Most employed tech workers have never looked up what their skills are actually worth outside an employer’s payroll. A mid-level software engineer earning $130,000 annually at a tech company is…
Updated July 2026: Rates have dropped significantly since this was written. I Bonds are now paying 4.26% (May–October 2026 composite rate), down from 5.27%. 52-week T-bills are around 3.96%, down…
The standard mental model for investment losses is backwards. When a position in your taxable brokerage account goes down, most investors experience it as a pure negative — a paper…
Updated July 2026: Key update since this was written: the SECURE 2.0 Act provision allowing unused 529 funds to roll into a Roth IRA (up to $35,000 lifetime, subject to…
The outcome of most compensation conversations is largely determined before anyone sits down to talk. Salary negotiation advice almost never says this. The person who gets the raise or the…
Updated July 2026: Contribution limit note: the $69,000 Solo 401(k) limit referenced in this post reflects 2024 figures. The 2025 limit increased to $70,000, and the 2026 limit will be…
Updated July 2026: The rate landscape has shifted significantly since publication. The Fed held rates at 3.50–3.75% through mid-2026 but HYSA rates fell further than the 4.25–4.85% range described below.…
Updated July 2026: Significant change since this was written: the OBBBA (signed July 4, 2025) made TCJA income tax brackets permanent. The anticipated 2026 bracket increases — including the top…
