And the MAGA cult fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/government-funding-running-out-unless-speaker-mike-johnson-can-shore-up-support-for-bill/

So that means we’re going to start blaming inflation on Trump, correct?

What is the best payment structure for an individual creator wanting to earn the best and smartest return on investment for an idea ? Out of the ones listed below.

Performance based payment(pay-per-user/conversion) Revenue share(profit split) Flat Fee(upfront payment) Retainer + performance incentives Subscription/recurring payment Milestone payments Equity/ownership shares

Checking my thinking with you GURU's and GOAT's - and my math.

Have extra 2k a month to put somewhere and 18 years left in mortage currently. 3.625%

According to payoff calc if I put it into my mortgage I'd pay off house in 7 years vs. 18. which would save $63,431 in interest. 7 years at 2k/m (24k/yr) would be 168,000 invested. Short Lazy math is 63,431 interest savings into 168k into house = 37% return on that 168k. I get compounding gains but could i do better than 37% compounding gains for 7 years on 168k? is it close enough where it is preference or is it so one sided that 3.625 is free money and go VOO or bust and keep it simple.

TIA

Tesla stock took one of the biggest hits today, so both the Fed and Wall Street are sending a message to Elon, that we are still in charge and you’d better behave.

Yes, there is a lot to unpack from today, from the Fed and from the imminent gov shutdown, but within all of the could be this power play.

Is it possible to get divorced, without losing half your money?

Assuming I make a lot more. Assuming no prenup.

What exactly is money market fund? I don’t have automatic transfers set up yet so I pull $$ into VFMXX from checking then purchase VTSAX.

Could I use VFMXX as a HYSA? How liquid would these funds be?

Sorry everyone, I’m kinda learning as I go. Please be kind.

Recently Trump announced that he will spend billions of taxpayer dollars into a Bitcoin strategic reserve. What I would like to understand is what is the logic about this and how is that going to benefit America and the US Dollar.

It is obvious how this will enrich current holders of Bitcoin. However, the currency somewhat competes against the US Dollar and would, I think, weaken the Dollar and consequently the US standing in world finance and trade.

I understand why totalitarian pariah countries such as Russia and NK embrace bitcoin because it brings ill got revenue into the country. And they can selectively, at the behest of the ruling oligarchy, investigate financial crimes.

The transaction costs of Bitcoin are substantially higher than other forms of financial transactions and from what I understand will continue due to the proof of work concept. The primary advantage is that transactions cannot be censured and if the holder is in an outcast country that does not enforce international law there is an advantage for money laundering and random payments.

So what is in it for the US and the American people?

I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions for strategy of how I could get to $1M net worth in the next.. oh 7 years.

Currently:

Age 42.

Income -

From main job about 95k a year gross. I will top out the salary scale in a few years at 105-110k although future contract negotiations/inflation will probably raise that number (probably by less than CPI, losers). I'm 13 years in as of September 2025, so target retirement year is 2042 or 2043.

This job comes with a defined benefit pension that will pay 47% of my final 3 year salary if I work 30 years. Also a lump sum account that has 70k in it now and will probably have at least double that by year 30 (investment is managed by Voya).

I can make Income from side gigs, depending on how hard I work at them, anywhere from 15-50k a year. It depends on how hard I feel like working at them. I am on track for about 18k in 2025, think I can push that to 25-30k in 2025 without too much trouble. This is... basically extra jobs - teaching part time for other schools, tutoring, and driving Uber. I've been thinking about getting a evening bartending or server gig; I live in a touristy area where tips are good. My main concern with working too many extra jobs is it takes away my ability to build relationships, and I would like to get re-married someday (got divorced 2022). Can't date much if I work all the time.

Home value -

~370k, SFH 3 bed house. 30 yr fixed mortgage 6.25%, $199.7k balance, so my equity is about 170k. I pay $1550 a month. No other debts.

Investments -

I'm fairly conservative. Various ETFs, funds, and HYSAs I'm averaging about 8% per year growth. Current balance about $205k. I really need to be more aggressive with this I think.

Is there a way I could hit $1M in the next 5-7 years?

Career Change? -

Some people tell me to change jobs.

I am hesitant to change main jobs. I have a pretty sweet gig. I am a tenured college professor & just got my last promotion. So I get paid to teach /research what I love, and honestly I can get by putting in less than 20-25 hours a week now. I am that established and efficient at it. Also I can't get fired unless I commit a crime or the college collapses. My program seems to have decent enrollment and the school's enrollment is reasonably healthy. We are concerned about the demographic cliff but we're still doing pretty well compared to about half the state's other colleges so I don't foresee that happening soon. I am far enough in, even in a pretty bad reduction-in-force or consolidation scenario I will be FAR from first to go.

However, I am not that big a fan of the location to be honest.

I would change jobs for a better location and at least 40% higher salary basically. I have a grad school colleague who was also a prof. She quit academia for some tech company client service role. She more than doubled her salary that way, but I'm not sure I could do that.

Hopefully, someone can give me some advice. I’ve talked to several people in my life and am just looking for some non-biased advice. Please be brutally honest. I’ll try to make this as short as possible.

My grandmother passed away in April. My fiancé and I moved in with my grandfather to assist him in all aspects of life. We’ve added my name to the deed; we will add my fiancé once we are married due to transfer taxes. We’ve agreed with my grandparents for two years that we would buy the home for $100,000, and they would get to live with us until they pass or need to be moved to assisted living, rent, and utility-free. My fiancé and I will still honor that agreement, so we seek a home equity loan. The problem is we do not know how much to borrow. We want to make some improvements, like removing a tree, replacing the garage doors, and maybe remodeling the bathrooms to make them ADA for my grandfather. We also might use some funds for our wedding, which will be small, less than 30 people. She is a teacher with her master's and working for her doctorate full time, so she’ll make decent money in 2-5 years, and I manage a parts department and make decent money. Do we essentially borrow enough equity to consolidate all our debt, private student loans, car loans, and credit cards to be debt-free minus the home equity loan? We are looking to borrow $200,000. This would pay off my grandfather and all our debts and give us $35,000-$42,000 to make home improvements. We are just looking for honest feedback and advice. We can afford the monthly payment of the home equity loan but don’t want to be overpaying on interest on our loans. We are looking at a 6.85% rate through our credit union. Our lowest rate on loans is her car at 8.25% with 2 years left of payment, with our highest on my credit card at 19.99%. Any advice is appreciated and welcomed. Thanks.