US Financial Advice Hub

VA loans offer 0% down for eligible veterans

No mortgage insurance either, the best loan program available if you qualify.

FHA loans work with scores as low as 580

Only 3.5% down required. Good for first-time buyers with limited savings.

Check down payment assistance programs

Every state has a housing finance agency, some offer $5,000-$50,000 in grants.

Your housing costs should be under 28% of gross income

Lenders use this ratio. If you're above it, you may face affordability issues.

Contribute to your HSA, triple tax advantage

Deductible contributions, tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals for medical. Better than a 401(k).

Harvest tax losses before year-end

Sell losing investments to offset capital gains. Saves up to 20% on gains.

Bunch deductions to beat the standard deduction

Alternating itemizing every other year can unlock extra deductions.

Backdoor Roth IRA if you're above the income limit

High earners can still get Roth benefits via the non-deductible IRA conversion.

Always contribute enough for the full employer match

It's an instant 100% return. Never leave free money behind.

Prioritize Roth accounts if you're in the 22% bracket or below

Tax-free growth beats tax-deferred when you expect your rate to rise.

2026 401(k) limit is $24,500 ($32,500 if 50+)

Max it if you can. Every dollar counts for compounding.

Roll old 401(k)s into your current plan or IRA

Orphaned 401(k)s often sit in high-fee default funds. Move them.

Avalanche method saves the most money

Pay minimums on all debts, attack highest APR first. Mathematically optimal.

Average US credit card APR is over 20%

Paying the minimum on $5,000 at 21.9% takes 28 years. Extra payments matter.

Check student loan forgiveness eligibility

PSLF, IDR, SAVE plan, there may be programs you qualify for.

Personal loans at 6-10% can consolidate card debt

Good credit unlocks rates far below typical credit cards.

High-yield savings accounts now pay 4.5-5%+

Many online banks beat big bank rates by 10-20x. Move your cash.

I-bonds protect savings from inflation

Treasury I-bonds are backed by the US government and adjust for CPI.

Index funds beat most active managers long-term

Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab all offer zero-cost index funds.

Automate investments on payday

Dollar-cost averaging removes emotion from investing decisions.

Delaying Social Security to 70 increases benefit by 24%

Each year you wait past 67 adds 8% to your monthly benefit permanently.

3-6 months emergency fund before investing

Park it in a high-yield savings account, don't invest emergency money.

The 50/30/20 rule is your budgeting starting point

50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings and debt. Adjust to fit your life.

Track your net worth monthly, not just income

Net worth is what you own minus what you owe. That's the real number.