sometimes by hundreds of dollars a month — you're not imagining it. The enhanced premium tax credits that made Obamacare coverage cheap for millions of people expired at the end of 2025, and Congress hasn't renewed them.…

How to Pay for College in 2026: Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Alternatives to a 529

A 529 plan is the best-known college savings tool, but it's rarely the whole answer. Between financial aid, scholarships, work-study, and a few savings vehicles most people overlook, there's usually more room to close the gap than families assume. I've written separately about choosing a 529 plan in detail, so…

Your 2013 Tax Rate – Understanding Your IRS Marginal and Effective Tax Bracket

With the 2012 tax season in the rear view mirror, its time to start thinking about 2013 taxes and strategies that you can put in place to minimize taxes owed in 2014. But before that take some time to familiarize yourself with the new 2013 tax brackets shown below. But, be careful…

Why Is It Taking So Long to Get My Tax Refund? 2026 IRS Delay Reasons and Data

The IRS says 9 out of 10 refunds go out within 21 days of an accepted e-filed return. But per the National Taxpayer Advocate's mid-year report to Congress (released June 24, 2026), more than 14 million returns were suspended for further review this filing season, and over 1 million taxpayers…

Itemized Deductions and Pease Personal Exemption Phase-out Income Limit Changes Under Biden Plan

Under the latest Biden tax proposals, there is talk of restoring the the tax benefit limitation of itemized deductions to 28 percent of value for those earning more than $400,000. The proposal would also restores the Pease limitation on itemized deductions for taxable incomes above $400,000 that is discussed below…

AGI vs. MAGI: The Income Number That Actually Decides Your Roth IRA and ACA Subsidy Eligibility

Your gross income, your adjusted gross income (AGI), and your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) are three different numbers — and mixing them up is one of the most common ways people miscalculate their own eligibility for a Roth IRA, an IRA deduction, or an ACA health insurance subsidy. Gross…

How Leveraged and Inverse ETFs Can Fool You With Absolute vs. Relative Returns

Leveraged and Inverse Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have become a very popular tool for investors trying to super charge their gains from the volatility in market movements. Leveraged ETFs promise to provide a multiple of the returns on the underlying index they track. An inverse ETF on the other hand tries…

Average Monthly Social Security Benefits Change With COLA Increase

See this article for the latest COLA increase - https://savingtoinvest.com/social-security-tax-and-cost-of-living-adjustment-cola The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed that the 2013 COLA increase will be 1.7%. This means that nearly 62 million Americans will see their benefit payments increase in January 2013, with the average retiree receiving a $21 increase. As detailed in the…

When Should You Start Saving for Your Child’s College Education? Right Now.

A set of three couples sit around an oval table, discussing the future of their newborns. A father asks, "Has anyone actually started saving for college yet?" One parent cries, "Ugh not me." Another parent tries to explain, "No, no you got time." But then the "smart" couple confesses and…

Fiscal Cliff: Payroll Credit and Income Tax Cut Extensions, Unemployment Insurance and Reserve Bank Actions

The American economy is experiencing a seeming reversal of fortune following significant internal and external headwinds. The stock market, which tends to be a leading indicator of the economy, is back to 2011 levels. GDP and employment figures are also showing signs of slowing down. Some experts, including former President…

Can I Make 401K or IRA to Roth IRA Conversions? What Are The New Rules and Income Limits

[2013 Update] With a deal to avert the fiscal cliff reached and legislated under the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) of 2012, a couple of significant employer sponsored retirement plan features have reappeared with some modifications. This includes the Roth 401(k) conversion and Charitable IRA contributions. You can read more…