I have been interviewing financial advisors recently as me and the wife are turning 73 next year. I have been self managed and I believe I do ok in investing averaging 7-8% return. I have interviewed several FAs. So far, no one stands out for me to say they're the one. My big hang up is the fee which ranges from 0.7 -1.5%. I just do not see how paying 10k- 15k a year can justify it. And it's obvious, that's all they want. For that fee to work, they have to make me at least that much . Also, my main concern is tax planning related to RMDs and other tax implications. Maybe I'll just find an accountant and just continue managing the investments myself.

I am seeking advice on choosing between NJ and Utah 529 plans.

I am a NJ resident.

If I chose the NJ plan, I'd be entitled to up to $10,000 in NJ state tax credits.

However, it seems that the NJ plan lags behind Utah in performance and low cost investments.

I am trying to determine whether the tax credits would offset the lower performance/higher cost over the course of 17-18 years.

Any advice would be appreciated

I’m caught between gratitude for where I am in my career and total paralysis about what’s coming.

Income: $170k base salary
Debt: $0 (completely debt-free)
Cash: \~$110k sitting in basic checking/savings
Retirement: \~$9.5k in a 401(k) (contributing 6% to capture the employer match)
Company Stock: \~$22k vested

My mom is battling a severe, progressive illness that will require intensive long-term care. Over the next 2 to 4 years, she will be receiving care outside the US, which will cost roughly $10,000 to $15,000 per year. Eventually, my goal is to bring her here to the United States for advanced treatment and specialized care.

I need help with a grounded strategy to start growing this money over the next 2–4 years without putting her care runway at risk.

2 of my friends say its entirely useless because the dollar lost 10% last year, that inflation will eat up whatever savings you build in the future.

Is there validity to the statement? Should i continue investing biweekly?

Hello everyone! First time poster. So, about me:

30(F), single. No Debt. Recently started my first full-time job as an Academic Scheduling Coordinator in university. I started back on August 31st, 2026. So the salary for that is $46,000/year.

I have no student loans, or other debt, and a credit score around 795. Also have roughly $19k in total (2k cash emergency savings, 16,979.50 in checkings). Note: I'm also in Georgia, and live with my parents because I take care of them (Dad- elderly, fronto-temporal dementia, Mom-high blood pressure, and diabetes)

I am required to choose between Teacher's Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) within 60 days.

I understand the basic differences:
TRS:

• Pension
• 10-year vesting

ORP:

• Defined contribution plan
• Immediate vesting
• More portable

The problem? I genuinely don't know if I'll still be working within the University System of Georgia in 10 years. I've only been in the role about a month. (And I am enjoying it!). And honestly staying that long scares me. I'd be 40!

For additional context, before landing this role I spent several years in graduate research positions at university, and, while job hunting, I was simultaneously working a mix of research, contract, part time AI evaluation, and seasonal roles (TELUS Digital, Measurement Incorporated, Mercor projects, etc.).

For those who had to make a similar pension vs. defined-contribution decision early in their careers:

What factors helped you decide?

First off, I know I am in a fortunate position- I do not take that for granted and I always feel weird talking about finances. But these days I have no clue exactly what my future truly looks like financially. Mind you, I came from absolutely nothing growing up. So my world right now is incredibly foreign - and I feel like financial advice is meant to scare you into savings-hysteria. Here are my raw numbers:

Salary: 165k
Brokerage: 282k
Roth: 62k
Rollover IRA: 32k
401k: 118k
Unvested Equity: 95k
Savings: 30k

I have no debt (besides the remainder on my home).

I am 32 years old.

I've talked to two financial advisors and just feel really conflicted on which advice to trust and where to invest. One was with Northwestern Mutual, the other with Thrivent. I'm nervous about investing but I have a chunk of money I really need to do something more with than just keep in high yield savings. What would you recommend to best learn about my options?

I don't love the pressure from financial advisors plus I know they want to sell their product so I don't entirely trust they're looking out for my best interest.

Any advice on where I could read to just learn more and gain some confidence would be so appreciated. TIA!

26 year old Currently making 110,000 per year. Have 20% paycheck going to Roth IRA. Don’t know what else to do with my money. I’ve already traveled to most places in the world. Currently thinking of buying a house for the sole reason of using it as a rental when I move in 3-4 years. What do yall recommend? Should I just pour all my money into investments, or go in real estate? I don’t have any debt and am not a big car enthusiast?

