Money Guides
401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026
$24,500 employee deferral, $8,000 catch-up at 50+, $11,250 super catch-up at 60–63 — plus the mistakes that cost job-changers real money.
Federal Tax Brackets 2026, Explained
Marginal vs. effective rates, the standard deduction, and a full worked example — the bucket system that makes "bracket panic" mathematically impossible.
Where Your Paycheck Actually Goes
Follow $85,000 through federal tax, FICA, state tax, and 401(k) to see what lands in the bank — and why your coworker keeps a different amount.
How Much House Can You Actually Afford?
Forget the 3x salary rule. How lenders really do the math — DTI ratios, the 28/36 rule — with a worked example and the costs formulas leave out.
How Much Car Can You Actually Afford?
The 20/4/10 rule — 20% down, 4-year loan max, car costs under 10% of income — with worked examples at $60k, $75k, and $100k salaries.
How Much Should You Have in Your 401(k) by Age?
Balance benchmarks by age, what a realistic 5–8% return means, and the Rule of 72 — plus why the average balance is more discouraging than useful.