Hello all, I was wondering if people had any suggestions on what amount to put into my 401k and or Roth 401k. I’m 29, I currently make around 65k a year at the moment. My employer matches half of up to 9% of what I put into either Roth or 401k. I have a decent emergency cash savings, as well as no debt with the exception of a mortgage.

Just needing some guidance as I’m not too savvy when it comes to this stuff. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

I am planning to buy a sports card with the certified autograph of a soccer player that I am a huge huge fan of and the cost corresponds at like 3% of my monthly income. Most people would say “why would you spend that much money on a card?” But I guess you value what you value? I would never spend a thousand dollars on a watch, for example.

For context: we aren’t married, but have lived together for several years now. In that process our finances began to overlap a lot and It’s harder to get a clear picture of how much money we have throughout the month and budget while we’re sending money back and forth between each other and using multiple cards. We also both want to be able to keep autonomy over our respective disposable income at the end of the month.

The initial solution we came up with was to keep our individual personal checking and savings accounts and each contribute 1/2 of the total amount budgeted for rent, bills, and shared household expenses into a shared checking. We usually buy things like groceries with a rewards credit card, so that account would be used to pay that off each month as well. We live in a pretty walkable city, but are trying to save for the down payment on a car as well.

She does her primary banking through a national credit union, and I use a traditional bank. We’ve considered a couple pros/cons of each for our lifestyles and financial plans together.

TLDR: My partner and I want to open a joint checking/savings account while still maintaining our personal accounts mainly for paying necessary monthly expenses, saving for emergencies, and major shared purchases but can’t decide which would make the most sense between a credit union or traditional bank.

Any thoughts or advice are appreciated as we’re fairly new to this but want to start making wiser financial decisions together.

Hi, I’m currently 20 years old and work part-time in retail. I want to secure my financial future over the long term, so I’ve started saving money and investing in ETFs. My plan was to switch to a sales role and work full-time soon; this would allow me to earn a higher salary giving me more capital to work with while also helping me develop skills like sales. I’d love to know if you see any ways to optimize this approach to build even more wealth and eventually transition to financial independence and self-employment. I appreciate any comments or tips! THANKS 😊

What knowledge he has to have in finance & thigs he has to learn ?

Hey, I'm 22M and started working full time for a private company. I have a yearly package of $15k out of which $10k is my expenditure (in the worst case) . I need some advice on how to invest the rest of my 5k from now on, because everyone I asked says it's better if you start early in investing

I’m 22 and trying to set up my portfolio the right way long-term without overcomplicating things or killing growth chasing dividends.

I kept seeing people say:

So I tried to build a hybrid setup that actually follows that without sacrificing compounding.

Roth IRA (Growth first, slight tax optimization)

• Keep most of Roth in growth (VOO/VXUS)
• Use a small % to hold REIT/BDC so I don’t get taxed on that income

Brokerage (Dividend / income layer)

• Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
• AbbVie Inc.
• Altria Group Inc.
• Focus on qualified dividends
• Lower tax rate vs ordinary income
• Still decent growth + income

Why I didn’t go full “tax optimization”

I could’ve:

• Loaded Roth with REITs/BDCs
• Put everything else in brokerage

But that would:

• Kill long-term compounding
• Waste Roth space on slower-growing assets

So I kept Roth mostly growth.

• Roth = wealth builder (tax-free forever)
• Brokerage = income builder (dividends I can use later)

Questions

1. Would you even bother putting O/MAIN in Roth at my age?

I’m 22 and trying to set up my portfolio the right way long-term without overcomplicating things or killing growth chasing dividends.

I kept seeing people say:

>

So I tried to build a hybrid setup that actually follows that without sacrificing compounding.

Roth IRA (Growth first, slight tax optimization)

• Vanguard S&P 500 ETF → 55–60%
• VXUS → 30–35%
• Realty Income Corporation or Main Street Capital Corporation → 10–15%
• Keep most of Roth in growth (VOO/VXUS)
• Use a small % to hold REIT/BDC so I don’t get taxed on that income

Brokerage (Dividend / income layer)

• Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
• AbbVie Inc.
• Altria Group Inc.
• Focus on qualified dividends
• Lower tax rate vs ordinary income
• Still decent growth + income

Why I didn’t go full “tax optimization”

I could’ve:

• Loaded Roth with REITs/BDCs
• Put everything else in brokerage

But that would:

• Kill long-term compounding
• Waste Roth space on slower-growing assets

So I kept Roth mostly growth.

• Roth = wealth builder (tax-free forever)
• Brokerage = income builder (dividends I can use later)

Questions

1. Is 10–15% REIT/BDC in Roth too much / too little?
2. Would you even bother putting O/MAIN in Roth at my age?
3. Should I just go 100% VOO/VXUS in Roth and ignore tax optimization completely?

