Financial Insights

Your 40s are halftime for money goals. This guide shows how to reset retirement targets, curb lifestyle creep, erase high-interest debt, fortify insurance, and fine-tune tax and investment strategies—so you arrive at 50 with confidence and momentum.

A simple year end tune up for real households. In a few clear steps, confirm your tax payments, capture every workplace match, decide on IRA and Roth options, make the most of HSA or FSA benefits, enroll for health coverage on time, and check whether the Saver’s Credit applies. We also touch on smart giving, using the 0% gains bracket, boosting 529 savings, and energy credits, so you start the new year organized and confident.

Should you pay the IRS now or later? This guide breaks down Roth and Traditional retirement accounts, contribution limits, phase-outs, RMD rules, and simple decision cues so you can pick the option that saves you the most over time.

If you’ve already maxed out your $23,500 elective deferral (plus any catch-up) in your Solo 401(k) and still feel the itch to save more, you’re in the right place. The Mega-Backdoor Roth strategy lets you funnel up to the IRS’s $70,000 annual addition limit into after-tax contributions—and then convert them into Roth dollars for decades of tax-free growth. This step-by-step playbook walks you through plan setup, payroll withholding, conversions, and year-end filings.

Choosing between a Solo 401(k) and a SEP IRA in 2025 isn’t just about bigger numbers—it’s about matching contribution limits, Roth access, filing deadlines, and future hiring plans to your one-person business. This guide breaks down the rules, runs real-world examples, and flags common pitfalls.