The start of a new year can be a great time to shake things up. You might even be thinking that 2026 will be the year you leave your job. Perhaps you’re unhappy in your current role. Maybe you long to become a solo entrepreneur or to become the CEO of your household as a full-time parent. But before you head off to your next chapter, you need to make sure your finances are ready for the transition. If anyone knows how to navigate a change in career, it’s Jannese Torres, a former engineer turned award-wi ...

SolStock / Getty Images If you get a big holiday check, you should devote at least some of it to paying off high-interest debt. Key Takeaways If you receive a holiday bonus or gift money, you may want to put most of it toward long-term financial goals and use a bit to treat yourself, too. Think about how to invest these funds for long-term growth. Even if you can't fully accomplish a financial goal with your year-end check, building some momentum helps. The holiday movie National Lampoon's Christ ...

You could also opt for other types of savings accounts — money market, certificates of deposit , a traditional savings account — or build savings through investments, but a high-yield account may be your best bet for steady, nonvolatile growth.If you’re simply looking to build a general savings nest egg, however, a high-yield savings account is a solid strategy. Fortune notes that “the best rates are often found with online-only accounts,” so you’ll have to be fine with online banking. That said, you’ll ear ...

CocoSan / Getty Images There are several strategies you can use to recession-proof your finances, from budgeting to diversifying your portfolio. Key Takeaways Stay in control of your finances by creating a budget and adjusting it as needed. Build a healthy emergency fund, which is crucial to avoiding high-interest debt in the event of an unexpected expense. Diversify your investments across stocks, bonds, and other assets to mitigate risk in the event of an economic downturn. Develop multiple incom ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of financial management strategies proposed by Dave Ramsey, particularly focusing on debt elimination and the establishment of an emergency fund [1][4][18] Debt Management - Ramsey advocates for paying off all debts except for the mortgage, suggesting that once debt-free, individuals should avoid borrowing again [1][6] - The article highlights the negative impact of debt on financial flexibility and the necessity of making sacrifices to pay it off [6][8] - There is a disagreement regarding the early payoff of low-interest mortgage debt, which Ramsey suggests, as it may not be financially beneficial [5][7] Emergency Fund - Establishing an emergency fund is prioritized, with Ramsey recommending a starter fund of $1,000 and a full fund of three to six months of living expenses once debt-free [4][3] - The emergency fund serves as a financial safety net, preventing individuals from falling back into debt during unforeseen circumstances [2][3] Budgeting - Ramsey promotes living on a budget, specifically a $0-based budget where every dollar is allocated to spending or saving [14][17] - The article acknowledges that while the $0-based budget may not suit everyone, the importance of conscious spending and budgeting is crucial for financial success [15][17] Car Financing - Leasing cars is discouraged, with the article agreeing that it is an expensive way to acquire a vehicle [9][10] - The recommendation is to purchase affordable used cars and save for future purchases rather than taking on new debt [11][12]

Market Outlook - The U.S. housing market is expected to undergo a significant correction, potentially starting as early as 2026, with a large historical price decline anticipated over several years [1][5][6] - Zillow reported that 53% of U.S. homes lost value over the past year, the highest share since 2012, with an average drawdown of 9.7% [2][3] Price and Income Discrepancy - The median sales price of a U.S. home reached $410,800 in Q2 2025, a 42% increase over the past decade, while the median household income is only $83,730, creating a significant gap [3][4] - Realtor.com estimates that a typical household now needs to earn approximately $118,530 annually to afford a median-priced home, highlighting the disconnect between home prices and household income [3][4] Investor Behavior - During the last housing crash, large investors intervened to buy homes, which halted the price decline; however, this time, it is argued that such intervention may not occur [4][5] - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that the housing market is already in a "recession" due to Federal Reserve policy, with warnings from various analysts about a potential severe downturn [7]

Core Insights - The Dell family, led by Michael Dell, has pledged to contribute an additional $6.5 billion to "Trump accounts" for children, specifically targeting those aged 10 and under who were born before 2025 [3] - The "Trump account" initiative allows for a one-time government deposit of $1,000 at birth, with parents able to contribute up to $5,000 annually, while employers can add up to $2,500 [6][7] - The Treasury Department estimates that these accounts could grow to $1.9 million over 28 years, assuming maximum contributions are made [5][19] Investment Structure - The "Trump account" is designed to provide a tax-advantaged investment option for children, with the potential for significant growth through compound interest [19] - Contributions from parents are not tax-deductible, but employer contributions are tax-free [7] - The accounts are intended to encourage long-term savings for children's futures, with funds accessible at age 18 [19] Financial Context - The average annual cost of raising a child is reported to be $29,419, reflecting a 35.7% increase from previous surveys [8] - Financial experts suggest that while the "Trump account" offers a government seed fund, other options like Roth IRAs and 529 accounts may provide better long-term benefits [21][22][23] - The initiative aims to fill a gap for children born before the end of 2024, as the government will provide the initial investment for those born after [4]

Many Americans start the new year with a long list of bills and little (or no) cash left over from the holidays. If an unexpected cost hits at the same time, they may need to rely on credit cards to get by. That’s why building a small rainy day fund is so important. It can give you breathing room when surprises happen. A rainy day buffer can be a great way to cover the small emergencies that disrupt your budget, like a flat tire or an unexpected trip to urgent care. You don’t need thousands of dollars to ...

Avalanche: Start with clearing your most substantial debt, then, once it’s settled, use the windfall to aggressively pay down any smaller debts.Snowball: Knock off your smaller debts one at a time to build up momentum — and income — to put towards your biggest debt.Reducing debt, especially consumer debt, could be a great way to secure yourself financially. In 2024, there were 494,201 personal bankruptcy filings in the U.S. — over 60,000 more than the previous year, according to Debt.org (5). Two general st ...

Core Insights - The rising cost of living in America is causing significant stress regarding savings, with 66% of Americans feeling "somewhat" or "extremely" stressed about their savings levels, and 14% expecting to dip into their savings this year [1][4]. Savings Trends - A substantial portion of Americans have low or no savings, with 19% having nothing saved and 21% having between $1 and $250. Only 25% have savings of $2,000 or more [4][8]. - The survey indicates that 34% of Americans contribute nothing to savings due to living paycheck to paycheck, while 32% save less than 10% of their paycheck [6][8]. Demographic Insights - Older Gen Zers and younger millennials (ages 25 to 34) are the most likely to have no savings, with 23% reporting $0 in their accounts. In contrast, 42% of Boomers (ages 65+) have $2,000 or more saved [5][4]. - Gen X (ages 45 to 54) shows the highest percentage of individuals saving none of their paycheck, with 42% living paycheck to paycheck [7][8]. - Gen Z (ages 18 to 24) is more likely to save a significant portion of their paycheck, with 10% saving 31% to 50% and 5% saving more than 50% [7].