Hello, I am 18M currently in the Army NG with Roth TSP (retirement plan), and it got me thinking how else could I make more money over time since I don't spend a whole lot. I'm talking about longer term investments like 5 years. I'm not a huge spender and I still live with my parents, I go to college for free and I was wondering how I could use my spare college money and some of my savings for investments and growth. I know a little bit about CDs their APYs. Unfortunately my bank only allows a maximum of 4.30% so I wouldn't really be making a whole lot from that, and their HYSA only offer about 2%. I'm just wondering how I could make more money? I'm going to get a AAA credit card soon for gas and some other travel expenses because I tend to drive a lot and I wanna build my credit score a bit, thanks.

Hi everyone. I'm genuinely curious to hear what others would do in this situation.

Let's say your primary mortgage has a remaining balance of $1 million at a 5.2% interest rate. If you received a windfall, would you:

1. Pay off the mortgage, or
2. Invest the money in the market instead?

I'm interested in hearing the reasoning behind your choice and what you think would be the more advantageous approach

I know that I need a financial professional's help, but I'm not sure what kind, or how to find one that will meet my needs.

In my current job, I have a 401k. This is my first time having a job that gives me a 401k with employer match, so I'm still learning about it.
That said, I'm being laid off, and I know that something needs to be done with that 401k, but I don't know enough about 401ks to know what needs to happen next. But that advice is not what I'm posting here for.

Additionally, while I search for another job, I am planning to become self-employed again. In the past, when I have been self-employed, I have known that financial professionals exist, but I've not been in the position to utilize them or have a need for them.
That will be different this time. So I am also hoping to sit down with someone and discuss all that is related to owning a small business that is actually a small business and not just a hobby that pays the bills.

What is the job title for the type of financial professional that I need to meet these needs?
Also, once I google that job title, how do I narrow down who I want to work with and who I don't? Are there specific things that I should look for as green flags or red flags?
Thank you.

I’m early 30s, have about 200k in savings or cds, retirement another 100k, and a brokerage I play around w individual stocks at 80k. so sitting around 395k rn. no debt but might go back to school. my fear of debt prevents me really considering it as an option. But ideally id get 3 mil or so inclusive of property and leave the labor force.

this feels behind, but idk how to fix it. my retirement accounts only let me invest in index funds or managed funds - I’ve defaulted to s&p 500 funds for a while, would love to be able to direct that $$ somewhere else.

recently started making after tax contributions to 401k. already max out a Roth but again, can only buy managed funds or index funds that take a cut.

i feel this is going too slowly. I’ve tried to save, I admit I spend more than I should renting my place and on drinks but few other expenses so can put away a fair amount. any initial thoughts or where I should turn to? tbh I would invest more of that 200k but I truly feel that the stock market is due for a crash and can’t shake the feeling. I was unemployed basically until 25, started making 55k now finally making 150k.

edit: thanks for the gut check all! I’m sorry if this sounded ungrateful- I know I’m in a good position, but truthfully it’s taken a lot of scrimping / saving to get to this point.. and I don’t have anyone in my life to talk to about this. so really just wanted to lay it all out there and see what others think.

Hi all, I’m 29F with $181k in savings. I have been working since I was 17 years old, and am very fortunate to have received a full scholarship for college. I currently make $84k, live with my parents and contribute $800 towards rent, and have approximately $550 in monthly personal expenses.

Monthly, I contribute $300 each to both my parent's Roth IRA accounts because their salaries don't allow them to save much for retirement. I’m enrolled in my employer’s 401k plan (5% match), and have recently opened a Roth IRA and have been contributing the maximum allowance.

Below is a breakdown of my savings and retirement funds:

• $68k = HYSA at 3.5%
• $105k = CD at 4.3%
• $8k = spread across checking accounts
• $24k = employer 401k
• $15.3k = Roth IRA

Should I be doing anything differently to maximize my savings? I do not anticipate large expenses (e.g., buying a house, getting married, etc.) for at least another 5-6 years. Any tips or guidance would be very helpful and appreciated - thank you!

EDIT: Thank you for the helpful comments and resources so far! Some additional context - all the funds in my Roth IRA have been invested (mostly in S&P 500).

2 years ago my junior year of HS Oct.2024 i was involved in a terrible hit-and-run bike accident in NY which forced me to stop playing Basketball and go to physical therapy for over an year. Long story short driver never found filed a lawsuit already had a lawyer at the time ended up sueing and won. I just graduated high school this past June and also just turned 18 this past may which now that im of age i was able to get my lawsuit check which settled for $25k 7-8k was my attorney percentage and the rest is mine which im left with $17.2k. Now I’ve waited about a month to deposit my check which i did on Wednesday because I didn’t wanna be impulsive with my spending I wanted to sit and think before I do because I don’t know when I’ll ever receive another check like this anytime soon. I’m going to school trade school specifically and only have to take out a $13k loan that i myself have to pay i was qualified for financial aid so that did help a lot with that being said i have a couple of questions

• I have 4 accounts
• TD bank checking & savings
• Chase bank regular checking which is a car maintenance fund i save and put money away for a car or my car I’m considering fixing
• Just created a fidelity brokerage account $0 in there as of right now
• I also got approved day of my birthday for capital one platinum CC $300 limit

• Right off the bat how much do i keep for myself ? Checkings & savings
• How do i set myself up for the future ?
• Do i spread this across different accounts?
• What do i do with this money ?
• how do I make my money earn money ?

