Taxes
Year-End Tax Planning: 12 Moves to Make Before Dec. 31
Year-end tax planning for 2026: Roth conversions, RMDs, charitable gifts, and the 0% capital gains rate retirees can still use before Dec. 31.
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Taxes
2026 and 2027 Capital Gains Tax Brackets: Why Your Rate Rises
Long-term capital gains are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%. See the 2026 and 2027 brackets by filing status and how other income pushes your rate higher.
Retirement Savings and Investments
What Is a Roth Conversion? How It Works and When to Do One
A Roth conversion moves pretax savings into a Roth IRA. You pay tax now, and withdrawals are tax-free later. See how it works and when it pays.
Retirement Savings and Investments
How Much Does the Average American Have in Savings? $8,200
The median family keeps $8,200 in bank accounts and $44,200 in total financial assets. See savings by age, for the middle class, and home equity.
Retirement Planning
What Is Behavioral Finance? 10 Biases That Cost You Money
Behavioral finance explains why smart people sell low, save too little for retirement, and claim Social Security early. Here are the biases and the fixes.
Retirement Planning
Monte Carlo Simulation for Retirement: How It Works and What Your Odds Mean
A Monte Carlo simulation tests your retirement plan across 1,000 simulated markets to estimate your odds. Here’s how it works and what your score means.
Taxes
What Is NIIT? The 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax Explained
The net investment income tax adds 3.8% to investment income once MAGI tops $200,000 or $250,000. See who pays it, how it’s figured, and how to cut it.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Asset Allocation by Age: The Right Mix at Every Stage
The best asset allocation strategy for you today? As you age? Is age the best way to determine investment strategy? Get answers.
Retirement Income
What Is Fixed Income? Meaning, Examples, and Retirement Risks
What is fixed income? It’s income paid on a set schedule, like Social Security or a pension, or bonds and other investments that pay set interest.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Top 10% Wealthiest Retirees Have $3.9M: Net Worth by Age
The top 10% wealthiest retirees have about $3.9M in net worth, per Boldin’s analysis of 2025 Fed data. See the top 5% and 1% by age, and where you stand.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Baby Boomer Wealth: How Boomers Got So Rich
Boomers hold about half of U.S. household wealth. See how baby boomers got so rich, who got left behind, and whether $444,000 is enough to retire on.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Average Retirement Savings by Age: Couples, Top 10%
Families 55 to 64 with retirement accounts have a median of $239,000 saved. See retirement savings by age for couples, the top 10% and every generation.
Taxes
RMD Strategies: 6 Ways to Lower Taxes on Required Minimum Distributions
Your RMD age is 73 or 75, depending on birth year. These 6 RMD strategies, from QCDs to Roth conversions, can lower the taxes on your withdrawals.
Retirement Income
Retirement Income Strategies for Making Your Money Last
Buckets, guardrails, annuities, and 14 more ways retirees turn savings into income. See which strategy fits your risk tolerance and goals.
Financial Wellness
How to Save for Retirement: How Much to Save and Where to Put It
How to save for retirement: aim for about 15% of income, use accounts in the right order, and see 2026 401(k), IRA, and HSA limits plus ways to save more.
Taxes
Qualified Charitable Distributions: 2026 QCD Limit and Rules
Give up to $111,000 from your IRA tax-free with a QCD in 2026. See who qualifies, how it counts toward your RMD, and how to report it.
Retirement Savings and Investments
16 Roth IRA and Roth Conversion Mistakes That Cost You in Taxes
A Roth conversion can raise your Medicare premiums two years later. Every mistake on this list comes with a solution.
Debt
77% of Americans Say Debt Is Blocking Their Retirement Savings
A National Institute on Retirement Security survey finds debt is keeping most Americans from saving, and few know what their money will earn.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Average IRA Balance by Age: Roth, Traditional, and Median
The median IRA balance is $100,000, but the average is $444,000. See both by age for traditional and Roth IRAs, plus how many people contribute.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Average and Median 401(k) Balance by Age (2026 Data)
The average 401(k) balance is $167,970, but the median is $44,115. See both by age, plus percentiles and Fidelity’s newer data, to see where you stand.
Retirement Savings and Investments
See Your Total Asset Allocation Across All Accounts in One View
How to sort your holdings into 7 asset classes, spot concentration risk, check against your risk profile, and catch drift or cash drag early.
Retirement Planning
Are You Saving Too Much for Retirement?
Under-saving is a math problem you can still fix. Over-saving can cost years you won’t get back. Here’s how to tell which one you’re doing.
Retirement Savings and Investments
What Is Sequence of Returns Risk? Definition and Example
Sequence of returns risk is how the order of your returns affects the savings you withdraw. See a 15-year example and six ways to protect your retirement.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Is the Magic Number for Retirement $1.2 Million or $1.46 Million?
Two 2026 surveys put the number at $1.2 million and $1.46 million, $260,000 apart. Here’s why, and how to find your number.
