How to keep premium tax credits

Andresr | E+ | Getty Images The so-called subsidy cliff for Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums is about to return in 2026. But there are steps households can take to avoid the cliff — and potentially save thousands of dollars on premiums next year, according to financial planners. The subsidy cliff refers to the […]

How to graduate college with little to no student loans

For the most part, college costs continue to rise, along with the amount students borrow to cover the tab. However, there is an exception. Overall, college tuition has jumped by 5.6% annually, on average, since 1983, significantly outpacing other household expenses, according to a study by J.P. Morgan Asset Management. But when broken down by institution […]

Make the most of health care expenses before end of year

Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images As health-care costs continue to climb, you may want to make sure you’re not leaving valuable tax breaks or pre-tax dollars on the table this year. Rising premiums, steeper deductibles and higher out-of-pocket maximums have put more pressure on household budgets, making year-end planning important, experts say. Among […]

One fintech stock is on fire in 2025. How to bet on more gains using options

I was asked Wednesday about why certain stocks were in an options overwriting fund that, after starting out the year strong, has recently been underperforming. Although I am not one of its fund managers, I do have insight into the investment approach involved. At their core, most option overwriting strategies involve a long position in […]

Meta has taken a beating of late. How to buy the dip with less risk using options

META dropped 9% despite an earnings beat, due to a $15.93 billion one-time tax charge mentioned in their earnings call on Oct. 29. This happened even after they beat revenue and EPS estimates. Since then, META has dropped an eye-popping 20% and is finally showing signs of finding a bottom. Moments like these, where a […]

Market volatility is picking up. How to use option spreads to protect and maximize returns

Stock returns aren’t normally distributed. Very small daily returns occur more frequently than a normal distribution would suggest, and very large daily returns also occur more frequently than a normal distribution would suggest. The “average” move, perhaps unintuitively, occurs less frequently than a normal distribution would imply. If this doesn’t make sense, imagine a room […]

Mutual fund capital gains payouts are coming. Here’s how to avoid it

Violetastoimenova | E+ | Getty Images LAS VEGAS — As 2025 winds down, many investors are bracing for year-end mutual fund distributions, which can trigger a hefty tax bill for assets held in a taxable brokerage account. But there are strategies to avoid the payout, experts say.    For 2025, “you’ve got some pretty eye-watering numbers,” […]