Andy | Saving to Invest

Tip Less With The No Tax on Tips Deduction?

The news lands in your lap like a crisp $20 bill: No tax on tips. It's a gift from the legislature, a clean cut for the servers, the bartenders, and the delivery drivers. The logic is simple, and on the surface, entirely pleasing: The person who serves you a great…

This Rising Costs of Our Financial Life Now and into the Future

I saw this interesting graphic on the rising costs of basic needs from Goldman Sachs. It prompted me to think about my life in retirement and what future spending patterns will look like for my kids. Unless things change, this pattern will likely continue for the next couple of decades.…

Changes to your 2026 Medicare coverage

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 refining plan benefits. Part I: Key Changes to Prescription Drug (Part D) Costs Your…

Using AI to Spot a Fake Luxury bag

While my family and I were having lunch at a mall food court, we noticed a group of teenagers at a nearby table and the expensive designer bags some of them had—specifically a Christian Dior one (see picture below) that retails for well over $2,000! The immediate debate among us…

The $10,000 Investment: 10 Low-Cost Exercises to Bulletproof Your Financial and Physical Health

Personal finance is about more than just stocks and savings accounts. Your greatest asset, often overlooked, is your physical health. A strong, flexible body is a powerful hedge against massive future expenses. Ignoring chronic low back pain is a financial time bomb waiting to explode. It can lead to expensive…

2026 Retirement Contribution Limits: Your Guide to Boosting Savings

As we look toward the 2026 tax year, it's time to review the updated contribution limits for your key retirement and savings accounts. Staying on top of these numbers is crucial for anyone serious about maximizing their financial future. The good news? Due to inflation, most limits are increasing, providing…

The 2026 Tariff-Funded Farmer Stimulus Relief Package

The Trump administration has recently affirmed its commitment to provide a new round of financial assistance for U.S. farmers, utilizing revenue generated from the imposition of tariffs. This tariff-funded farmer relief is intended to be a crucial stop-gap as the agricultural sector grapples with low commodity prices and lost export…

Navigating the AI Investment Frenzy: A Guide to Protecting Your Portfolio

The world is buzzing with the transformative power of artificial intelligence. From self-driving cars to chatbots that can write poetry, AI is reshaping our lives and, by extension, the financial markets. Investors are flocking to companies at the forefront of this revolution, leading to unprecedented gains and, for some, a…

The Great Deception: Why Companies Say AI Boosts Productivity When Job Losses Are the Darker Reality

When you hear a company executive talk about artificial intelligence, you’ll likely hear them use the word “productivity.” It’s a recurring theme in every CEO’s earnings call and tech company press release. The message is clear and optimistic: AI will automate the mundane, freeing up human workers to be more…

Navigating the New Rules: How the SECURE 2.0 Act Impacts Your Retirement Catch-Up Contributions in 2026 and 2027

The road to retirement is a marathon, not a sprint. For many, as they approach their fifties, the focus shifts to making a final push to boost their savings. This is where "catch-up contributions" come into play, allowing those aged 50 and over to make additional elective deferrals to their…

What Are You Really Quitting To Chase?

There’s a classic story about a fisherman and a businessman. The businessman is on vacation and sees a fisherman relaxing on his boat. The businessman asks why the fisherman doesn’t stay out longer to catch more fish. The fisherman says he catches enough to feed his family. The businessman, a…

Navigating the Alternative Minimum Tax: A Guide to the 2026 Updates

For a number of years, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) has been a non-factor for most American taxpayers. The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017 raised the exemption amounts and income thresholds so high that only a small fraction of individuals were subject to this…

The Psychology of Money In Group Trips That Damages Friendships

We’ve all been there. You’re on a group trip, the sun is setting, and the cocktails are flowing. You’ve just had the best day of your life, but then someone pulls out their phone and says, “Alright, let’s figure out who owes who.” The air goes stale, the laughter dies,…

2026 Tax Season Preview: A Complete Guide to Key Filing Dates and Deadlines

While the official start date can vary slightly each year, the IRS typically begins accepting and processing individual tax returns in late January 2026. This is the green light for you to submit your tax return electronically. Even if you've been working on your taxes since the new year started,…