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4662 Articles

Marc Guberti | May 12, 2026 at 8:56 AM EDT

The Inherited 401(k) Mistake That Quietly Cost a $750,000 Beneficiary $120,000 in Excess Taxes

A 52-year-old engineer logged into her late father’s 401(k) portal last month and saw $750,000 sitting in a target-date fund.…

Gerelyn Terzo | May 12, 2026 at 8:32 AM EDT

The Survivor Benefit Mistake That Costs Widows $912 Monthly for Life

A widow at 60 walks into the Social Security office a few weeks after her husband’s funeral. He had been…

Austin Smith | May 12, 2026 at 8:30 AM EDT

The 401(k) Bracket Smoothing Strategy That Keeps Retirees Out of the 22% Tax Bracket for Life

A 66-year-old single woman, retired, with $1.1 million in a traditional 401(k), $300,000 in a Roth IRA, and $200,000 in…

Ian Cooper | May 12, 2026 at 7:39 AM EDT

The Widow’s Tax Penalty Means Filing Single Squeezes $98,670 Into Narrower Brackets

Thirteen months after her husband’s death, a 75-year-old widow with $1.8 million sitting in her own and spousal-rolled-over IRAs is…

Gerelyn Terzo | May 12, 2026 at 7:15 AM EDT

How a 64-Year-Old Couple Added $200,000 to Social Security by Delaying One Claim

Picture a couple in their mid-60s trying to figure out when each should claim Social Security. One spouse earned more…

Gerelyn Terzo | May 12, 2026 at 6:47 AM EDT

When Claiming Social Security at 62 Beats Waiting Until 70 in Real Dollars

The standard advice on Social Security has hardened into gospel: wait until 70 and collect the biggest possible check. For…

Austin Smith | May 12, 2026 at 6:15 AM EDT

The Three-Bucket 401(k) Withdrawal Hack That Can Save Retirees Six Figures in Taxes

A married couple, ages 64 and 65, retired last year with $2.4 million spread across a traditional 401(k), a Roth…

Gerelyn Terzo | May 12, 2026 at 5:23 AM EDT

The Breakeven Math: Why Delaying Social Security From 67 to 70 Pays Off After Age 82

You hit your full retirement age at 67 with a Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) that pays $3,000 a month, or…

Jeremy Phillips | May 12, 2026 at 1:56 AM EDT

Start Investing at 25 Instead of 35: The Math Shows You’ll Have $426,000 More by 65

A 25 year old who invests $5,000 a year for a decade and then never contributes another dollar ends up…

Don Lair | May 12, 2026 at 1:53 AM EDT

You Owned Your House Before Marriage: But Half the Equity Gain Still Isn’t Yours

You bought the house. Your name is on the deed. You closed before you ever met your spouse, paid the…

Ian Cooper | May 11, 2026 at 11:40 AM EDT

Solo 401(k) Contributions Can Save You $30,000+ in Taxes This Year

On a recent episode of NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast titled Is College Worth It in 2026? Plus, How to Split…

Carl Sullivan | May 11, 2026 at 9:25 AM EDT

How Extending College Over 4 Years Costs a Ton of Money

We all know that college is expensive. It gets even pricier when students stretch beyond the traditional 4-year undergraduate timeline.…

Austin Smith | May 11, 2026 at 8:55 AM EDT

After-Tax 401(k) Contributions Can Build $1.3 Million in Roth Wealth. Here’s How to Unlock Yours.

A 47-year-old dual-income couple pulling $400,000 in W-2 wages has already done the obvious: both spouses max their employee deferrals…

Drew Wood | May 11, 2026 at 8:42 AM EDT

How Much You Really Need Invested to Earn $500 a Month in Dividends Without Lifting a Finger

Five hundred dollars a month in passive dividend income can make a meaningful dent in everyday expenses, whether it helps…

Drew Wood | May 11, 2026 at 7:29 AM EDT

A $200,000 Portfolio That Quietly Pays You $930 a Month

Turning $200,000 into $930 a month takes a portfolio yield of about 5.6%. That is not some kind of fantasy…

