Financial Order of Operations: Protect Your Money First
Free up extra money? Where it should go first follows a financial order of operations—protect, save, grow, then spend. Why protection wins.
What Happens to a 401(k) Loan When You Leave a Job
Leaving a job with a 401(k) loan? The unpaid balance gets pulled from your account. Roll that amount into an IRA by your tax deadline to skip tax and penalty.
Do Your Kids Pay Taxes on an Inherited 401(k)? Yes
Yes, your kids pay taxes on an inherited 401(k)—every dollar comes out as ordinary income, drained within 10 years. See how a Roth and brokerage compare.
Does Medicare Cover Nursing Home Care?
Medicare doesn’t cover long-term nursing home care—Medicaid does, after you spend down. See who pays, what it costs, and how to plan ahead.
Roth IRA for Kids: Earned Income Is the Key
A Roth IRA for kids has no minimum age—the only requirement is earned income from a job. See how a working teen can open a custodial Roth IRA and start early.
Who Does PMI Actually Protect? | Money IQ
PMI protects the lender, not you. See who private mortgage insurance actually pays if you default—and what really protects your family’s home.
How Inflation Erodes $100K in 20 Years | Money IQ
$100,000 in savings at 0.5% loses almost 40% of its real value over 20 years to 3% inflation. Here’s the math and what to do.
Money IQ #56: How Much Does Missing the Market’s Best 30 Days Cost You?
Question: ❓ Over the 30 years from July 1995 through June 2025, the S&P 500 returned an average of 8.4% per year if you stayed fully invested. If you missed just the 30 best trading days during that stretch (out of roughly 7,500 total trading days), what was your annualized return instead? A) 6.2%B) 4.5%C) […]
Are Life Insurance Death Benefits Taxable? | Money IQ Challenge
Life insurance death benefits are usually income-tax-free, but estate tax can apply to large estates. Here’s what your beneficiaries need to know.
