The Bankruptcy Rebound: What Rising Filings Say About Inflation and Stagnant Wages

July 30, 2026 By Kyle Black
Four straight years of climbing bankruptcy filings line up almost exactly with the inflation shock of 2021–2023 — and with a wage recovery that never fully closed the gap
Read More →Track Your Crypto in One Place: Balances, Prices, and a Clearer Financial Picture

July 18, 2026 By Kyle Black
Track your crypto in one place with live coin counts from Plaid, exchange-based valuations, and a historical chart that shows how your holdings change over time.
Read More →Smart Wheels: How to Budget for Your Next Car Without Wrecking Your Future

July 17, 2026 By Kyle Black
For most households, transportation is the second largest monthly expense after housing. Yet, many of us buy cars based on what the dealership says we can "afford" monthly rather than what actually makes sense for our long-term wealth. To keep your financial plan on track, here is a practical, step-by-step framework for establishing a healthy car budget.
Read More →Inflation & Your Retirement Nest Egg

July 12, 2026 By Kyle Black
The "big inflation event" of the 2020s has fundamentally shifted how households gauge financial security. When looking at cumulative price changes since 2019, the stark difference between a nominal number on a screen and actual purchasing power becomes incredibly clear.
Read More →Rental Properties and Retirement: Why Tracking Income and Expenses Now Pays Off Later

July 2, 2026 By Kyle Black
Rental income is one of the most powerful retirement income streams available — but only if you know what the property actually earns after expenses. Here is why tracking matters now, and how it connects directly to your retirement security.
Read More →5 Life Events That Could Derail Your Retirement (And How to Plan for Them)

June 24, 2026 By Kyle Black
Divorce, the death of a spouse, a market crash, high inflation, a major medical event — any of these can fundamentally change your retirement outlook. Here is what each scenario means financially and how to plan for them.
Read More →The Forgotten History of the Family CFO (And Why Budgeting Still Matters)

June 21, 2026 By Kyle Black
Discover the forgotten history of the family CFO, why historical gender roles shaped personal finance education, and how managing future expenses and tracking assets guards your peace of mind.
Read More →Bank-Grade Security: How We Keep Your Financial Data Safe

June 20, 2026 By Kyle Black
Discover the multi-layered security engineering that protects your financial data, from OAuth tokens and data segregation to specialized read-only integrators like Plaid.
Read More →Solar ROI: Is Financing Panels Better Than Paying Cash?

June 17, 2026 By Kyle Black
An analytical breakdown of the opportunity costs and mathematical arbitrage between paying cash out of investment accounts versus using a HELOC to finance home solar panels.
Read More →Sequence of Returns Risk: Why Timing Matters in Retirement

June 16, 2026 By Kyle Black
Learn how Sequence of Returns Risk can threaten your retirement, why timing matters more than averages when withdrawing funds, and how to use strategies like buckets and balanced portfolios to ensure long-term solvency.
Read More →Import Property Valuations from CSV
June 7, 2026 By Kyle Black
Bulk-add or update a property's valuation history using a simple Date/Value CSV.
Read More →Saving for Your Child's College: Start Early and Use 529 Plans

June 4, 2026 By Kyle Black
Planning for college starts before the first school supply list. Discover options for saving, why 529 plans work so well, and a step-by-step walkthrough of the Special Investments 529 calculator with examples showing how modest monthly contributions grow into a college fund.
Read More →The Power of Starting Early: Why Saving in Your 20s and 30s Changes Everything

June 3, 2026 By Kyle Black
The earlier you start saving and investing, the less money you need to contribute to reach the same retirement outcome. Time is the most powerful tool young investors have — and compound interest rewards those who start early.
Read More →Monte Carlo Analysis: Predicting Your Retirement Success

May 28, 2026 By Kyle Black
Discover how Monte Carlo analysis on the Retirement page helps you predict if your money will last, with powerful customizations for Roth conversions, Social Security, and retirement age comparisons.
Read More →New Feature: Special Savings & Investment Accounts Page

May 27, 2026 By Kyle Black
Discover the new Special Savings & Investments page - link your 529, HSA, CD, and HYSA accounts, set goals, and project your future growth all in one place.
Read More →Recurring Bills: The Silent Budget Drain - and How to Fight Back

May 20, 2026 By Kyle Black
Recurring bills are the slow leak in your financial boat - easy to ignore individually, damaging collectively. Learn how to identify subscription creep, audit your recurring expenses, and use the Month at a Glance page to predict whether your income will cover your spending before the month is over.
Read More →Share Your Financial Profile — With the People Who Matter

May 5, 2026 By Kyle Black
Your financial life doesn't exist in a vacuum. Whether you're building a future with a spouse or working with a financial advisor, there has always been a friction point: how do you share your data without handing over your login? Profile Sharing solves exactly that.
Read More →New Feature: Retirement Age Analysis Tool
May 1, 2026 By Kyle Black
We added a Retirement Age Analysis Tool to the Retirement Planning page. It shows exactly what retiring one to five years later does to your end-of-life portfolio — but the more important question is whether you already have enough.
Read More →Are Roth Conversions Actually Worth It?
April 26, 2026 By Kyle Black
Roth conversions can be a powerful tax strategy — but they are not a universal win. Learn when the numbers actually justify paying taxes now, when they do not, and what that upfront tax bill could have earned if you had invested it instead.
Read More →Section 72(t): Bridging the Gap to Age 59½

