Since the Great Recession of 2008, there has been a growing interest in the financial independence, retire early movement, or FIRE for short. While there are some good aspects of the FIRE movement, becoming financially independent or retiring early won't, by itself, make you happy, and here's why.

Over the last several decades, employers have been doing away with pension plans in favor of 401(k) plans for their retirement plans. With guaranteed monthly payments from pensions out and 401(k)s in, here are seven ways to tell if you have a good 401(k) plan. 

When I lead a Personal Finance 101 session, without fail, someone asks whether they should be contributing to their 401(k) on a pre-tax or Roth basis. While there are no one-size-fits-all solutions, this is how I explain to attendees what they should consider.

Do you find yourself wondering how much you should be putting into your 401(k), whether you should contribute on a pre-tax or Roth basis, and what actual investments you should use? Do you ever wonder what your colleagues are doing? If so, you’re in luck as this post digs into how other people are managing their 401(k) accounts.

There are a number of reasons for wanting to buy a home over renting and most are valid. But some people may feel pressured to buy a home by friends and family, who may claim you are simply throwing your money away when you rent. Is this really true?

Did you know there is an even trickier technique than the backdoor Roth IRA — that allows some lucky people to contribute up to $46,500 a year into a Roth IRA? Given the larger size and to differentiate it from the typical backdoor Roth IRA, many refer to this technique as the "mega backdoor Roth IRA.”

A Roth IRA is the ultimate retirement vehicle, as it allows money to grow and be withdrawn tax-free. That sounds like a good deal, but if you make too much money, you might find yourself blocked from contributing to a Roth IRA - that is, unless you go through the backdoor. 

I teach a class once a month about how to buy an apartment in NYC and in nearly every session, I get a question on whether it's a good time to buy a home. 

So...is it?

Before you can start meaningfully planning for where you want to go, it’s important to understand where you’re starting from financially by calculating your net worth. Understanding this metrics allows you to know your starting point and lays the groundwork for you to set realistic financial goals for yourself.