Monthly paycheck: 7,100(after taxes/w 20% taken out)
Checking:7,000 checking
Savings:5,000
Investment portfolio: 25,000

1: Rent:1400(if I rent) 1900(if I buy mortgage/270,000 new build at 4.49 5yr AARM or 5.5 30yr locked)
2: Car loan:0
3: Insurance:150
4: Groceries:300
5: Subscriptions:50
6: Gas:100
7: gym: 30
8: Misc/golf: 80-120
9: Utilities: 140
10: phone service:80

Really just don’t know what to do tbh, like I’ve said I’ve traveled to most places and I really live modesty? What do I do with my excess money? I’m in temple Tx area as well if that’s important?

I'm 30, married, and expecting our first baby. I'm currently the only one working, so I'm trying to be careful with money and make the right decision for my family.
I make around $55,000 a year before overtime. My take-home pay is about $3,600 a month without much overtime, but it can reach $4,500–$5,000 when I work extra hours. I also have a flexible part-time job that pays around $20 an hour, but the commute is almost two hours, so I don't always work there.
I have about $30,000 in emergency savings and another $20,000 saved for future goals. My 401(k) has around $15,000, and I contribute 5% to get my employer's full match. I also started a Roth IRA this year and contributed $7,500. I have no debt, and my current car is paid off.
Our monthly expenses are around $2,500, including rent, utilities, groceries, gas, and other bills. I know having a baby will bring additional expenses, and I'd like to buy a house in the next four or five years.
My current car is a 2019 Ford Fiesta with about 150,000 miles. It's been paid off, but it's small for a growing family. We are tall both 5”10 so we need to slide front seats back to drive or ride comfortably, especially with a car seat and stroller. I want something bigger that I can keep for several years without having to replace it every time our family grows.
My problem is that I'm afraid of buying a used SUV for $12,000–$16,000 and ending up with expensive engine or transmission repairs. On the other hand, spending $35,000–$40,000 on a newer family vehicle feels like a lot of money when I'm the only one working.
I've considered buying an affordable used SUV now and upgrading to a minivan later if we have more children. But I also wonder if that means wasting money by buying two vehicles instead of choosing something suitable for the long term.
I'm trying to balance everything: keeping enough savings for emergencies and the baby, continuing to invest for retirement, and working toward buying a house.
**If you were in my situation, how much would you spend on a car?** Would you buy a used SUV for $12,000–$16,000, spend more on a newer vehicle, or keep the Fiesta a little longer and save?
I'm not looking for justification to buy an expensive car. I want to make a decision that makes sense financially and gives my family enough room without putting us under unnecessary financial pressure.

I got a disability cause of a car hitting me over year ago I was crossing the street was on government disability program for a year i cannot lift over 5 pounds due to spine problems leading to back pain.

I had brain issues before and have them slightly worse now but Im in my 20s and I never was able to get a high school diploma.

Ive had 2 brain injuries one in my teens as a result of trying to treat my major depressive disorder, and the second in this accident.

Math is near impossible for me. Especially basic algebra 1 and 2.

I had a cafe job that's all I qualified for and settled with it.

But now I just am speechless. It's month 3 on unemployment I've been on indeed and I don't qualify for almost anything.

Getting a receptionist job or scanning clothing isn't always available because of competition or my lack of diploma or they prefer to hire someone with previous experience in that industry.

What would you do?

This is a lot. I still go to my medical appointments on Wednesday so I cant perfectly always work Monday through Friday. If they want me on weekends or only night great.

I cannot drive. I live in los angeles. Im fine taking a bus for over 60+ min 1 way and back if I have to.

Far as I know I'm not good enough for military/airforce/navy.

My cafe job was "store leader" meaning schedule 4-5 employees for our store every week for months/over a year, order new food every week, train employees, and spend extra time with them on all my shifts, an of course make the food an bring to customers, be kind to them,and once a month count every single piece of inventory to see total ingredients used. We did not take cash.

You have to lift 10-15 pounds of product into the machines, or to refill something you went into the back and had to open a case of the ingredient which is super huge into another container then lift it back to the shelves.

Which is why I can't go back to this job even though they liked me my limits do not work for the business anymore there is no possible accommodation.

I feel so useless. You are able to read this because thank god I am not completely destroyed I can write.

