Are Routing Numbers Always 9 Digits? Yes, Here’s What Changes
Yes. A U.S. ABA routing number is always exactly nine digits. If you are looking at an 8-digit, 10-digit, 12-digit, or alphanumeric code, you are either missing a…
Money Management Archive
Older guides on budgeting, debt, credit, banking, cash flow, reserves, net worth and financial goals.
How to Get Out of a Reverse Mortgage: 5 Options
Yes, you can get out of a reverse mortgage. The cleanest route depends on two questions. Did you just close on the loan, and do you want to…
How to Calculate Net Worth: A Retirement Ready Guide
To calculate your net worth, add up what you own and subtract everything you owe. The formula is simple: assets − liabilities = net worth. But especially once…
Startup Business Loans With No Revenue: How to Get Funding With No Money
Yes, you can sometimes get startup business funding with no revenue, but usually not because a lender ignores the risk. Something else has to make the deal work.…
Car Price Negotiation: Tactics That Work in 2026
The average car buyer pays $2,300 more than they should because they don’t understand the dealer’s cost structure. Over 30 years as a financial planner, I watched clients…
Looking For a Mortgage Loan? Learn to Understand & Choose The Right Mortgages
Getting a mortgage is the biggest financial decision most people make. I spent 20 years as a financial planner walking hundreds of clients through this process. The difference…
How to Refinance a Car Loan & When It Actually Saves Money
Refinancing a car loan means replacing your current auto loan with a new one. It can be a good move when the new loan lowers your remaining borrowing…
How to Get Preapproved for a Car Loan Before You Shop
If you’re planning to finance a car, getting preapproved before you walk into the dealership is usually one of the smartest first moves. A car loan preapproval gives…
How to Write a Check Correctly in 2026: 6 Steps + Examples
If you have a check in front of you and just want to fill it out correctly, there are six things to complete: the date, payee, dollar amount…
7 Common Budgeting Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Most budgets do not fail because you bought coffee. They fail because the plan was built on the wrong numbers, forgot expenses that do not happen every month,…