An educational resource for people who want to invest wisely—without unnecessary complexity or “secret strategies.” The site breaks down the mechanics of investing: index funds, dividend-paying stocks, tax optimization, retirement accounts, and real estate as an investment vehicle.
A 3% muni yield is a 4.76% taxable equivalent at the 37% bracket. For anyone above the 24% bracket, munis usually win in taxable accounts.
Under $94,050 in taxable income for a couple in 2026: your capital gains rate is 0%. Early retirees harvest gains tax-free every year for a decade.
Sell at 364 days: taxed at 37%. Sell at 366 days: taxed at 20%. That's $17,000 on a $100,000 gain — for two days of patience.
Bonds in IRAs. Stocks in taxable. REITs in Roth. This isn't optional for high earners — proper location adds 0.75% per year to after-tax returns.
The IRS lets you deduct $3,000 in net capital losses against ordinary income every year. Most investors never claim it. Here's the simple mechanics.
$10,000 in SPY from 1994 with dividends reinvested is $130,000. Without reinvestment, $82,000. The compounding difference is 58% over 30 years.
25+ consecutive years of increasing dividends sounds like a screen for quality. It's also a screen that includes companies cutting R&D to make the streak.
A 2% yielder growing dividends 10% annually pays more in cash after 18 years than a 6% yielder with flat payouts. The math compounds faster than most expect.
SCHD yields 3.5% with dividend growth. VYM yields 2.9% with market-cap weighting. DVY yields 3.8% but has sector concentration issues.
Twelve stocks paying quarterly on staggered cycles produce monthly income. Or one ETF. Here's what the real yield looks like at a $100,000 portfolio.
Cash out. Leave it. Roll to new 401(k). Roll to IRA. Three of these are wrong for almost every person. The one that works almost always is usually the default nobody chooses.
You're borrowing your own money at 8.5% interest that you pay back to yourself. Sounds fine. Then you lose your job and the whole thing becomes due in 60 days.