7 Mental Money Traps That Keep You Poor

7 Mental Money Traps That Keep You Poor

Crystal Mayer   Thu, September 28, 2023

A recent study shows that over 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. If you are like one of the millions of people struggling to find financial stability, you might be stuck in the wrong mindset. Avoiding certain mental money traps can help you adjust your spending and start saving for your future.

Creating a budget and sticking to it can help you achieve your financial goals, but you will also need to rethink how you spend money. Prioritizing your spending can help ensure that you have money left over each month to invest. If you are tired of seeing a miniscule balance in your checking account, reconsider these 7 mental money traps that keep you poor.

You Need To Spend Money To Make Money

You have likely heard the old adage, “you need to spend money to make money.” While this may be true for startup businesses, it isn’t a good mindset for most people.

Many people feel that they need to live a specific lifestyle, spending well more than they make to give the perception that they are wealthier than they are. Overspending will only leave you frustrated and won’t help you make money.

Almost all money experts agree that the key to wealth is investing. If you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, take a look at your non-essential spending and start investing. Even small investments can pay off significantly over time.

Retirement Is Far Away

Many young people fall into the trap of thinking that retirement is far away so they don’t need to worry about it. Unfortunately, waiting to start saving for retirement can cost you big. Fidelity Investments recommends that you have at least 1x your salary saved by the time you are 30 and 3x your salary by the time you are 40.

The longer you wait, the less likely you will have the money you need when you retire. The good news is that even if you haven’t started saving, you can start now. The best way to go about it is by meeting with a financial advisor. Make sure you are also taking full advantage of your company’s 401(k) matching if they offer it.

You’ll Be Happy If You Buy Something

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-mental-money-traps-keep-120044792.html

Robert Kiyosaki Shares 7 Steps To Reach Your Financial Goals

Robert Kiyosaki Shares 7 Steps To Reach Your Financial Goals

Heather Taylor   Wed, September 27, 2023

Did you know it only takes seven total steps to reach your financial goals? According to personal finance expert Robert Kiyosaki, it’s true, and he recently outlined all seven steps in an article on his Rich Dad blog.

Before you can start making your financial goals happen, Kiyosaki said you’ll need a few things. A support structure of friends, financial experts, brokers, mentors and teachers should all accompany you on this journey. You must also be true to yourself and who you are, creating a plan that fits you and your values and determining your “why.”

This reason should not necessarily be to just make a lot of money either. Your “why” should be the reason for pursuing your dream. If you know your “why” for beginning this journey, follow these seven steps to successfully reach your financial goals.

1. Know Your Destination

What goals do you want to achieve? What does your dream life look like? What do you need to get there? Kiyosaki recommends making big, bold statements about the financial goals you’re setting for yourself.

2. Create a Plan

Once you know where you want to end up, Kiyosaki said the next step is to create a plan. This plan should always be written down, shared with a friend or mentor so they can help keep you accountable, and may be revised as needed.

3. Break Big Goals Down Into Smaller Ones

Some of your financial goals may be intimidating, especially if you have never set them before. The best way you can set yourself up for success is by taking this big goal and breaking it down into smaller goals.

These smaller goals should be easier to manage and achieve. For example, if your big goal is to pay off your student loan debt, some of your smaller goals might include working to pay off outstanding loans by using the debt snowball or debt avalanche method. As you accomplish each of the smaller goals, you can cross them off of the list and feel satisfied knowing you’re on your way to achieving your big goal.

4. Accomplish One Goal-Oriented Task Each Day

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/robert-kiyosaki-shares-7-steps-200007988.html

10 Financial Challenges You’ll Face in the First 10 Years of Retirement

10 Financial Challenges You’ll Face in the First 10 Years of Retirement

Gabrielle Olya   Wed, September 27, 2023

You’ve created a plan, you’ve saved toward your goals and now you’re finally retiring. While you’ll ideally be in for smooth sailing at this point, it is possible that you will encounter some financial storms in your early retirement years.

The best way to weather these storms is to be prepared. Here are 10 financial challenges you’re likely to face in your first 10 years of retirement — and how to move past them.

1. Market Volatility

Even the best-laid plans can get derailed by market volatility.

