Author: troyashbacher

Thought about spicing things up with a date night subscription box? Here are our personal date box reviews for monthly date nights at home. You might be wondering why a personal finance blog is breaking out the date night subscription box reviews. Hear me out on this one: I’m a parent, and I’m always trying to figure out how to plan at-home date nights without it feeling like so much work. I am ALL about having money dates with your spouse (I call these mini marriage financial planning sessions “money quickies”), and one way to make these a whole lot…

Charlie Munger, the former Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) vice chair and Warren Buffett’s long-time right-hand man, argued that investors must be prepared for a brutal reality: If you can’t stomach a 50% decline in your portfolio, you’ll never achieve exceptional results. While many hope for an easy path to wealth, Munger’s rule remains one of the most straightforward and most challenging tests for anyone serious about investing in stocks over the long term. The 50% Drop Test That Separates Winners From Losers “You can argue that if you’re not willing to react with equanimity to a market price decline…

“Once the check clears, the buyer will send a trailer to pick up the car.”

This is a thought that has popped into my brain more than once over the last 3.5 years of living in my little rental home. In fact, when my brain starts to calculate the rent amount from the last three years, I mentally look away because the thought is so unpleasant. In addition to the “Renting is throwing away money!” thought, there’s also a slightly nagging feeling that you have somehow not quite arrived as an adult if you are renting. Before I left my marriage, I’d been a homeowner since the year 2000! So when I rented this house,…

Brett Arends is an award-winning financial writer with many years experience writing about markets, economics and personal finance. He has received an individual award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers for his financial writing, and was part of the Boston Herald team that won two others. He has worked as an analyst at McKinsey Co., and is a Chartered Financial Consultant. His latest book, “Storm Proof Your Money”, was published by John Wiley Co.

Mortgage rates have had an uneventful couple of days as, like the rest of us, bond markets and mortgage lenders are waiting to see if the government will reopen this week.The average interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 6.17% APR, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. This is one basis point higher than Monday and nine basis points higher than a week ago. (See our chart below for more specifics.) A basis point is one one-hundredth of a percentage point.A government reopening would be a major market-moving event and good news for basically everyone except…

Stock futures pointed higher Wednesday on optimism that the 43-day U.S. government shutdown would soon come to an end.  Futures associated with the tech-heavy tech-heavy Nasdaq, benchmark S&P 500, and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average were up a respective 0.6%, 0.3%, and 0.2%. The three major stock indexes ended mixed yesterday, with the Dow jumping 1.2%, or about 560 points, to cose at a record high for the first time in two weeks. The S&P 500 added 0.2% but the Nasdaq shed 0.3%.  The Senate approved legislation to fund the government until Jan. 30 and end the shutdown late Monday. Following the Veterans Day…

As 2025 winds down, many affluent families are taking stock, not just of markets and account balances, but of what those numbers really mean.For years, financial success has been measured by numbers, such as beating market benchmarks and increasing net worth.But with tax laws now clarified under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), inflation still weighing down portfolios and family priorities evolving, people are asking a different question: Do our financial plans support the lives we want to live? From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up…

Question: I’m 58, divorced, and dating again, but women just seem to care about the size of my bank account. How should I approach dating differently now?Answer: Reentering the dating world can be daunting when you’ve been off the market for quite some time. But you may reach a point when you’re ready to get back out there — perhaps once your grown kids are settled into lives of their own, or once you find yourself inching closer to retirement and wanting companionship.The good news is that you have several tools at your disposal for finding a partner — dating…

key takeaways Texas offers retirees the absence of a state income tax, plus lower living costs.Jefferson County provides coastal living at an affordable price.Maverick County offers small-town charm with an authentic Mexican feel.Gregg County blends East Texas culture with strong health care options. If you’re starting to think about where you might like to retire, Texas should be on your list of possible landing spots. With no state income tax, a lower cost of living, and plenty of sunshine, it’s a retirement destination that balances affordability with lifestyle. Whether you’re drawn to fishing along the coast, enjoying the slower pace…