Category: Taxes and Retirement

At this time of year, many people are waiting fosr their tax refunds and regularly reviewing their IRS tax transcripts to try and get information on their refund amount and payment dates. In the past, taxpayers had to scour forums and blog posts just to decipher what various tax codes,…

In a sign of the times and the seemingly inherent war footing the current administration is taking, it was little surprise to see many Departmet of Defense/War are getting a bonus of 15 to 25 percent (up to $25,000) of basic pay. per recent directives. This trend continues despite the…

The TACO trade was in full effect this week. For those unfamiliar, the acronym stands for "Trump Always Chickens Out." It suggests that the president frequently backtracks on his positions whenever the stock market reacts negatively to his rhetoric. Essentially, the strategy for traders or those in the know is…

The use of the presidential pardon is becoming absurd. It seems that every other day, we hear about another wealthy Bitcoin entrepreneur, political operative, or well-connected individual receiving clemency from the Trump administration. A recent case in point is the pardon of former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced and…

This classic investor paradox is what I find myself pondering these days. I am keenly aware of the medium-to-long-term negative impacts geopolitical risks can have, but it is also hard to ignore the inexorable rise of the market—and one certainly doesn’t want to miss out. Like many investors, I am…

Getting a tax break often feels like finding money in an old coat pocket. This year, the IRS has handed out four brand-new "pockets" thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). To claim these benefits, you will need to get familiar with a new form: Schedule 1-A. Whether…

The IRS has confirmed it will start processing 2025 tax filings and refunds from January 26th, 2026. Key dates to be aware of are shown in the table below. See this detailed article for more information and expected refund processing schedule. Although the IRS will not start accepting and processing tax returns until late January, people…

Despite concerns of a freeze to GS pay scales for 2026 the Trump Administration’s has ended up proposing a small raise for covered federal employees in 2026, per the recently submitted alternative pay plan. However locality pay adjustments were kept unchanged. Key updates are as follows and the the table below shows the updated GS…

The concept of being "wealthy" means different things to everyone. For some, it means being debt-free and financially comfortable. For others, it means reaching the highest echelons of American affluence. The top 10% of households represents a major financial milestone for personal finance enthusiasts. It signifies a profound level of…

The world of personal finance is always in motion, and 2026 brings some major shifts you need to know about. The IRS has released its final inflation adjustments, giving us clarity for the new tax year. Crucially, these updates work alongside provisions from the new "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"…

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…

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.…

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…