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Discover our approach to personal finance through our library of free articles. Gain the financial knowledge you need to enrich every facet of your life.

Federal Reserve Building in Washington, DC

The Fed divided: How political pressure shaped the July 2025 rate decision.

Although the Federal Reserve took no formal action at its July 30 meeting, this meeting was filled with intrigue. The market expected Fed Chair Jerome Powell to hint at a rate cut in September, but the Chair instead emphasized uncertainty. The job market is showing some signs of slowing, but inflation is probably also on ... Read more

5 Min Read
Mother with child

The Complete Guide to the SAVE Plan and Your Options as a Borrower

For the roughly 7.7 million student loan borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan, the past year has been defined by uncertainty after lawsuits halted the program in June 2024. Before we break down your options, here’s a simple, scannable breakdown of the most critical updates based on guidance from the Department of Education. Your payments ... Read more

5 Min Read

The passive income trap: Why total return is a smarter strategy for 2025

For many investors the appeal of creating passive income from their portfolio is strong. The idea of generating a steady stream of cash flow from income-based investments is intuitively attractive. However, focusing too narrowly on income can often lead to unintended consequences, such as lower long-term growth and tax inefficiencies. A more effective approach for ... Read more

5 Min Read

Q2 2025 Performance Review: A volatile quarter for stocks ends on a high.

The second quarter was a period of extremes. In early April, the S&P 500 briefly fell into bear market territory, having declined more than 20% from its highs on worries about the “Liberation Day” tariff announcement. But after the initial tariff plan was put on “pause” stocks began to recover. By the end of the quarter global stocks were trading at all-time highs. Here are our thoughts on what happened this quarter, how it impacted our strategies, and what we expect in the coming quarters.

10 Min Read

Israel-Iran conflict: A guide for U.S. investors amid market uncertainty.

The recent conflict in Iran has understandably put investors on edge. But what might the actual economic impact of this conflict be? Does it suggest any portfolio changes? Here are our thoughts in how these events could influence the economy, markets and your money.

5 Min Read
A low-angle shot of the white marble exterior of the Federal Reserve building, featuring the engraved "FEDERAL RESERVE" title and a large stone American eagle sculpture with outstretched wings perched above the entrance.

When will the Fed cut rates? June 2025 meeting points to a timeline.

As was widely expected, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its June meeting, navigating a difficult moment with risks to both inflation and economic growth. While a potential tariff-driven price spike is keeping the Fed on hold for now, a closer look at their projections and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments reveals a clear bias towards cutting rates later this year.

4 Min Read
A closeup of a woman inserting coins into a jar

What is an emergency fund?

An emergency fund is designed to be a safety net for “surprise” expenses. Learn more about what it is and why it is important.

3 Min Read
Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill": What It Means For Your 2025 Money & Investments

"One Big Beautiful Bill": Tax cuts, deficit impact and investor outlook

A significant budget deal, officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, recently passed the House of Representatives. Investors are already trying to game out how the budget could impact the economy, interest rates and stocks. Here are our views on how this budget could impact your investments.

5 Min Read