“Retirees may experience significant market volatility in the first 10 years of retirement,” said Scott Neu, accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), financial advisor at Reinke Gray Wealth Management. “This can impact their retirement savings, especially if they rely heavily on investment income.”

To be able to ride out any volatility in the market, Neu recommends the following: “Diversification, asset allocation and periodic portfolio rebalancing can help mitigate the impact of market fluctuations. Maintaining an emergency fund for short-term expenses can also reduce the need to sell investments during downturns.”

2. Longevity Risk

“People are living longer, which means their retirement savings must last longer,” Neu said. “Outliving their savings is a common concern.”

To mitigate this risk, it’s important to have the proper withdrawal strategy in place.

 “Financial advisors recommend a sustainable withdrawal strategy, such as the 4% rule, which ensures retirees don’t deplete their savings too quickly,” Neu said. “Annuities or longevity insurance can also provide guaranteed income for life.”

3. Inflation

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://news.yahoo.com/finance/10-financial-challenges-ll-face-120022874.html

12 Expenses That Drain Your Savings Without You Realizing It

12 Expenses That Drain Your Savings Without You Realizing It

Nicole Spector  Tue, September 26, 2023

Building up a nest egg can be terribly challenging in a society where the majority is forced to live paycheck to paycheck. But we all need to save for emergency expenses, as well as for our retirement. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we get set back on our savings journey. This can happen without us even being completely aware of it.

Here’s a look at 12 expenses that can drain your savings without you realizing it and how to take back control so that you can keep building up your nest egg.

Utility Bills — Especially When Not Using Energy-Efficient Devices

Utility bills can not only eat into your spending money, they can eat into your savings. One way to lessen the damage is to use energy-efficient devices in your home.

“I recently reviewed my utility spending and was shocked to discover that I could save around $175 each year by making a few simple adjustments, like using LED lights and switching to a programmable thermostat that reduces heating during the night,” said Nathan Brunner, CEO at Salarship.

Data Usage

We’re pretty much all addicted to our smartphones, which means we’re consuming tons of pricey data. Have you ever looked into how much you’re spending on data usage per month? You could be nibbling away at your savings without even knowing it.

“Excessive data usage is an underrated expense that drains your funds without you even realizing it,” said Akash Karia, a keynote speaker, high performance coach and author. “It’s often overlooked, but when added together, it ends up being a substantial amount and a significant expense, especially if you are not keeping track of your usage.”

You can effectively lower data usage by limiting streaming and online gaming and being disciplined with data-sucking apps.

“Cut down on data devouring apps like Instagram, TikTok and Netflix, and whenever you have the chance, make sure you connect to a Wi-Fi network,” Karia said.

Subscription Services

Ours is a nation obsessed with subscription services. Eighty-three percent of consumers use at least one subscription based video-on-demand service, as of September 2023, according to Statista — up 10 percentage points in five years. If you’re using a few of these services, you may be slowly but surely depleting your savings.

“Individually, they may cost only $10 to $20 per month, but collectively, you might be shelling out hundreds annually without realizing it,” said Ankit Prakash, founder at Sprout24. “Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a silent drain on [your] funds.”

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://news.yahoo.com/finance/news/12-expenses-drain-savings-without-130034891.html

8 Things You Must Do Every Time You Save $500

8 Things You Must Do Every Time You Save $500

Jordan Rosenfeld    Mon, September 25, 2023

It feels good to save money, to see those numbers climbing higher and higher in your savings account without necessarily being earmarked for anything in particular.

But money sitting in a savings account is not the best way to build wealth or contribute to a healthy financial future. Instead, experts recommend the following 8 things to do each time you save an additional $500.

Adopt a Pay/Invest/Borrow Strategy

Noah Gomez, a financial consultant and founder at Thick Credit, recommended a pay/invest/borrow strategy.

“With $500 in savings, you can make an additional payment on outstanding debt (if any), invest a portion in stocks or your retirement fund, and place the remaining portion in a certificate of deposit (CD) that you can use as collateral to quickly take out a low-rate emergency loan.”

Put the First $500 Toward an Emergency Fund

“If it’s the first $500 you’ve ever saved, you should put it into a checking or savings account and keep doing that until you’ve saved enough for an emergency fund of 6 months living expenses,” according to Joe Pelusi, a financial advisor with Green Investment Strategies.

