Money Management

Here's the deal: the Borrow button inside Cash App is designed to feel like a friendly lifeline when your checking account is on fumes and payday is still a week away. Now, from a planner's chair with 25 years of watching 'easy money' offers backfire, it looks more like...

Forget the generic online calculators for a moment. For a $700,000 house in 2026, the responsible income isn’t one number, It’s a spectrum from $185,000 to $225,000. The lower end is for the unicorns: perfect credit, 20% down, and buying in a tax-friendly state like Wyoming. The higher end is...

You're signing up for a new budgeting app like one of the best Rocket Money alternatives, and right when it's time to link your bank, a screen pops up. It's from a company called Plaid, and it's asking for your bank username and password. Your first thought is likely, "Absolutely...

Below is a side-by-side breakdown of the two leading no-annual-fee cash-back cards as of December 2025. Both offer rotating 5% categories, but the differences in network reach, first-year bonuses, and baseline rewards can significantly impact your total returns depending on your spending patterns and travel habits. Michael's Take: If your...

So, the Venmo app is dangling its credit card in front of you, and you're tempted. But before you agree to that "hard pull" on your credit report, you have one crucial question that will determine if it's even worth it:  Am I going to get a useful credit limit, or just...

Welcome to a brighter financial future! Are you ready to unlock the secrets of turning your successful long term financial goals into regality? Planning ahead is the key to achieving the lifestyle and security you dream of. Don't worry, it's easier than you think! Let's dive in and discover...

If you're earning $50,000 a year in 2026, figuring out how much rent you can afford on 50k is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. As a financial planner for 25 years, this was the question I heard most from young professionals and families trying to...

Are you making $30k a year and wondering I make 30k a year can I buy a house? The answer is yes - but with a few caveats. As a retired financial planner, I know the ins-and-outs of home ownership & can tell you exactly what to expect when...

You see the ads and hear the term all the time: "credit card cash back rewards." It sounds like free money, but the world of credit cards can feel complex and full of traps. You're left wondering: Is this a real benefit? How does it actually work? And how...

Your heart just did that little thump-thump thing, didn't it? You checked your bank account, and the Venmo payment you were counting on... The one from your client, your roommate, your mom. Just isn't there. Your mind immediately races: Is the money gone? Did I get scammed? Is it lost in...