I just got my first bonus from my first full-time job, and I’ll have about $30k in my checking account. That’s literally all the money to my name.

My current situation:
- 23 years old
- $30k cash (all sitting in checking)
- No savings account or investments
- Contributing enough to my 401(k) to get my employer’s full match
- ~$200k in student loans that enter repayment in a few months, with interest rates ranging from about 3% to 9%
After all my monthly expenses, I’ll have around $1,500 left over each month to save, invest, or put toward my loans

If you were in my shoes, how would you allocate the $30k?

I’m trying to make smart financial decisions from the start instead of looking back in a few years wishing I’d done something differently. I’d appreciate any advice or different perspectives!

Ive purchased a property that has been assessed by the bureau to be worth roughly 325,000. He manages a company we co-own and the residence is also the businesses main office and garage. It’s their place they live in it full time. And it’s time to transfer it into their name but I don’t want them to have to buy it from me or pay crazy taxes what’s the best way to pass it to them?

I am 23(f) recent graduate with a 1 savings account of 10k and one credit account with 2k. One credit card with 730 score.
Just stepped foot in my home town. I want to live on my own and pay for my necessary bills. No assistance from my parents.
What should I focus on? I know I need insurance, but I don’t know where to start or what to pay. Should I open up a retirement account now? I need someone to explain it like I am 5.

A previous employer moved my pension to Fidelity to manager. It was then moved to Massmutual. At one point earlier, I believe I was presented with the option to take a lump sum. Now, with Massmutual, they tell me that is not an option nor is a rollover to an IRA an option. The paperwork that I received to elect my payment options has some verbiage that implies a rollover IS possible.

Are there any general rules around annuities that cover rollovers? What is my recourse if they tell me one thing on the phone, but the form states that I can do a rollover?

Hi all,

I am 38 year old lawyer. I make about $100K a year. My wife is also a lawyer and she makes I think around $115 a year.

I am not much a money guy and have never been very intentional about what I do with my money. Want to know if there is something else I should be doing to put myself in the best possible position down the road.

Right now I have about $33,000 in a checking account and another $1,352 in a savings account (2.50 APY).

I also have about $22,177 in a Robinhood account (This is all invested in SPY index funds for about the past 5 years and I have had about an 11% return on them).

I also have 403b with about $41,000 in it. I contribute 10% of each paycheck to that account and my employer matches up to 6%. That's all vested.

I bought a house in 2020 for about $160k. Zillow now estimates it worth about $290K. I owe about $134,218 left on the house.

I have about 200k in student loans but I have worked as a public defender for the past 9 years and am hoping to get PSSLF when I reach my 10 years of service.

My expenses are pretty low.

Any advice on what I should be doing? Should I move more money into index funds? I seem to have gotten pretty good returns on them so far.

I feel like I have a large amount of money sitting in my checking not doing anything and am worried I should be more aggressive.

Any advice would greatly appreciated!

I’m 37, married, and we don’t have children. Together, my wife and I have around $600k in assets and just mortgage debt ($1500/mo)

About 4 years ago, I left my full-time job as a firefighter to run my own business full time. The business has been growing slowly. Gross revenue has increased, but I keep reinvesting back into the business to grow more, so I’ve been taking very little personally.

Because of that, my personal finances have felt kind of flat for the last 4 years. I’ve still been contributing to my Roth IRA and personal trading account, roughly around $10k per year, but I can’t help feeling like I’m behind when I compare myself to others.

I know comparison is the thief of joy, but I don’t know if this feeling is because I’m getting close to 40, maybe because I left a stable career, because business growth has been slower than I expected, or just because I’m overthinking it.

Are my thoughts rational? Has anyone else felt financially “behind” ? Am I just becoming old and paranoid?

Here is the asset break down

As a couple

175k home equity, 175k 457B, 80k Roth IRA, 16k Webull trading account, 145k HYSA.

Going into retirement my wife will receive public school teacher pension, and I will receive a small pension from my 10 years on the fire service as well

I also have some anxiety about retirement... not sure why.. guess I always saw some elders in my family work super late because they needed the job and thats been a fear of mine all my life.

I’m an international student at a Midwest university working part time (minimum wage). Money is tight but I’m trying to be smart about it instead of just letting it disappear.
A few things I’m trying to figure out:
**•** What’s the best way to actually save when the paycheck is small? Is a fixed % even realistic on this income?
**•** Are high yield savings accounts worth it for someone with a small balance, and do any of them work well for international students / non-citizens?
**•** Budgeting apps: worth it or overkill? What do you actually use and stick with?
**•** Anything I should know about taxes as an F-1 student (tips income, filing, etc.)?
**•** Credit: can international students build credit here, and should I even bother this early?
**•** Any dumb money mistakes you made in college that you’d tell your younger self to avoid?
Not looking to get rich, just want to not be clueless and maybe have a small cushion by the time I graduate. Appreciate any advice.