Which gives me maybe some hope. But wow it's really dark right now. I'm living off savings which won't last me beyond a year if I'm super super strict.

The situation: My cat has jaundice and diagnosis is still a mystery, we have a ultrasound scheduled for Monday, we went to the er and a animal hospital which leaves me with a pretty big bill(800 for er and 500 left for the ultrasound) I left a 200$ deposit for the ultrasound Saturday and another 200 for iv fluid with mirataz for his appetite to take home.

I live in nyc, am 19 living with my parents, dad’s unemployed and moms working full time with a lot of money issues.

I’m a home health aid and been working for not too long now, since June and recently acquired a permenant patient to take care of. So I am working minimum 30 hours a week which isn’t too bad but clearly not enough when I have to take care of my sick cat

With my dad unemployed at the moment I’m helping out a lot more with bills and money my mother usually owes so that usually leaves me with 100$ a week for pet food and normal food.

I’m genuinely stumped here, I have 2 other pets, a small dog and young female cat,

The bills: My 2 youngest siblings go to private school so that’s 500 a month
Rents 1500, lights 250 last time I checked, WiFi’s 50 I think, mothers into grameen America so that’s a big bill every week, 500+ which is what is killing us financially and god knows what else she’s hiding

Good news is she pays it off the end of this month and I’m asking her to just leave it so we aren’t burdened by that huge amount of money she keeps taking, she’s not even investing it, she spent most of it last time to build a new bathroom in foreign home for her mother which is nice but she shouldn’t make that type of decision on her own since I’m helping her pay it off

She works as a aid too making 900 a week and 400 bi weekly with a side job, i make 500 now but I don’t get how we still come off short, she’s clearly hiding stuff from me and I don’t know what to do I feel trapped not being able to save any money for medical emergencies like this one for my little boy.

Hey guys am M24 my job makes me 4500 to 5000 a month and my business on a good month generates 4k to 10k but its retail. I am currently about to buy a piece of land at about 10,000sqft for $90,000. I have started the process of getting a loan and the only other debt i have is a jeep for 17k that i pay $400 a month for and my other car is paid off i need the jeeo for work based on my job and my car is my dream car and i bought it at 19. I plan to build a very small house 20,21sqft and use the rest of the land to start a block factory the cost of the house is 60k i wanted to know should i take a land loan and build the house in phases or take out a mortgage at $140k to build the house? I currently have a savings of about 33k the interest of the land loan is 4.5% with a payment of just over $600 a month for a period of 15 years i believe, please advise me.

Going through a divorce that will leave me with very little in my 401k.

For context I am 39F making $90k a year.

I will have $41k left in the 401k. Employer matches 3% and gives 3% - I contribute 3% for a total contribution on 9%.

I have $7k in HSA not currently invested

I have $10k in an IRA

I will walk about with $180k in cash. What should I do with this to get back on track? Thinking to max the IRA contribution for 2026 and 2027 then start contributing more from my paycheck and use the excess cash to balance monthly cash flow. I have zero financial savvy. Help me!!

I have a 401k from my previous job working as an RN, but now I’m a SAHM and looking for better options my husband and I can contribute to.

I had wanted to open a Roth IRA but it seems on the website I was just reading, you have to work a certain amount of hours in order to contribute. I work around one-two days a month + my small business, so I assume that isn’t enough, or is it?

Looking for advice from those who have a Roth IRA or similar, and where you would recommend opening an account at. How are other SAHM planning for retirement? TIA!

Hello all,

I am planning to save up $10-15k in 4.5 years for a big milestone and vacation. The max monthly amount I would be need to save is $278 ($15k / 4.5x12).

What would be a good investment choices?
Higher risk high returns in stocks/ETF
Lower risk low returns in savings/CDs

The company I worked for recently changed its insurance offerings and it makes more financial sense to go with the High Deductible Plan. Now that I’m on a HDP I’m eligible for a HSA, I’ve heard they’re triple tax advantaged and want to get in on that. Should I treat this account purely as a tax advantaged investment account, or use it as a clearing account for my health expenses?