April 10, 2026 By Kyle Black
Early retirement creates a gap between the day you stop working and the day you turn 59½ — when your retirement accounts finally open penalty-free. The IRSs does give you some flexibility if you decide you are done earlier than 59½ and want to access your tax advantaged accounts, Section 72(t).
Read More →During this Special Weekend of Christian Celebration, What Does the Bible Have to Say About Money and Wealth?
April 5, 2026 By Kyle Black
Resurrection Sunday is a fitting moment to examine what Scripture says about money and wealth. From the call to work diligently and unto the Lord, to the joy of generous giving, the warning against the love of money, and the wisdom of faithful stewardship — the Bible offers timeless financial principles that are just as relevant today as when they were first written.
Read More →Gen X and the Retirement Savings Gap: What the Numbers Really Say
April 2, 2026 By Kyle Black
The average Gen X 401(k) balance is $222,100 — far short of the $1.46 million retirement target. Could IRA rollovers from multiple jobs tell a better story? We dig into the data and find the answer is more sobering than hopeful.
Read More →Investment Properties: Building Wealth Through Real Estate and Planning Your Exit

March 31, 2026 By Kyle Black
Real estate has long been one of the most reliable vehicles for building wealth. From understanding the true costs of ownership to deploying depreciation strategies, leveraging mortgages, and planning tax-efficient divestment in retirement, this guide covers the full lifecycle of investment property ownership.
Read More →When Should You Take Social Security? A Guide to the Trade-Offs

March 15, 2026 By Kyle Black
The conventional wisdom says wait until 70 for the biggest Social Security check — but is that always the right move? We break down the break-even math, spousal benefits, and why claiming earlier and keeping your retirement accounts invested might actually leave you ahead.
Read More →New Feature: Emergency Fund Tracker & Debt Payoff Planner

March 10, 2026 By Kyle Black
We are excited to announce the new Emergency Fund Tracker and Debt Payoff Planner. Set a savings goal, link your accounts, and model an avalanche or snowball payoff strategy — all in one place.
Read More →Every 20-year-old is a future millionaire
January 24, 2026 By Ray Henke
Read More →Rule of 72
January 24, 2026 By Ray Henke
A quick hack for compounding interest
Read More →The 35-Year Rule and Your Social Security: How It Impacts Early Retirement and Your Maximum Benefit
January 19, 2026 By Kyle Black
Read More →Why Roth Conversions Might be a Good Idea
January 3, 2026 By Kyle Black
Beginning in the year you turn 73, you must start withdrawing at least the required minimum distribution (RMD) from traditional IRAs and most employer plans.
Read More →When Should I Take Social Security?
December 15, 2025 By Kyle Black
This article explores how claiming Social Security at 62 and investing the benefit can, under reasonable assumptions, produce higher total wealth than waiting until 67 or 70.
Read More →The Versatility of the Roth IRA
May 10, 2023 By Kyle Black
When it comes to retirement planning and investment vehicles, the Roth IRA stands out as a powerful tool that offers individuals a unique combination of tax advantages and flexibility.
Read More →Retirement Investment Priorities
May 8, 2023 By Kyle Black
Building a strong financial future requires careful planning and strategic investment. The order in which you prioritize investment in different types of tax advantaged accounts can help you maximize your results.
Read More →College Savings
May 5, 2023 By Kyle Black
Saving for your child's college education is a crucial investment in their future. With the ever-increasing cost of tuition fees, it's essential to start saving early.
Read More →2018 Rent vs Own Analysis
January 18, 2018 By Kyle Black
Tax changes in the new 2018 tax law is affecting much of how we need to think about our financial lives. With this in mind, a great article explores how one would decide if they should rent or buy.
Read More →Crowd Funding is About to Change
November 5, 2015 By Kyle Black
The SEC has ruled on Title III of the 2012 Jumpstart Our Business Starts Up Act (JOBS Act) and this is going to make a big impact on how small companies and real estate companies fund their projects in a major way.
Read More →Is it the Right Time to Refinance
August 27, 2015 By Kyle Black
After the recent market turmoil and news that China will be selling some of its US Treasuries, is it a good time to refinance? The charts show we are near the perfect time to pull the trigger.
Read More →Discounted Gift Cards
July 21, 2015 By Kyle Black
I occasionally have to buy a gift card for a coach or teacher or for a birthday, Christmas, etc. One way to save a little on what you are buying is through a site that offers discounts on these cards.
Read More →Basics of Retirement Savings
July 16, 2015 By Kyle Black
Saving for retirement is important for a number of factors, but it can often be overwhelming to investors due to the multitude of options and issues related. Here are the basics and a plan on how to execute and get started.
Read More →Savings Calculators
July 13, 2015 By Kyle Black
Fidelity has a new calculator for finding your target savings rate/investment profile. Take a look and see where you stand.
Read More →Save for a Rainy Day
March 31, 2015 By Kyle Black
If you talk to most grounded financial planners, they will talk with you about an "Emergency Fund" or some sort of savings that is earmarked for when things don't go according to plan.
Read More →Should You Lease Your Next Car?
March 10, 2015 By Kyle Black
Should you lease a car or buy the same car. The ads are everywhere these days and looking at the low monthly rates, you can be lured into thinking that it's a great deal. Let's look at the pros and cons.
Read More →Credit Report Cheat Sheet
March 2, 2015 By Kyle Black
If you want a quick reference on how to read your credit report and how everything effects your score take a look at this cheat sheet from credit.com.
Read More →Pairing Down the Phone Bills
February 26, 2015 By Kyle Black
Choosing the right phone provider is one thing that can really help your monthly budget. Every once and a while it is a good idea to check on the rates and what the different carries offer.
Read More →Welcome to IfISaved.com
February 26, 2015 By Kyle Black
Some friends and I were talking and we decided that we would like to start a dialog. Hopefully this dialog won't be about one person's view of what you should do, but rather several views that help you on your journey.
Read More →