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Diversifying beyond AI-related stocks can keep one spending cycle from driving too much of your portfolio’s risk.
Investing for Beginners

AI Capex Spending: Investor Uses for High-Growth Tech Stocks

AI capital expenditures (AI capex) are the money companies spend on data centers, chips, networking equipment and power infrastructure to build and run artificial intelligence systems. Investors track these budgets in quarterly earnings reports because they can signal future demand for suppliers such as chipmakers, equipment makers and utilities, while also showing how much cash… read more…

Employer contributions and nondiscrimination testing can reduce how much after-tax room your 401(k) leaves you.
Roth & Traditional IRAs

Mega Backdoor Roth IRA: How to Max Tax Benefits

A mega backdoor Roth can let you contribute substantially more to Roth accounts than the standard annual limits allow. Having excess cash flow isn’t enough on its own, since your 401(k) must permit after-tax contributions and either in-plan Roth conversions or in-service distributions to a Roth IRA. The timing of the conversion also matters, because… read more…

Living with an adult child at 62 doesn’t make a parent eligible for Social Security on that child’s work record.
Social Security

She Moved In as a Dependent at 62. Here’s How Much She Could Get Based on Her Daughter’s Social Security Record.

Moving in with an adult child at 62 does not qualify a parent for Social Security based on the work record of that family member. Benefits for parents are available only after the son or daughter dies, and only if the parent received at least half of their support from them. Here is what a… read more…

Wooden blocks with the words "will" and "trust" written on them.
Trusts

Trust Structures for Asset Protection: Strategies and Examples

Trusts can help protect wealth from creditors, lawsuits and financial problems that beneficiaries may encounter, but not every trust provides the same level of protection. The result depends on how the trust is structured, who controls the assets, when the trust is established and which state’s laws apply. Some arrangements can help shield assets from… 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 retired couple with their dog.
Cost of Living & Taxes

How Much Savings Do You Need to Retire in 2026?

Since its development in the 1990s, the 4% rule has become one of the most commonly cited rules of thumb in retirement planning. Using historical data, financial planner William Bengen found that a portfolio could sustain an initial annual withdrawal of 4%, followed by inflation-adjusted withdrawals, for at least 30 years without being depleted. While… read more…

Florist decorating an orange pumpkin with flowers for Halloween.
Travel, Education & More

America’s Scariest States

Halloween took shape as an American tradition in the 19th century, blending immigrant customs with seasonal observances. Since then, the holiday has evolved into a celebration of fear as entertainment. Once tied to harvest traditions, Halloween is now a spectacle of suspense celebrated by three-quarters of U.S. adults. But seasonal scares are not evenly distributed,… read more…

Mother and son having a meeting with the school principal.
Travel, Education & More

Where It Pays to be a Principal

School principals are responsible for managing teachers and keeping schools operating efficiently, making them key players in ensuring positive student outcomes. But the financial rewards of the job vary widely based on the place of employment. In some states, principal pay stretches further after accounting for cost of living, while in others, higher nominal salaries… read more…

Handing over a payroll check.
Income

2026 Paycheck Power Rankings 

The power of a paycheck depends on more than the dollar value printed on it. In some areas, higher salaries are offset by steep costs for housing and food. In others, modest earnings can stretch considerably further. The balance between income and expenses determines how much workers have left to save, invest or spend after… read more…

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