Personal finance01
2026 401(k) Contribution Limits by Age: Under 50, 50+, and 60-63
A detailed 2026 guide to 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), catch-up, super catch-up, Roth catch-up, and total contribution limits by age.
4 min read
eGold Keeper / The reading room
Personal finance
Explanations of personal finance, business structures, and cross-border financial questions.
Personal finance02
2026 Estate Tax Exemption: What Families Below $15 Million Should Know
A practical 2026 estate tax guide for families below the federal exemption, including state estate taxes, beneficiary forms, step-up in basis, portability, and planning basics.
4 min read
Personal finance03
2026 Roth IRA Income Limits: Single, Married, and Backdoor Roth Options
A complete 2026 guide to Roth IRA income limits, contribution limits, phaseouts, reduced contributions, and what high earners can consider instead.
4 min read
Personal finance04
2026 Standard Deduction vs Itemizing: Break-Even Examples
A practical 2026 guide to standard deduction amounts, itemized deduction break-even math, mortgage interest, SALT, charitable gifts, and medical expenses.
4 min read
Personal finance05
2026 Tax Brackets for Side Hustlers and Freelancers
A detailed 2026 tax guide for side hustlers, freelancers, and independent contractors, covering brackets, self-employment tax, estimated payments, deductions, and retirement accounts.
4 min read
Personal finance06
2026-27 FAFSA Assets: What Counts and What Does Not
A detailed guide to FAFSA assets for the 2026-27 school year, including bank accounts, investments, 529 plans, retirement accounts, homes, businesses, and common mistakes.
6 min read
Personal finance07
Backdoor Roth IRA 2026: Pro-Rata Rule Examples
A detailed 2026 guide to the backdoor Roth IRA, including nondeductible IRA contributions, conversions, Form 8606, and the pro-rata rule.
4 min read
Personal finance08
Balance Transfer Card vs Personal Loan: Which Pays Off Debt Faster?
A detailed comparison of balance transfer cards and personal loans, including transfer fees, 0% APR periods, loan APRs, credit score effects, payment discipline, and payoff math.
4 min read
Personal finance09
Bond Funds If the Fed Cuts Rates in 2026: What Actually Happens
A detailed guide to what happens to bond funds if the Federal Reserve cuts rates in 2026, including duration, cash yields, price changes, reinvestment risk, and portfolio strategy.
4 min read
Personal finance10
Brokered CDs: Safe, Callable, and Noncallable Explained
A detailed guide to brokered CDs, including FDIC insurance, callable vs noncallable CDs, secondary market risk, yields, taxes, and when brokered CDs make sense.
4 min read
Personal finance11
Can Both Spouses Have an HSA in 2026?
How HSA limits work for married couples in 2026, including family coverage, separate self-only plans, employer contributions, and age 55 catch-ups.
4 min read
Personal finance12
Can You Max Out a 401(k) and IRA in 2026?
Learn when you can contribute to both a 401(k) and an IRA in 2026, including Roth IRA income limits, traditional IRA deduction phaseouts, and practical funding order.
4 min read
Personal finance13
Capital Gains Tax 2026: Rates, Brackets, and Planning Examples
A detailed guide to 2026 capital gains tax rates, including short-term vs long-term gains, 0%, 15%, and 20% brackets, NIIT, loss offsets, and planning strategies.
4 min read
Personal finance14
Credit Card Interest Calculator: Minimum Payments vs Real Payoff
A detailed guide to calculating credit card interest and payoff time, including APR, daily interest, minimum payments, 3-year statement warnings, and payoff strategies.
4 min read
Personal finance15
Dividend ETF vs Treasury Bills: Income, Risk, and Taxes Compared
A detailed comparison of dividend ETFs and Treasury bills, including income stability, principal risk, taxes, qualified dividends, state-tax treatment, and best uses.
4 min read
Personal finance16
ETF Expense Ratio Calculator: How Much Fund Fees Really Cost
A detailed guide to calculating ETF expense ratio costs, including annual dollar cost, long-term compounding drag, examples, and how to compare similar funds.
4 min read
Personal finance17
FAFSA Contributor Invite 2026-27: Who Needs One and How It Works
A detailed guide to FAFSA contributors for 2026-27, including parent, spouse, consent, StudentAid.gov accounts, invite mistakes, and troubleshooting.
5 min read
Personal finance18
Fractional Shares and Taxes: What Investors Need to Know
A detailed guide to fractional shares and taxes, including dividends, sales, cost basis, DRIP lots, cash in lieu, Form 1099-B, and recordkeeping.
3 min read
Personal finance19
FSA Limit 2026 and Carryover Limit: What Changed
A detailed 2026 guide to health FSA contribution limits, carryover limits, grace periods, use-it-or-lose-it rules, and HSA compatibility.
3 min read
Personal finance20
Gift Tax Exclusion 2026: How Much Parents Can Give Adult Children
A practical 2026 guide to the annual gift tax exclusion, gift splitting, Form 709, lifetime exemption, tuition and medical exceptions, and family examples.
4 min read
Personal finance21
Grad PLUS Loans Ending in 2026: What Graduate Students Should Know
A detailed 2026 guide to the end of Grad PLUS loans, new graduate borrowing limits, transition issues, and how to plan for graduate school costs.
6 min read
Personal finance22
HELOC vs Cash-Out Refinance in 2026: Which Is Better?
A detailed comparison of HELOCs and cash-out refinancing in 2026, including rates, payment risk, tax deductibility, closing costs, home equity, and best uses.
4 min read
Personal finance23
HSA Contribution Limits 2026: Self-Only, Family, and Age 55 Catch-Up
A complete 2026 guide to HSA contribution limits, HDHP deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, catch-up contributions, employer contributions, and eligibility.
3 min read
Personal finance24
HSA Last-Month Rule 2026: Examples and Testing Period
A clear guide to the HSA last-month rule for 2026, including December 1 eligibility, the testing period, prorated limits, and examples.
3 min read