“Aspiration has some good savings accounts where your money earns a relatively high rate of interest (up to 3% in their savings account) and isn’t loaned out to fossil fuel companies causing the climate crisis.”

Open a High-Interest Savings Account

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/8-things-must-every-time-210009831.html

Why Real Assets Are a Safe Haven Against Inflation

Why Real Assets Are a Safe Haven Against Inflation

Notes From The Field By Simon Black  September 25, 2023

The first time I ever visited Zimbabwe in late 2010, the country was barely one year removed from the end of its legendary hyperinflation.

Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe had become so extreme-- roughly 90 billion trillion percent (that’s not a misprint) -- that the government finally capitulated in 2009 and simply abandoned the currency altogether.  And when I first landed in the capital of Harare, the infamous Zimbabwe dollar had become so worthless that many people were using it for wallpaper.

Zimbabwe had once been a vibrant, highly productive economy based on valuable mineral and agricultural exports. Even by the early 2000s, after two decades of independence under Robert Mugabe, inflation was still ‘only’ around 20%.

But inflation began to spiral out of control.

There was no end to Mugabe’s bad policy ideas, ranging from price fixing to land reform. And after confiscating assets from citizens in the late 90s and early 2000s, Zimbabwe’s economy contracted viciously.

If that weren’t enough, Mugabe also ballooned government spending. He borrowed heavily and increased Zimbabwe’s national debt. So naturally, the central bank began printing vast quantities of money.

We all know what happened next; Zimbabwe’s economy was in the dumps, so fewer goods and services were being produced. Yet the central bank created substantially more paper money. So inflation soared.

By 2003 it reached nearly 600%. By 2006, over 1,000%. And yes, by November 2008, 90 billion trillion percent.

Most of us from developed countries can’t imagine the living conditions of a collapsed economy. And the locals I met in Harare told me incredible stories of food shortages and endless lines at banks, grocery stores, and pharmacies.

If you were lucky enough to be inside of a store where there was actually food on the shelves, workers were constantly putting new price tags on products. And while you were shopping, a voice would come over the loudspeaker and announce the new price of soup, bananas, and rice.

Everything was a constant rush. You had to race through the aisles to grab whatever you could, and check out before the prices went up.

It was the same at restaurants; several times during a meal, a waiter would come out and inform you about the new price of the beer you were drinking.

I remember one person told me that he used to buy two loaves of bread every morning on his way to work. He would eat one of the loaves during the day, and then sell the second loaf in the evening at a significantly higher price.

He realized that bread, bizarrely enough, held its value-- at least for the day. It was also a highly ‘liquid’ asset; he would always able to quickly find a buyer and sell his extra loaf at market value.

It’s not hard to understand why: bread has a real use in that it provides critical nourishment. And in a time of economic chaos and shortages, this is far more valuable than rapidly deteriorating paper currency.

The same logic applies to “real assets”, i.e. they hold their value during inflationary times because they provide something vital. And this is a key point to understand.

Think about consumer behavior: during economic boom periods, inflation is low. Unemployment is low. Interest rates are low. People have confidence and optimism about the future, so we tend to borrow more and spend more freely.

And the best performing assets during these boom periods mirror that sentiment.

Just think about the economic boom period from, say, 2016 through 2021. Unemployment, inflation, and interest rates were all at historic lows. Consumer spending soared.

And the most valuable companies in the world were the so-called “FAANG” stocks:

- Facebook, which just enables people to waste time swiping and scrolling

- Apple, which makes the devices for people to swipe and scroll

- Amazon, which makes it easy to shop and spend money

- Netflix, which is basically just an entertainment business

- Google, whose YouTube division is another entertainment business

In other words, the world’s most valuable companies were all consumer-oriented… and even more specifically, oriented towards shopping, recreation, and entertainment.

Over the same period, companies who produced some of the world’s most essential products were ignored.

Facebook stock soared nearly 500% between 2014 and 2019. Yet shares of Exxon Mobil lost about 10%. Netflix stock exploded more than 1,000%, while an ETF of gold miners lost 21%.

But today’s harder economic times are forcing changes in people’s focus and behavior. It’s only natural.

