Scrolling through TikTok’s side hustle niche, you’re bombarded with surreal promises: “I get paid $100 an hour to watch Netflix.” “Make $500 daily just scrolling your phone.” “This app pays you for your screen time.” It’s the ultimate digital siren song: getting paid for the mindless scrolling you’re already doing. But as someone who has…

Choosing investments shouldn’t be a research project that changes with every birthday. The core principles of smart, long-term investing are constant. What changes is your time horizon and your capacity for risk. This cheat sheet translates that lifecycle into one simple, actionable page of index fund portfolios for each decade. Forget stock-picking and market-timing. Your…

For two decades, the 4% Rule—withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually, adjusted for inflation—has been the sacred scripture of the FIRE movement. It offered mathematical certainty: amass 25 times your annual expenses, and you’re financially independent. But as we enter 2026, a convergence of economic realities has forced a painful but necessary conclusion: the classic…

Choosing your first brokerage is like picking your first bank. It’s the foundation of your investing life, and the right choice can save you thousands in fees and countless hours of frustration. For decades, three giants have dominated the low-cost, investor-friendly space: Fidelity, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab. In 2026, the competition is fiercer than ever.…