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Personal Finance Articles

All Personal Finance Articles

The Inherited 401(k) Mistake That Quietly Cost a $750,000 Beneficiary $120,000 in Excess Taxes

The Survivor Benefit Mistake That Costs Widows $912 Monthly for Life

The 401(k) Bracket Smoothing Strategy That Keeps Retirees Out of the 22% Tax Bracket for Life

The Widow’s Tax Penalty Means Filing Single Squeezes $98,670 Into Narrower Brackets

How a 64-Year-Old Couple Added $200,000 to Social Security by Delaying One Claim

When Claiming Social Security at 62 Beats Waiting Until 70 in Real Dollars

The Three-Bucket 401(k) Withdrawal Hack That Can Save Retirees Six Figures in Taxes

The Breakeven Math: Why Delaying Social Security From 67 to 70 Pays Off After Age 82

Start Investing at 25 Instead of 35: The Math Shows You’ll Have $426,000 More by 65

You Owned Your House Before Marriage: But Half the Equity Gain Still Isn’t Yours

Solo 401(k) Contributions Can Save You $30,000+ in Taxes This Year

How Extending College Over 4 Years Costs a Ton of Money

After-Tax 401(k) Contributions Can Build $1.3 Million in Roth Wealth. Here’s How to Unlock Yours.

How Much You Really Need Invested to Earn $500 a Month in Dividends Without Lifting a Finger

A $200,000 Portfolio That Quietly Pays You $930 a Month

Apple Finally Released A Brand-New Siri. Then Its Share Price Cratered.

1 Plain-As-Day Dividend King to Buy and Never Sell That Has Increased Its Payout for 64 Consecutive Years

The RMD Trap: How a Single $95,000 Withdrawal Blindsided a 73-Year-Old’s Medicare Costs

The RMD Trap: How a Single $95,000 Withdrawal Blindsided a 73-Year-Old's Medicare Costs

The Roth Conversion That Added $999.60 to a Retiree's Medicare Bill...Two Years Later

Apple Finally Released A Brand-New Siri. Then Its Share Price Cratered.

1 Plain-As-Day Dividend King to Buy and Never Sell That Has Increased Its Payout for 64 Consecutive Years

Personal Finance Articles

All Personal Finance Articles

The Inherited 401(k) Mistake That Quietly Cost a $750,000 Beneficiary $120,000 in Excess Taxes

The Survivor Benefit Mistake That Costs Widows $912 Monthly for Life

The 401(k) Bracket Smoothing Strategy That Keeps Retirees Out of the 22% Tax Bracket for Life

The Widow’s Tax Penalty Means Filing Single Squeezes $98,670 Into Narrower Brackets

How a 64-Year-Old Couple Added $200,000 to Social Security by Delaying One Claim

When Claiming Social Security at 62 Beats Waiting Until 70 in Real Dollars

The Three-Bucket 401(k) Withdrawal Hack That Can Save Retirees Six Figures in Taxes

The Breakeven Math: Why Delaying Social Security From 67 to 70 Pays Off After Age 82

Start Investing at 25 Instead of 35: The Math Shows You’ll Have $426,000 More by 65

You Owned Your House Before Marriage: But Half the Equity Gain Still Isn’t Yours

Solo 401(k) Contributions Can Save You $30,000+ in Taxes This Year

How Extending College Over 4 Years Costs a Ton of Money

After-Tax 401(k) Contributions Can Build $1.3 Million in Roth Wealth. Here’s How to Unlock Yours.

How Much You Really Need Invested to Earn $500 a Month in Dividends Without Lifting a Finger

A $200,000 Portfolio That Quietly Pays You $930 a Month

Apple Finally Released A Brand-New Siri. Then Its Share Price Cratered.

1 Plain-As-Day Dividend King to Buy and Never Sell That Has Increased Its Payout for 64 Consecutive Years

The RMD Trap: How a Single $95,000 Withdrawal Blindsided a 73-Year-Old’s Medicare Costs

Featured Reads

The RMD Trap: How a Single $95,000 Withdrawal Blindsided a 73-Year-Old's Medicare Costs

The Roth Conversion That Added $999.60 to a Retiree's Medicare Bill...Two Years Later