Most people have started paying a lot more attention to their expenditures. Spending $2,000 on a new iPhone suddenly doesn’t seem like such a great idea when oil is approaching $100/barrel.

And this is what leads me back to real assets. But first let’s define what that actually means--

“Real Assets” are defined in a variety of different ways. Sometimes people define real assets by citing specific asset classes, i.e. commodities and real estate. ChatGPT tells me that a real asset “is a tangible physical asset that has intrinsic value due to its substance and properties.”

I think these definitions miss the point. To me, a real asset is something that provides a critical need, like food, energy, economic productivity, or a store of value.

This could be a tangible, physical asset, like a barrel of oil or bushel of corn. But not necessarily.

Productive technology that makes the world better, faster, cheaper, etc. is considered intangible intellectual property. But it provides a critical need, which makes it a real asset.

Conversely, Mark Zuckerberg’s new “Threads” app is also technology. But given that it makes the world less productive, it is not a real asset. It’s just another recreation asset.

Similarly, 500 acres of prized, high-quality farmland provides critical value. But a Class C office building in a declining tier-3 city does not.

Viewed through this lens of “critical need”, it’s a lot easier to understand what is/isn’t a real asset… and why they can hold their value during inflationary times: it’s all about shifting priorities.

Real assets (including real asset businesses) have been largely ignored for more than a decade, in favor of ‘recreation assets’ focused on shopping and consumption.

Consider that, in 2019, a ripe banana that was duct-taped to the wall sold for $120,000 at an art exhibition. Critical need? Hardly.

Meanwhile, that same year, the high priests of climate change (like Blackrock’s Larry Fink) were working diligently to cut-off funding for vital industries like oil, coal, and natural gas.

And this bizarre mismatch of priorities continued for years, through at least the first half of 2022.

But priorities are finally starting to shift. And this means that the ‘real assets’ which are critical to solving the world’s challenges will become much more important than ‘recreation assets’. And that’s what makes them such a great hedge against inflation.

To your freedom,   Simon Black, Founder Sovereign Man

https://www.sovereignman.com/investing/why-real-assets-are-a-safe-haven-against-inflation-148196/

3 Ways To Avoid Being Exploited As You Get Older

3 Ways To Avoid Being Exploited As You Get Older

‘They left us with nothing’: This elderly couple was evicted from their home of 20 years — after their son transferred ownership. 3 ways to avoid being exploited as you get older

Serah Louis   Sun, September 24, 2023

An elderly California couple was devastated when they were served an eviction notice in April for the home they’d been making regular payments on for two decades.

Ismael and Angelita Ramirez purchased their home back in 2003 with their son, who told them they didn’t need to include their name on the title.

"He told us they told him it wasn't necessary. And well, since we don't know English, that's where they lied to us," Ishmael told FOX26 News.

The eviction notice reportedly stated that the owner of the home was selling the property and the couple said they later learned their son had transferred the home to a woman who sent them the notice. Although the couple tried to get legal help, there wasn’t much the lawyer could do since the house wasn’t in their name.

“We thought, why did our boy do that to us if he knew the house was ours?" Ishmael said.

Elder financial abuse impacts millions of Americans

The Ramirezes were victims of elder abuse — which is far more common than you’d think.

In fact, the National Council on Aging reports up to five million older Americans are affected each year, while victims of financial abuse are estimated to lose at least $36.5 billion a year.

And in almost 60% of cases, the perpetrator is a family member — often the adult child or spouse of the victim.

The Ramirezes told FOX26 they’ve since been displaced and their Social Security income isn’t enough to buy a new home or even afford rent.

"They left us with nothing," Ismael said.

Their other son, Ismael Jr., created a GoFundMe fundraiser, which has already received more than 1,600 donations to help the couple.

Here are five ways to avoid being exploited as you get older, or to protect your aging parents from predators.

1. Appoint a power of attorney

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/left-us-nothing-elderly-couple-100000273.html

9 Middle-Class Money Traps That Keep You From Being Wealthy

9 Middle-Class Money Traps That Keep You From Being Wealthy

Angela Mae  Thu, September 21, 2023

According to the Pew Research Center, approximately half of all American households are considered to be part of the middle class. This equates to roughly 165 million people.

Typically, people in the middle class have some kind of college education, some disposable income, and may even be planning for retirement. But that doesn’t mean they’re financially stable.

