Saving
What FDIC insurance covers, and what it doesn't
Federal deposit insurance protects the money in your bank accounts automatically, up to set limits per ownership category — here's exactly what's covered, what…
Saving: Goals and Habits
Saving addresses cash reserves: the size an emergency fund needs to reach, which accounts pay competitive rates without locking money away, and how to fund a dated goal. Sinking funds for predictable irregular costs are covered. Written for readers building a buffer while still meeting monthly obligations.
How much cash to hold, where it earns most without a lockup, and how to reach a target on a schedule that does not assume an unrealistic surplus.
Saving
How compound interest works in a savings account
Compounding frequency changes how fast your savings grow, but APY already does the math for you — here's how the two connect.
Saving
How savings interest is taxed — the 1099-INT, explained
Bank and Treasury interest is ordinary income the year it is credited, reported on a 1099-INT at $10 or more — with a state-tax quirk that favors Treasuries.
Saving
Treasury bills for beginners: how T-bills pay you
Treasury bills lend money to the US government for weeks to a year, pay by selling at a discount, and skip state income tax — a saver's alternative to savings…
Saving
What is a 529 plan — and how do you start one?
A 529 plan grows tax-free for education costs, with state tax breaks layered on in most states — the earlier the start, the more the compounding does the…