The Monday Money Brief January 12, 2026 Emergency Funds: How Much You Actually Need If you’ve spent any time reading personal finance content, you’ve heard it before:“You need three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund.” It’s clean. It’s simple. And it’s repeated so often that people assume […]

The Monday Money Brief January 05, 2026 Why the 50/30/20 Rule Usually Fails The 50/30/20 rule is one of the most widely shared personal finance frameworks of the last two decades. Spend 50% of your income on needs, 30% on wants, and save 20%. It’s simple, memorable, and comforting. And […]

The Monday Money Brief December 29, 2025 If you disappeared tomorrow, could someone understand your finances? Imagine this for a moment: you disappear tomorrow. No warning. No instructions. A spouse, partner, adult child, or trusted friend is suddenly responsible for understanding and managing your financial life. Could they figure it […]

The Monday Money Brief December 22, 2025 What does it cost to be you? I started working in 1991 (age 14) and money was never a topic that came up in conversation.  Not in home, not in school, and not amongst my friends.  Growing up, I learned that you work, […]