In fact, middle class households usually have some kind of debt — like a mortgage, auto loan or credit cards — that they need to pay off. Along with this, these individuals are also still subject to many common financial pitfalls, or money traps, that keep them from achieving true wealth.

If you’re in the middle class and want to become financially independent or wealthy, here are some financial decisions or behaviors that might be keeping you from achieving this goal.

Trying To Keep Up With the Joneses

The “middle-class money trap is being on the hamster wheel of life,” said Sebastian Jania, owner of Manitoba Property Buyers. “This is doing things such as buying cars that depreciate over time, taking on student debt for a degree that doesn’t have a solid financial future, or buying a property that one simply shouldn’t be buying because it’s too expensive. This is all commonly referred to ‘keeping up with the Joneses.'”

Societal influence and pressure are very real concerns for many people, ones that often lead to extravagant purchases just to keep up appearances. The problem with this is that it can lead to a cycle of debt and overspending. When this happens, it can be harder to achieve long-term financial goals, invest in the future or build wealth.

Spending Without Saving or Investing

A common middle class money trap is spending all or more than your income without saving anything that will allow you to make investments that generate wealth, such as a home,” said John Bodrozic, co-founder of HomeZada.

“For the middle class who are homeowners,” Bodrozic added, “the money trap is neglecting maintenance, repairs, and obvious remodeling and improvement opportunities, or mismanaging your home from a financial perspective, that will prevent you from growing your investment and may even lower home values and your equity.”

Settling for the Status Quo

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/9-middle-class-money-traps-120048718.html

More Money, Literally More Problems: Unique Estate Planning Concerns for the Ultra Wealthy

More Money, Literally More Problems: Unique Estate Planning Concerns for the Ultra Wealthy

Patrick Villanova, CEPF®   Thu, September 21, 2023

In the realm of personal finance, estate planning stands as a paramount consideration for those who have amassed substantial wealth. For ultra-high-net-worth individuals – people with over $30 million in investable assets – the complexities and implications of legacy planning become even more pronounced. While it’s often tempting to delay such discussions, proactively managing your wealth’s future distribution is essential to ensure a seamless transition for your beneficiaries. A financial advisor may be able to help you manage your wealth and create an estate plan tailored to your needs.

Importance of Proper Estate Planning

Estate planning is a powerful gear in the engine of wealth management and preservation. It establishes mechanisms like trusts, which cater not only to the future needs of heirs but also ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. A well-drafted plan clearly outlines the distribution of assets, minimizing the chance of disputes and legal battles. This not only preserves family relationships but also reduces stress during an already challenging time.

Without precise planning, heirs could also face taxing burdens and legal puzzles that can whittle down the value of their inheritance.

Additionally, estate planning offers a chance to express one’s healthcare preferences through documents like living wills and medical powers of attorney. These documents ensure that an individual’s medical wishes are respected, even when they are unable to communicate their desires.

Unique Estate Planning Concerns for the Wealthy

If you’re ultra-wealthy, the complexity of your wealth demands a more intricate plan than what the average person or even high-net-worth individual may require.

Ultra-high-net-worth individuals often possess wealth that spans multiple generations. Ensuring this wealth endures and thrives requires strategic estate planning. Structures like family limited partnerships (FLPs) and generation-skipping trusts can be employed to efficiently pass assets to grandchildren, avoiding excessive taxation while maintaining family control over assets.

Many affluent individuals also hold a deep commitment to philanthropy. Establishing charitable foundations or trusts can allow you to leave a lasting impact on causes dear to your heart.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/more-money-literally-more-problems-135446685.html

Goldilocks' Comments and Global Economic Evening News for September 21st

Goldilocks' Comments and Global Economic Evening News for September 21st

Good afternoon Dinar Recaps,

We currently have a bloodbath phase going on in the bond markets. Once this phase is over, everything is expected to move to the upside.

Market cycles are cyclical by nature and there are normal legs up and legs down in them.

Although stocks and the commodity markets will have their ups and downs, we are approaching a long-term bull market in gold. Some say we are already in it, but I would like to see it reach 3,000 an ounce before I will make that claim.

