Make Your Money Work for You

Understanding your 401K is one of the most important steps you can take to build long-term financial security. Here you’ll find straightforward articles that explain how 401Ks work, how contributions and employer matches fit into your paycheck, what to know about tax advantages, and how to choose investments that match your comfort with risk and your timeline to retirement.

Explore clear, plain-language articles that break down 403b retirement plans, including how they work, contribution limits, tax advantages, and what to consider when choosing investments. Whether you’re a teacher, nonprofit employee, or other public service worker, these resources explain key concepts so you can see how a 403b fits into your broader retirement strategy.

A 457 plan can be a powerful way for public employees and certain nonprofit workers to save more for retirement, but the rules and options often feel confusing. Here you’ll find straightforward articles that break down how 457 plans work, key benefits and drawbacks, contribution limits, withdrawals, and how these plans compare with other retirement accounts.

Explore a range of straightforward, expert-informed articles that break down every aspect of a 529 Plan, from how these accounts work and what they can be used for to rules, tax advantages, and potential drawbacks. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or student, you’ll find plain-language explanations that help you compare options, understand costs, and avoid common mistakes.

A Backdoor Roth can be a powerful way for higher-income earners to build tax-advantaged retirement savings, but the rules are technical and easy to misinterpret. Here you’ll find clear explanations of how the strategy works, who it may benefit, key tax considerations, and common pitfalls to avoid so you can decide whether it fits your long-term plan.

Dividend income can be a steady way to grow your money, but the details—like dividend yield, payout ratios, and tax treatment—can be confusing. Here you’ll find clear explanations of how dividends work, the different types of dividend-paying investments, and what to watch for before you buy or hold a stock or fund for its payout.

Explore clear, practical explanations of ETF basics, from how exchange-traded funds work to what fees, risks, and tax considerations you should know before investing. You’ll find straightforward breakdowns of different ETF types, comparisons with mutual funds and stocks, and guidance on how ETFs can fit into a diversified portfolio at different life stages and risk levels.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA Account) can lower your out-of-pocket costs for health care, child care, and other eligible expenses—but only if you understand how it works and how to use it before your money expires. Here you’ll find clear explanations of FSA basics, contribution limits, eligible expenses, rollover rules, and how FSAs compare with other options like HSAs and HRAs.

Fidelity touches many parts of everyday life, from trust in relationships and commitments to reliability in financial and personal choices. This page brings together expert, easy-to-read articles that explain what fidelity means in different contexts, how it affects your well-being, and what to consider when you’re facing questions about loyalty, trust, or long-term commitments.

Choosing a financial advisor can shape how confidently you handle budgeting, investing, retirement planning, and major life decisions. Here you’ll find clear, unbiased articles that explain advisor types, typical fees, credentials, and what to expect from a professional relationship, so you can understand your options without needing a finance background.

Explore straightforward explanations and actionable advice to help you understand, use, and manage your HSA account with confidence. You’ll find articles that break down how HSAs work, what qualifies as an eligible expense, how contributions and withdrawals affect your taxes, and ways to avoid common mistakes that can cost you money.

Explore straightforward explanations of what an index fund is, how it works, and how it compares to other investing options. You’ll find practical articles on fees, risk, diversification, and how index funds can fit into different goals, from building long-term retirement savings to getting started with your first investment account.

Investing doesn’t have to be confusing or reserved for experts. Here you’ll find straightforward articles on how investing works, common types of investments, strategies for different goals, and ways to understand risk vs. reward so you can align your money decisions with your life plans, not someone else’s.

Explore clear, unbiased articles that explain how a mutual fund works, the different types available, and what to look for before you invest. You’ll find plain-language breakdowns of fees, risk levels, performance measures, and common terms so you can compare options with confidence instead of guessing.

Explore clear, practical articles that explain REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), how they work, and what they mean for your money. You’ll find straightforward breakdowns of types of REITs, how they generate income, potential risks, taxes, and how they compare to owning property directly or investing in other assets.

Explore clear, plain-language articles that break down Robinhood’s features, fees, risks, and alternatives so you can understand how this popular trading app really works. From account setup and trading basics to margin, options, and tax considerations, these resources are designed to help you see both the opportunities and the potential pitfalls before you move your money.

Roth conversion can be a powerful way to control future taxes, create more flexible retirement income, and plan what you leave to heirs—but it also comes with real trade-offs today. Here you’ll find clear, plain-language articles explaining how a Roth conversion works, what it costs in current taxes, and how to think about timing, income levels, and changing tax laws.

Explore straightforward explanations and expert-backed insights to help you understand how a Roth IRA works, who it’s best for, and how it compares with other retirement accounts. You’ll find articles that break down contribution rules, income limits, withdrawals, conversions, and strategies for using a Roth IRA alongside your 401(k) or other savings.

Explore straightforward, easy-to-compare information on Simple IRA plans, including how they work, who they’re best for, contribution limits, employer rules, tax implications, and how Simple IRAs stack up against other retirement options. The goal is to turn complex plan details into plain-language explanations so you can quickly understand what matters and what doesn’t.

Explore straightforward articles that break down the stock market into practical, understandable topics—how it works, common investment strategies, risk basics, and key terms you’ll actually see in your account. Whether you’re just starting or refining your approach, you’ll find plain-language explainers and step‑by‑step breakdowns designed to help you feel more confident about where your money goes.

Stocks can be a powerful way to build long-term wealth, but they’re also confusing, full of jargon, and easy to misunderstand. This collection of articles breaks down key stock market basics, different types of stocks, how risk really works, and what to know before buying your first share or rethinking an existing portfolio. Everything is written in plain language to help you feel more confident, whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen what you already know.