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The culture and discipline Buffett built into Berkshire over six decades will now be tested without him at the helm.
Investing for Beginners

Warren Buffett Retires: Key Takeaways for Investors

At age 95, Warren Buffett officially stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on January 1, 2026. He had spent six decades transforming what was once a failing textile company. Now it is one of the largest and most influential corporations in the world. From 1964 through 2024, Berkshire delivered a compounded annual gain of… read more…

Unlike physical real estate, publicly traded REITs can be bought and sold on major stock exchanges, giving investors flexibility that direct property ownership cannot offer.
Real Estate

REITs for Beginners: Types, Requirements and How to Get Started

Real estate has long been one of the most reliable paths to building wealth. It’s also among the most difficult. Becoming a property owner requires enormous upfront capital, dealing with difficult tenants, and navigating endless maintenance headaches. Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, change that equation entirely. These allow you to invest in large-scale real… read more…

Before using AI to guide your investments, understanding its limitations is as important as understanding what it can do.
Investing for Beginners

AI Uses for Investing: Analysis Types, Benefits and Risks

AI can offer advantages in data processing speed and scale, but it also comes with risks, including data quality issues, algorithmic bias and the potential for over-reliance on automated recommendations. Knowing when to use AI tools and when human judgment remains essential helps investors make better-informed decisions. If you prefer a more hands-on approach, a… read more…

Families of veterans who died or became permanently disabled due to service may qualify for education assistance through a separate program designed specifically for surviving dependents.
Financial Planning

GI Bill for Dependents: Eligibility and Benefits

Military service demands extraordinary sacrifices from not just service members but also their entire families. Supporting someone who serves in uniform often comes with frequent moves, long separations and constant uncertainty. To recognize these sacrifices, one of the most valuable benefits the government offers is the ability for service members to share their GI Bill… read more…

Editor's Picks

A couple determining whether they need a CFA vs. CFP®.
Certifications & Licenses

CFA vs. CFP®: Which Do You Need?

Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance, namely financial advisors. These are designed to tell a client (or employer) that the holder has received education in certain types of financial… read more…

Clients meeting with an advisor from a wealth management firm.
Brokerage

6 Tips for Choosing a Wealth Management Firm

Wealth management firms are all different, with their own specializations and services. As a result, the process for choosing a wealth manager is a very personal one. Wealth managers work closely together with their clients to identify financial goals and… read more…

A fee-only financial planner doesn't earn commissions for recommending certain products.
Advisor Fees & Costs

What Is a Fee-Only Financial Planner?

If a financial planner, financial advisor or another type of financial professional is fee-only, that means they receive compensation solely from the fees clients pay for their services. They do not earn commissions for recommending certain products. A fee-only structure… read more…

Investment Property
Real Estate Investing

Why First Homes Could Be Investment Properties

If you’re young and looking to purchase a new home to live in, you may want to consider turning it into an investment property. While most people wait until after they’ve bought their first or second home to begin investing in… read more…

Data Articles and Studies

A picture of Pennsylvania State University's campus in State College, Pennsylvania.
Quality of Life

America’s Safest Midsize Cities – 2026 Study 

Safety and security are major determinants of quality of life. That’s especially true in midsize cities, where residents may seek a balance of opportunity, affordability and peace of mind. While no place is risk-free, some midsized cities offer residents a stronger sense of everyday security than others. SmartAsset examined more than 300 midsize cities —… read more…

Elderly man holding a credit card by his laptop.
Quality of Life

Where Seniors Are Targeted by Scams — 2026 Study

Millions of older Americans are targeted by financial scams each year. One analysis published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury found $27 billion in suspected elder financial exploitation in just a 12-month period. As digital banking, payments and communication become more common, scammers have more ways to reach victims and impersonate trusted institutions. Phishing… read more…

Couple discussing their financial situation.
Cost of Living & Taxes

Where Americans Are Struggling — and Thriving

Many Americans are feeling financial stress — a majority (57%) now say their financial situation is in only fair or poor shape, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. But that pressure is not spread evenly. In some states, residents may be contending with a tougher mix of high living costs, weaker incomes, and… read more…

Nurse doing blood pressure monitoring.
Income

Where It Pays to Be in Nursing — 2026 Study

Nursing is a calling, but it’s also a paycheck, and location can have a major impact on that paycheck’s true value. While demand for nurses exists across the U.S., compensation does not factor evenly from state to state. After accounting for differences in local costs, some states offer nurses materially stronger earning power than others,… read more…

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