As the cyclical trends in gold move into long-term gold cycles inside a bull market, we will be well on our way to Major shifts taking place in our economy towards a gold standard.  As we discussed a few days ago, we will be going to a very volatile period of time to get where we want to be.

© Goldilocks

Mining Gold Link
Bullion By Post
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"Real-time payments software provider ACI Worldwide has partnered with Microsoft to facilitate instant payments via ACI’s Real-Time Payments Cloud (RTPC) platform."

Investor Link
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BRICS: "India & UAE Continue Ditching USD in Landmark Oil Deal"

This is why Forex is changing many of their foreign currency mechanisms in trade we talked about yesterday.

Countries around the world are beginning to utilize their own currencies and backing it by gold going forward.

The movement from a fiat system to a system based on real values is coming into light.

For the next 6 weeks we are working to achieve this end through converting old traditional assets into new tokenized assets backed by commodities. As they are switched out on the Financial System, new values will begin to formulate news price patterns.

© Goldilocks

https://watcher.guru/news/brics-india-uae-continue-ditching-usd-in-landmark-oil-deal

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CGI certified to support instant payments on the new nationwide FedNow® Service
PR News Wire Link

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Temenos Payments Hub launches on IBM Cloud to enhance security for banks
IBS Intelligence Link

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Digital Market Announcement:

CFTC’S MESSAGE TO DEFI PLATFORMS: REGISTER WITH THE CFTC OR LEAVE THE US MARKET—OR RISK ENFORCEMENT
Morgan Lewis Link

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Inflation or Recession? CEOs Will Decide Next Month

The Washington Post Link

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The UN chief summons world leaders to action. But, he says, they seem 'incapable of coming together'

The Public's Radio Link

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What US Basel Endgame Means Outside of the United States 

Mayer Brown Forum Link

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House Committee Passes Bill to Ban FED from Creating a CBDC

https://watcher.guru/news/house-committee-passes-bill-to-ban-fed-from-creating-a-cbdc

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Nearly 70 countries sign historic UN treaty to protect high seas
Finance 24 Link

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

The Worst Financial Gifts to Give Your Kids

The Worst Financial Gifts to Give Your Kids

September 16, 2023  The White Coat Investor

Parents with fantastic intentions often hurt their children by giving terrible financial gifts. Here's how to change that.

PIMD welcomes the White Coat Investor. WCI is a physician-specific personal finance and investing website. The White Coat Investor can help you to become financially literate and disciplined, which will allow you to spend your time and effort on your patients, your family, and your own wellness. WCI truly believes that a financially secure doctor is a better partner, parent, and practitioner. White Coat Investor is an affiliate partner of PIMD.

As a general rule, parents love their kids and would do anything for them. However, due to a lack of financial literacy, many parents with fantastic intentions end up hurting their children. Here are some of the ways they do that.

#1 A Car

I'm sure there are people who think it is a bad idea to give your kid a car because it will spoil them. That's not what I'm talking about. If you really want to spoil them, knock yourself out (actually we'll get to this under #6).

What I am talking about is giving your kid a car that isn't yet paid for. Yeah, some people do this. Can you believe it? They go down to the dealership, put down a $300 down payment, sign up for some loan payments, and then get the car for their kid. Along with the responsibility to make the payments! Uhhh . . . thanks, Mom. I guess it could be worse. They could have signed you up for a lease.

#2 Whole Life Insurance

Another common situation is a parent who bought their kid a whole life insurance policy at birth. It would stand to reason that if you're buying baby food and life insurance from the same company, one of the two probably isn't a very good product.

Despite that, I keep running into people in their 20s and 30s who have just been given a whole life insurance policy and asked to take over the payments. Their parents have been making monthly payments on these for 2-3 decades, but the surrender value is only a four-figure amount at this point and the child is basically being asked to pay a two- or three-figure amount every month for the rest of their life.

It wasn't a good policy to start with. It doesn't address any financial need they actually have (because the face value is usually something like $20,000). And now they have no idea what to do with it, so they just start making the payments too!

Incidentally, what they should do is surrender it; put the money toward their student loans; thank their parents for their kind gift; and never, ever run the numbers on how much that gift could have been had it been invested aggressively in a 529.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://passiveincomemd.com/the-worst-financial-gifts-to-give-your-kids/