Insights
Short answers to the money questions families ask us most.
What is a fiduciary financial advisor?
A fiduciary has a legal duty to act in your best interest. Here's what that duty covers, how it differs from a broker's rule, and what to ask any advisor.
Should I roll over my old 401(k) to an IRA?
Four options for an old 401(k): leave it, move it to your new plan, roll it to an IRA, or cash it out. Here's what each one means for your taxes.
Should I pay off my mortgage early?
If your mortgage is at 6.5%, every extra dollar you put on it saves 6.5% in interest. Here's how that compares with investing, and why it matters which account the money comes from.
How does the new $6,000 senior deduction work?
For tax years 2025 through 2028, people 65 and older can deduct an extra $6,000 each. It shrinks once income passes $75,000 for single filers or $150,000 for joint filers.
How does a Trump Account work?
Trump Accounts are a new retirement account for children, with a one-time $1,000 federal contribution for kids born 2025 through 2028.
Is gold a good hedge against inflation?
In 20 of the 56 years from 1970 to 2025, gold fell while prices rose. In the three months after the 2026 Iran war began, gold dropped 10.7% while the S&P 500 rose 7.8%.
What happens if you miss the stock market's best months?
$1,000 in US stocks from 2000 grew to $8,736 by mid-2026. Missing the best six months cut that to $5,699. The best six months started in March 2009, right after the worst of the crash.
Why invest in international stocks when U.S. stocks have done so well?
From 2010 to 2025, emerging-market earnings grew 175%, close to the U.S. at 192%. U.S. market value grew 361%, much faster than the businesses underneath.
Do the biggest companies in the S&P 500 stay on top?
Of the ten largest S&P 500 companies in 2000, only one was still in the top ten at the end of 2025. GE, Lucent and AOL don't exist in their 2000 form anymore.
Does cash keep up with inflation over the long run?
Since 1947, prices have risen more than fifteen-fold. A dollar kept in cash held about six cents of its buying power. Here's what has outpaced inflation.
How much does waiting to start investing cost?
$500 a month from age 25 grows to about $1.31 million by 65 at a hypothetical 7%. Starting at 45, the same finish takes $2,519 a month, five times as much.