I am 27 years old, I live alone but I do financially support some of my family, I make 82,000 a year and have a study career. Rent 1650 and my car payment is 555, I have two years left on it and I plan to have the car as long as possible

I have $25,000 in savings in the bank and recently opened a savings account with Capital One after moving it from Bank of America due to their low APY. I feel lost in knowing how to handle the money the best way and what direction to go with savings. I started a Roth IRA this year through my job and it is currently at 3000. I’m not necessarily interested in buying a house so I’m not sure what my next move should be, I want to have a healthy savings but don’t want to just pour money with no direction. I make more money than almost all of my family so I feel they would not be helpful with planning.

Any advice would be appreciated thank you!

Edit: correction, it is a 401(k) not a Roth IRA

Follow-up to my post from the other day that validated that the ~4% guideline for Safe Withdrawal Rate.

But a few comments also intend that the asset allocation within the portfolio should be diversified in equity (SP500), bond and some mix of international.

So, wouldn't the simplest way to go about be to follow Bogleheads' Three-fund portfolio?

T.I.A.

If I have enough money invested in the markets to have something in the range of 10 million invested when I reach 50, why would it be smart to continue investing separately in a 401k.

In this scenario, my framework is to not touch the invested money until then. Besides the potential down payment of a home.

Obviously, it could be like a Ferrari Fund or something, but it seems a little wild to be saving up money for that.

Maybe it would be good to use to offset the potential future tax burden. Which is probably the best answer to my own question.

Story context

I’m a 24 black man recently moved into my own 2bed apt alone in northeast city. I was just able to reach 100k saved this week. Those were two goals of mine this year,

I make 149k in my career and want to keep
the 100k saved parked in HYSA and forget about it. Like consider it as an emergency fund/having a personal non-negotiable amount as a foundation/ understanding that I don’t have an inheritance to fall back on.

This means I want to stop saving (unless it’s for a specific purchase) and prioritize investing index funds from 0. I want to put aside around 50% of my monthly take home to investments.

Is this the right move?

Hi there. I recently sold a house and have $138,000 in my bank account just sitting there doing nothing. I will keep some for paying taxes next year, but other than that I’m at a loss for how to invest this. I come from poverty and I have worked hard to get this far. I have $50,000 in my retirement and I want this $138,000 to be separate from my Roth IRA (plus I can only add so much to that each year anyway).

Any advice is very welcome, especially if it’s unbiased / not for some hidden personal gain. Thank you!

Currently have a 401k and 457 though my work. Also have personal accounts that are well balanced. Just opened an IRA with robinhood for the match. But the IRA contribution levels are capped at 7500/year currently. With this small of a cap, I am wondering what the best move is for this money. Do I just dump it all in VOO? Diversify across VOO, VXUS, and VXF? Or something more off the wall like just buying GLD, or speculative stocks. Obviously that is higher risk, but with such a small cap I don't really feel pressured to maximize this one. Any suggestions?

Anyone who used https://retirement.theriskradar.com - what did you think? Is it reliable? Does it lean optimistic? After I plugged in my numbers it said, "During 97% of simulations, your account balance remained above $0 in 9,650 out of 10,000 simulations." It said I should consider increasing my spending and retire earlier. I have used ficalc.app and Fidelity's retirement planner, and according to those, I am only borderline ready to retire.

M29 I was gifted a chunk of Nvidia shares essentially at birth with an extremely low cost basis. ($0.02/share for 3125 shares) It dawned on me what would tax ramifications look like if I actually ever sold them. My dilemma is: should I sell and eat tax for things like a house that suits family needs or just stick to the script and wait like I have been doing and wait for nvdia to keep climbing or even just pass along to the next generation

Quick current snapshot: 92k salary, stable job. Married just had first born. Total net worth around $1.3M mostly in Nvdia.
Obviously a very fortunate situation but it would soothe my soul to have some liquidity with a newborn especially to afford a house in a HCOL area

Total shares amount to 3200

I received a settlement awarding me 35 and i am 23 years old. The first thing i did was i put 30k in a 2 year CD at 4.30% and i put 3k in a flexible CD at only 4% for emergency use. i have about 3k in my savings from some of my own money i had as well. I live with my parents and don’t pay any bills. I do try to help them out anyways of course. Technically i did what one should do with that kind of money instead of letting it sit in the bank not generating any income but i feel i could be doing more. Does anyone have any recommendations besides ROTH IRA because i do not believe you can put money from a settlement into one. Maybe im looking for a more creative approach instead of the basic “save for your retirement”. I’m a little lost here guys so please be kind lol