Loans5 min read
What Is a Good Debt-to-Income Ratio?
Debt-to-income ratio is the number that decides whether you get approved and how much you can borrow. Here is how it is calculated and what counts.
Read the guide →Money guides
9 explainers on how mortgages, taxes, debt and investing actually work. Each one shows the arithmetic and works through a real example, so you can apply it to your own numbers.
DebtInvestingLoansMortgagesRetirementTaxes
Taxes6 min read
Short-Term vs Long-Term Capital Gains: The One-Year Rule
Holding an investment for 366 days instead of 364 can cut your tax rate nearly in half. Here is how the cutoff works and when it is worth waiting.
Read the guide →Retirement6 min read
Traditional vs Roth 401(k): Which Should You Choose?
Both accounts hold the same investments. The only difference is when you pay tax, and that difference is worth a lot of money.
Read the guide →Investing6 min read
Compound Interest: Why Starting Early Beats Investing More
Two savers put in the same monthly amount. One starts ten years earlier and stops after a decade. The other invests for thirty years straight. The early starter still wins.
Read the guide →Debt7 min read
How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt Faster
Minimum payments are designed to keep you in debt. Here are the four levers that actually move the payoff date, ranked by impact.
Read the guide →Taxes7 min read
How to Calculate Your Take-Home Pay
A step-by-step walkthrough of turning a salary into the number that lands in your bank account, including the deductions people forget.
Read the guide →Taxes6 min read
How Federal Income Tax Brackets Actually Work
Crossing into a higher tax bracket does not reduce your take-home pay. Here is how marginal rates, effective rates and the standard deduction actually interact.
Read the guide →Mortgages6 min read
15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgage: Which Actually Costs Less?
The 15-year mortgage saves a fortune in interest and costs about 45 percent more per month. Here is how to tell which one fits your situation.
Read the guide →Mortgages7 min read
How Much House Can You Afford on a $100,000 Salary?
A $100,000 salary supports a very different mortgage depending on your other debts, down payment and how much of your budget you are willing to give to housing. Here is the math lenders actually use.
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