Money Management

So, you're eyeing that six-figure milestone, or maybe you've recently crossed it. One hundred thousand dollars a year. For decades, it’s been a powerful symbol of success, a tangible sign that you’ve “made it.” But let’s be brutally honest: in 2025, with inflation's lingering bite, housing costs that seem...

Chime SpotMe can cover an eligible card purchase or cash withdrawal when your available balance is too low, without charging an overdraft fee. The catch is simple but easy to miss: fee-free does not mean consequence-free. Whatever SpotMe covers reduces the money left from a later deposit when Chime...

Need the number now? Start with the transaction, not the state. If you need a Chase routing number, there is not one number for every job. For ACH or direct deposit, the safest answer is the routing number shown for your account after you sign in to Chase. For an...

That "Raise" Feeling... Followed by "Wait, Is That All?" A client walked into my office in 2019, fresh off receiving what she called her "first real raise" - 5% on her $72,000 marketing coordinator salary. She'd already mentally allocated every dollar: vacation fund, new wardrobe, finally start that emergency savings. Then her...

Ever feel like you're lost in a complex "Financial Maze" when it comes to your paychecks, taxes, and deductions? You're not just imagining it. Many clients I've guided over my 30 years as a financial planner initially guess their actual annual earnings. Navigating through this maze can be daunting, but utilizing tools...

Ever stared at your credit score and felt like it’s some mystical number decided by a secret society? You think you're alone? After 25 years as a financial planner, I've seen countless brilliant people, from "Credit Builder Caseys" just starting out, to "Debt Juggler Danas" managing multiple cards. And...

To read a check, start with the line of numbers along the bottom. On a standard U.S. personal check, the 9-digit routing number is at the bottom left, the account number is directly to its right, and the check number appears in the upper-right corner and is often repeated...

A rainy day fund, emergency fund, and cash reserve are not standardized financial terms. In fact, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau defines an emergency fund as a type of cash reserve, while Investor.gov sometimes uses “rainy day fund” and “emergency fund” for the same basic idea. So I would not...