Rishi Vamdatt · Passed the CFP® Exam at 16 
What could $150 a month become over several decades? The answer is a great illustration of why compound interest is such a powerful concept in personal finance. But there’s more to compounding than watching an investment balance grow. Time, contributions, returns, and even debt can all interact in ways that many people don’t fully appreciate. …
When people compare a Roth IRA and Traditional IRA, they often focus on one thing: “Which one gives me the bigger tax break?” But that’s only part of the story. The account you choose can affect your taxes today, your retirement income, and even how much of your Social Security may be taxable later. Here’s …
Interactive Learning Experience: The Bare-Bones Builder Every monthly expense starts in one pile at the top. Drag each one into Survival or Nice-to-have (editing the amounts to match your own life if you want), and two emergency fund targets grow side by side. One is the number most people calculate from their whole budget, and …
Life has a way of throwing unexpected expenses at us: a car repair, a medical bill, or even the loss of a paycheck. The question isn’t whether surprises will happen. It’s whether your finances are prepared when they do. Here, I explain what an emergency fund is, how to decide how much you really need, …
Infographic: Trump Account Explained – When is it Really a Good Deal? Trump Accounts Explained The government is giving your child a free $1,000 through the Trump Account – but if you plan to use it for college, you could cost your child $5,000! I passed the CFP® exam at 16 and have helped millions …
A new government-backed investment account is now available for many children, starting with a $1,000 contribution. At first glance, it sounds like an easy win for families. But as with many financial products, the details matter. Here, I explain who qualifies for a Trump Account, how the account works, tax rules that many parents don’t …
YouTubers Keep Giving Bad Money Advice YouTubers keep telling you to invest in real estate, crypto, and their favorite stocks – but that advice is actually making your financial situation worse, not better. Having millions of followers doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to build wealth. And the strategies that made them richer could actively …
Interactive Learning Experience: Where Does the Next Dollar Go You have money left over each month and five places it could go. Drag them into the order you would fund them, and watch five years play out as the money runs down your list. Some runs hit you with a job loss and some do not, …
Infographic: Are You Walking Away From Your Employer’s Free Money? 401k Employer Match Explained (And the Traps to Avoid) Imagine your employer gives you $256,000 in free money, and you lose every single penny without doing anything wrong. All because you missed this one thing buried in the fine print that gives your employer the …
Interactive Learning Experience: The Checkout Experiment Eight weeks of shopping, one thing a week, on a fixed amount of spending money. Every item can be paid for today or split into four payments. Buy what you like. Then look at the calendar of every payment you signed up for and find out which weeks you …
