SGOV, STIP, TIP iShares ETFs: Claim Your State Income Tax Exemption (2024/2025)

As a follow-up to my posts for Vanguard and Fidelity money market funds, iShares ETFs (Blackrock) has also recently released their US GOI percentages for 2024 tax year. US Government Obligation Interest (US GOI) like Treasury bills and bonds are … [Read the rest]

Canadian Pension Plan Fund: High-Fee Active Structure Lags Passive Index Benchmark Over Last 5 Years

The Canada Pension Plan Fund (CPP) is one of the two major components of Canada's public retirement income system, along with Old Age Security (OAS). The CPP mandates that all employed Canadians age 18+ to contribute a certain percentage of their … [Read the rest]

Fidelity Target Allocation ETF Model Portfolios (Meant for Advisors)

One of my older relatives used Fidelity to manage their investments, and it was a hodgepodge of over 10 different mutual funds with a total expense ratio nearing 1%. The last time I measured its long-term performance, it lagged the benchmark … [Read the rest]

Personal Finance Stack: Portfolio Simplification Progress for 2024

I recently found a handwritten note from early 2024 that outlined my goals to "SIMPLIFY!" my portfolio. The overall idea was to make things easier for my spouse to manage in case something happened to me. Even though I still have a rat's nest of … [Read the rest]

TastyTrade Referral (Important Correction!)

Update: I'm very sorry, I was in a rush and read the offer wrong. There is no $500 for the referred person. Please don't open and fund. If I end up getting a $500 reward for referring you, I will send you the $500. However, I don't have a way … [Read the rest]

Berkshire Hathaway 2024 Annual Shareholder Letter by Warren Buffett

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) released its 2024 Letter to Shareholders (also see full 2024 Annual Report), which Warren Buffett traditionally also uses as an educational instrument. As always, I recommend reading it yourself (only 13 pages total this … [Read the rest]

Fidelity Money Market Funds: Claim Your State Income Tax Exemption (Updated 2025)

Updated. As the brokerage 1099 forms for the 2024 Tax Year are coming out, here is a quick reminder for those subject to state and/or local income taxes. If you earned interest from a money market fund, a significant portion of this interest may … [Read the rest]

Vanguard T-Bill/Ultra-Short Treasury ETF, iShares Money Market ETFs Now Live

Vanguard's new index ETFs that hold short-term US Treasury Bonds are now live (press release). Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL). Tracks the Bloomberg US Treasury Bills 0-3 Months Index, which holds T-Bills with maturities of 3 … [Read the rest]

TurboTax Promo: Switch to TurboTax, File on App by 2/28, Get Deluxe/Premium For $0 Federal, $0 State

Here is a new TurboTax App promo link that offers free tax filing ($0 Federal, $0 State) for ALL tax situations (not just 1040EZ form users). This includes their TurboTax Standard, Deluxe, and Premium products. Here are the specific set of … [Read the rest]

Callan Periodic Table of Investment Returns 2024 Year-End Update

Callan Associates updates a “periodic table” annually with the relative performance of 9 major asset classes over the last 20 years. Above is the most recent snapshot of 2005-2024, which you can find on their website Callan.com. The best performing … [Read the rest]

Southwest Airlines Credit Cards: Unique Companion Pass

Update March 2025. Southwest has made some big changes to how they run, and it's not entire clear how it will affect their credit cards. The "Wanna Get Away" fare is going away later this year, to be replaced by "Basic". I will try to update … [Read the rest]

Best Interest Rates Survey: Savings Accounts, Treasuries, CDs, ETFs – February 2025

Here's my monthly survey of the best interest rates on cash as of February, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. Banks love taking advantage of our idle cash, and you can often earning more money while keeping the same level of safety … [Read the rest]