Four Years Later, You’re Likely Way Better Off Than You Think

Every time a political candidate asks if you’re better off than four years ago, I can’t help but sigh. The implication, regardless of party, is always that you’re worse off and that they are the answer to your problems. The Democrat says things went downhill under the Republican, and the Republican says the same about […]

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2025 Tax Brackets: New Ideal Incomes For Workers And Retirees

The IRS has announced new income limits for its seven tax brackets for 2025, with income thresholds increased by about 2.7% to adjust for inflation. This follows a 5.4% increase in 2024 and a historically large 7% bump in 2023. Reaching a top one percent income is becoming more challenging given the threshold keeps increasing

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The Surprising Benefits Of Donating To Your Kid’s School

Out of all the things you could donate your hard-earned money to, giving to your child’s school might not be at the top of your list. If your children attend a private grade school with sky-high tuition, donating to the school might feel even more unnecessary. With so much poverty, homelessness, broken homes, and people

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Apply Stop Losses To Protect Your Wealth And Quality Of Life

As an investor, it’s essential to understand that risk assets come with no guaranteed returns. Setting and following a stop loss can help protect your capital from significant losses, especially if you’re an active investor who picks individual stocks. Yet, I’ve come to realize that stop losses aren’t only useful for active investors—they can be

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How Speaking To A Financial Professional Saved Me From Myself

If you haven’t spoken to a financial professional, I suggest you speak to one. You will likely get great insights into how you can better invest your hard-earned money. Further, the financial professional might uncover some financial blindspots you had no idea you had. I’ve been a DIY investor since 1995 when I first opened

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Wine and Whiskey: Investing for Enjoyment and Diversification

Investing in alternative assets has become an increasingly popular way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds. Wine and whiskey, in particular, are gaining traction due to their potential for positive returns, resilience during economic downturns, and rising global demand. If Goldman Sachs and Vanguard’s predictions are true for an abysmally low stock market return

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Finishing Rich Despite A Low-Return Stock Market Environment

Since the bottom of the global financial crisis in July 2009, the S&P 500 has generally experienced a bull market. While there were challenging periods in 2018, 1Q 2020, and 2022, stock market investors have largely been well rewarded. However, Goldman Sachs warns that the good times might be coming to an end. Goldman projects

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An 80/20 Stock-Heavy Portfolio In Retirement Might Be Ideal

This guest post is by Vaughn, a long-time Financial Samurai reader who retired at 44 and is now 55. Vaughn’s early retirement was driven by necessity rather than choice due to a congenital bone disease. Fortunately, his high income during his working years secured a solid SSDI benefit, and his mother’s foresight provided future rental

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