I want to ladder some CDs and the best rates are with online banks. There are so many to choose from—which banks have you used and would recommend?  I have not found my credit union or local banks to be competitive.  TIA

Suzie and I have been together for 44 years and married for 36 of them. It goes without saying that a relationship of that length is achieved by many means, but I think a fundamental characteristic is the ability to compromise and be mindful of each other’s wishes.
A strong partnership where both people work can also supercharge wealth generation through the decades, especially if you both think in lockstep on humble lifestyle choices and the importance of saving for the future.

I’ve always been a saver. From my first job singing in the church choir, I stashed earnings in a snap-top Band-Aid box. I added to my savings by sweeping the patio of a family friend.
Sometimes, I’d shake my savings onto my bedspread and count it. It gave me a great feeling to find that I had $10.50 or $15.65. The stacks of silver quarters gave me a sense of security as a child.
That’s why it’s been a bit of a letdown to start withdrawals from my 401(k).

The Dividend Irrelevance Theory

Today, I’m going to channel my inner “RDQ” and raise some peoples ire:
About one month ago, there was a post about dividends.  It contained quite a bit of what I will politely call, “magical thinking”. Despite my linking two excellent articles which debunk the dividend myth, clearly subsequent posters did not bother to read either of them and persisted in posting the dividend dogma that commonly persists.  I even resorted to asking Jonathan to chime in (which he kindly did) as too many folks seemed to still not be “getting it”,

ANDREW CARNEGIE USED to say that competitors were welcome to tour his factory, to see his production line up close. Why? Because of Carnegie Steel’s massive scale and complex operations, he was confident no one would ever be able to replicate what he’d built.
Hedge fund manager Seth Klarman is a modern-day Carnegie. Klarman founded the Boston-based Baupost Group in 1982, and while performance numbers aren’t publicly available, the firm’s track record is believed to be among the best in the industry.

“TRUMP ACCOUNT” WAS created as part of the OBBBA signed on July 4, 2025. But is this account anything special? And how could we use it strategically to build wealth?
There’s been a lot of confusion about how it works, who qualifies, and whether they’re actually useful. I’ll walk through the rules, highlight key opportunities, and give my take on when (if ever) this account makes sense.
First and foremost, I want to point out that no contributions are allowed before 12 months after the date of the enactment of the OBBBA,

I was reminded recently of how far stock trading has come when I inherited a small stack of old stock certificates from my great-uncle Billy. They were dated between 1927 and 1931, right through the turbulent years of the Great Depression. One was for a railroad, issued by Citibank itself. And yes—I checked—they’re now completely worthless. But holding those fragile pieces of paper in my hands brought history to life. Back then, making a trade was slow,

I don’t have much choice as a baby boomer. My generation has been predicted to usher in the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in the next decade. In the meantime, we carry the honor and burden of taking care of our frail, elderly parents. People call us “the sandwich generation” – and I’d like to think we’ve made the best sandwich ever.
My parents came from a deeply patriarchal culture in which the parents dictated nearly every aspect of their children’s lives –

I heard Christine Benz talk about this initiative (details at https://boglecenter.net/gettinggoing/) in which young adults (particularly from low income backgrounds) are given $1000 for a Roth IRA.
I started to donate, and then the ‘mind chatter’ started- is this the best way to help? how will they track whether this approach actually helps young people to become better savers and investors?, etc. ( I’m sure I’m not the only person here with many voices in our heads chiming in on financial decisions.) I donated to the Initiative and hope it will prove useful and life-changing in many ways.

I say it does, but that does not stop it from being attacked. The words Ponzi Scheme are being thrown about. The fact it is underfunded is being used as a argument that it doesn’t work. Some in government are calling for it to be replaced with private accounts.  I read one official say there is plenty of money to pay all the benefits to those now collecting, but we can’t continue. Well, that’s not true on either point.

I have invested in the Fidelity Floating Rate High Income Fund (FFRHX) for many years. Morningstar classifies it as a bank loan fund. The expense ratio is 0.73% and it is yielding 7.78%. It loans money to BB and B rated companies and adjusts the interest charges every few months so duration is minimal. Is there any significant difference between a fund like this and private credit?

I was in a large discount retailer yesterday with my grandson, picking up some school supplies for his return to school after the summer break. Bearing in mind it’s late August, around 20% of the store was roped off while staff were busy unboxing and displaying Christmas merchandise. Unbelievable!
I overheard a few people asking staff when the display would be open for business, and you could sense a general excitement within the store about this new buying opportunity.

I recently read that something in the secure 2.0 act allows taxes paid on annuity
income from a qualified, annuitized annuity will count toward a rmd from
a separate ira account. Is this accurate?

Suzie and I recently spent a few days in London, while there we grabbed the opportunity to visit a few great museums. We thoroughly enjoyed hours wandering the halls and displays of the Natural History Museum and the equally impressive Science Museum. Though I suspect it should have been obvious, I’ve only just discovered that both these world class institutions are funded by public tax receipts. In my mind, that’s a wonderful illustration of the tangible benefits of paying income tax.

I realize I am on the outside looking in, out of sync, ignoring “expert” advice and rehashing the subject, but I can’t help it. I need help here.
I simply cannot understand why anyone living off their investments would use those investments to live on in favor of delaying social security until age 70. 
It seems to me that unless there is a gigantic pool of money they’ll never need, they are taking an unnecessary risk using more of their investments sooner rather than later.