Money news, explained
When a law, rate, or program changes, these posts show what it means for your actual paycheck, loans, and savings - dated, sourced, and tied to the calculators so you can run your own numbers.
The Roth 401(k) Catch-Up Rule for High Earners Starts in 2026: What the $150,000 Line Means
If your 2025 FICA wages from one employer topped $150,000, your 2026 401(k) catch-up contributions must be Roth, not pre-tax. Who is affected, plus the math.
7 min read
Social Security in 2027: What Actually Changes Beyond the COLA
The 2027 Social Security COLA is still only an estimate. Here is what is fixed law for 2027, what is not, and how Medicare Part B eats into your raise.
7 min read
Trump Account vs 529 vs Custodial Roth IRA: Which Grows a Newborn's Money the Most?
Trump Account vs 529 vs custodial Roth IRA for a baby born 2025-2028: a plain-English, IRS-sourced comparison with a worked 18-year compound-growth example.
7 min read
Mortgage Rates Hit 6.66%, a 12-Month High - Right After the Fed Held Steady
Freddie Mac's 30-year average hit 6.66% the day after the Fed held rates. Why mortgage rates track the 10-year Treasury instead, with real payment math.
6 min read
2027 Social Security COLA Estimate: July Inflation Trims It to 3.2% to 3.6%
After the July inflation report, 2027 Social Security COLA estimates fell into a 3.2% to 3.6% band - TSCL 3.6%, AARP 3.5%, Mary Johnson 3.4%, CRFB 3.2%. The dollar math, the CPI-W mechanics, and the October date.
8 min read
No Tax on Overtime and Tips in 2026: What Your Paycheck Actually Gets
How the no-tax-on-tips and no-tax-on-overtime deductions really work in 2026 - caps, phase-outs, the updated W-4, and one worked example with exact math.
9 min read
The SAVE Plan Is Ending: Your 90-Day Window and What Replaces It
SAVE exit notices are arriving with a 90-day deadline. How RAP payments are calculated, what auto-enrollment means, and how RAP compares with IBR.
7 min read
Trump Accounts Explained: What a $1,000 Head Start Really Grows Into
Trump Accounts launched July 4, 2026 with a $1,000 federal deposit for babies born 2025-2028. Verified rules, how to enroll, and what the money grows into.
7 min readPrefer the evergreen version?
The guides library covers the same money topics without the news cycle - paychecks, taxes, homebuying, saving, retirement, and debt, kept current for 2026.
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