An HSA is a savings account for the sole purpose of paying allowable healthcare expenses. But to qualify, you must have a particular type of health insurance, which I’ll cover in a moment. An HSA […]

How you manage money as a couple depends on factors such as your commitment level, financial history, and goals. While managing money together as a couple is a good idea, don’t do it unless you’re […]

Jessica A. in Texas says, “I’m a long-time listener and huge fan of your podcast! My husband and I are in our early 30s and have set ourselves up well financially. We have about $60,000 […]

A Money Girl podcast listener named Piper says, “I’m a big fan of your podcast and want some advice before moving forward with my finances. I’m 23 years old, just started my first job, and […]

“Hi Laura, this is Amy from Alaska, and I’m considering an online bank to open a savings account with higher interest rates than I’m currently getting at my local bank. Can you provide some pros […]

Saving for retirement is the granddaddy of all financial goals because it requires a considerable nest egg. But knowing how much you really need to retire is more like an art than a science. It’s […]

An anonymous caller left me a message recently saying, “Hi Laura, I’m new to the podcast, have not started investing yet, and age 36. So, I know that I’m late to the investing party, but […]

Can you use a 403(b) and a 457(b) together? In this article, let’s review who can have 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans. We’ll cover the account rules and whether you can max out both accounts […]

At the end of 2022, the SECURE Act 2.0opens pdf file, short for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement, became law. It expands earlier legislation, changing many aspects of the savings and retirement landscape for […]

So many people are curious how to build generational wealth. We want the best for our kids and for them to have financial security. Today’s article was inspired by a question from Nate M., who […]

If you’re a parent or a future college student wondering how you’ll ever pay for college, the tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan was designed to encourage saving for future education expenses–even for elementary and secondary students. I’m […]

If you want a secure financial future, maxing out a tax-advantaged retirement account as early and as often as possible is the secret. But many people don’t realize you can have multiple retirement accounts. You […]

If you or a loved one has federal student loans, there’s good news and bad news. You probably already know the bad news: President Biden’s attempt at student loan forgiveness for up to $20,000 got […]

Kerri H. asks, “I have about $20,000 in credit card debt and want to know if it’s better to pay it off using a home equity line of credit or a loan from my 401(k)?” […]

A Money Girl listener named Teresa P. says, “I just listened to your recent podcast on UGMA and UTMA accounts. I’m 38 years old and discovered about three years ago that my mom set up […]

Differences Between Banks and Credit Unions The fundamental difference between banks and credit unions is that banks are for-profit businesses and credit unions are non-profit financial cooperatives. That’s a fancy way of saying that credit […]

Since there’s been so much in the news lately about a potential recession, on top of inflation, stock market volatility, and interest rate hikes, I’d like to go over seven steps to protect your finances if […]

I received a question from Maria M., who said, “I’m a new U.S. immigrant working hard to build good credit and make smart financial decisions. I’m so glad to find your Money Girl podcast because […]

Figuring out how much you should save for retirement can seem more like an art than a science, especially if you’re unclear about critical planning variables. That’s why having a benchmark for the amount to […]

You’ve probably heard that you need good credit scores to qualify for the best terms on credit accounts like mortgages, personal loans, and credit cards. Plus, good credit helps you save money and improve your […]

There’s no denying that building wealth takes time and effort—it’s a marathon, not a sprint, as the saying goes. While most good money advice—such as living within your means and keeping credit card debt low—is […]

On my award-winning personal finance podcast, Money Girl, I mostly talk about things you should do to save more, build net worth, and protect your wealth. But today’s topic is about the opposite, what to stop doing if you want […]

News of bank collapses has become familiar to Americans, prompting many to fear the possibility of their own bank shutting down. Several banks with significant exposure to the technology sector, namely Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, […]

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how my various retirement accounts will affect my future income, specifically the taxes I’ll have to pay. That’s because my investments are spread among the three basic account […]

Having more than one retirement plan can change the tax rules and benefits you receive. Laura explains what you need to know and how to get the most out of multiple retirement accounts in the […]