Personal Finance & Budgeting - For a single adult with an average US salary of $60,000 per year, resulting in approximately $3,800 per month after taxes, budgeting should allocate about one-third for housing, 15% for food, 10% for transportation, 5% each for utilities and healthcare, and 15% for savings and investments [8][9][11][12][13] - Financial experts recommend aiming for as much as 50% of income in savings for single adults to prepare for future family expenses [16] - Upon retirement, lifestyle costs generally decrease, allowing for increased discretionary spending and reduced savings, although healthcare costs may increase [18][19][20] Remote Work Incentives - Some cities and states are offering financial incentives, ranging around $10,000 to $12,000, plus additional benefits like housing assistance and co-working spaces, to attract remote workers and revitalize their communities [4][5][6] - Tulsa Remote program offers a $10,000 incentive, housing assistance, co-working space, and community-building efforts to encourage remote workers to relocate and stay in Tulsa [6] Medical Debt & Credit Reports - A proposed rule to remove medical debt from credit reports, potentially wiping $49 billion off the credit reports of about 15 million Americans and increasing their credit scores by an average of 20 points, was blocked by a judge [33][34] - Medical debt under $500 is not reported, and 14 states have provisions to remove medical collection debt from credit reports [36] - Medical debt must be one year old before it shows up on credit reports [36] - Paying a medical bill, even after it has gone to collections and appeared on a credit report, will result in its removal from the credit report [51] - Credit card interest rates are high, ranging from 25% to 30%, and using a credit card for medical debt can remove medical debt protections [45] Investment & Retirement - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that Americans lost $125 billion to fraud in 2024, affecting over 25 million people [21] - Executive order opens the door for retirement savers to invest in alternative assets like crypto and private equity within their 401k plans [29] - Fidelity estimates that a 65-year-old retiring in 2024 could expect to spend $172,500 out-of-pocket on healthcare costs throughout retirement [58]

When you're having health issues, the last thing you want is so much aggravation. Todd Bash, a part-time teacher from the Los Angeles area, has been searching for a diagnosis for a spinal problem and an explanation from his insure for his medical bills. What are these extra charges, and they informed me that it was a hospital facility fee.So, I explained I wasn't at a hospital. I just went to a doctor's appointment. But what he learned is that even outpatient doctor's offices like the one he went to can cha ...

Core Insights - A recent survey indicates that 80% of Americans not yet enrolled in Medicare are concerned about the program's future sustainability, with Millennials showing the highest level of concern at 85% [4] - The survey reveals that 76% of respondents underestimate the average healthcare costs in retirement, with many expecting to spend $100,000 or less, while current estimates suggest nearly $200,000 in costs for the average retiree [4] - The survey highlights a disconnect between public perception and reality regarding Social Security, with 54% of respondents believing it will remain solvent longer than current predictions, which estimate insolvency by 2033 [4] Medicare Insights - Medicare is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and the survey emphasizes the importance of understanding healthcare costs for retirement planning [3][4] - 78% of respondents have a positive view of Medicare, yet 81% still express concerns about retirement healthcare costs [4] - A significant portion of respondents (34%) are unwilling to raise taxes or reduce benefits to ensure Medicare's sustainability for future generations [4] Social Security Insights - Social Security is approaching its 90th anniversary, and 80% of those not yet enrolled worry about its future viability, with Baby Boomers being the least concerned [4] - 28% of Americans misunderstand the work requirements to qualify for Social Security, with only 20% correctly identifying the necessary 10 years of work [4] - The average monthly Social Security payment is underestimated by 47% of respondents, with only 17% accurately identifying it as about $2,000 [4] Survey Methodology - The findings are based on a June 2025 survey of 1,111 American adults, conducted with a margin of error of plus or minus 3% [6]

According to the 2025 mind over money study by Capital 1 and the decision lab, a majority of Americans are concerned about not having enough money, especially when it comes to saving for retirement and the rising cost of living. My next guest says that there are some key mistakes that can get in the way of building wealth. I want to bring in Brennan Schlagalm who is the budget dog founder and personal finance expert.Brennan, good to have you here with us. You say waiting to start investing, keeping cash idl ...