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| Stat Of The Day |
| 16.61% |
That’s how much our InvestingFixx portfolio grew from December 2024 to December 2025 – once again beating S&P 500 (okay, by a nose, but still!). If you’re an InvestingFixxer, take a bow. You didn’t just pick the investments that filled out this portfolio – you built the confidence and skills to invest smarter.
Not in the club yet? There’s no better time to join. We meet every other week on Zoom and your first month is free. Come see what all the buzz is about! |
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| How To Invest In 2026 |
The stock market wrapped up 2025 on a high note. But beneath the optimism, big questions keep popping up. Are we in an AI bubble? And more importantly, what should we actually do with our money now?
Karen Finerman — co-founder of InvestingFixx, host of How She Does It, and longtime CNBC Fast Money panelist – joined the HerMoney Podcast to talk about what worked (and what didn’t) in 2025 and how to think about investing in the year ahead.
One takeaway we’re carrying into 2026: Stay long, even when things look shaky. Alphabet (i.e. Google) was Finerman’s biggest winner in 2025, despite plenty of skepticism along the way.
"This was a frustrating hold…their rollout of AI was so bad...then they seemed to get their AI game together," she shares. "They put out Gemini more recently, then they put out New Gemini, and they put out Nano Banana. Not only did search not disintegrate, but AI actually seemed to help search. They’re just hitting on all cylinders." |
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| Things That Save You Money |
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| This Week In Your Wallet |
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Ready, set, shred. If you’re not paperless yet, chances are you’re drowning in financial clutter. The big question – what actually needs to stay, and what can go? We’re breaking it all down, from everyday receipts to records tied to loans you’ve already paid off, which you do need to hang onto for a good chunk of time. "Just in case a bank or processing error shows up down the line and you might not be in the clear, make sure to hang onto any records of loans — this includes student loans, car loans, etc. — for seven years," writes Nancy Mann Jackson. Here’s what to keep, what to toss and when to hit the shredder.
Bi-weekly paycheck schedule? Congrats. Some months come with a little financial surprise – three paychecks instead of two. Which ones depend on when your first paycheck of 2026 hit. If it landed on January 2, you’ll see extra paychecks in January and July. If January 9 was your first payday, circle April and October on the calendar. Experts say these "three-paycheck months" are a golden opportunity to make real financial progress, with the top money move being knocking down debt. "Use your extra funds to make an extra mortgage payment, credit card payment, or student loan payment," suggests Yahoo Finance. "This can help you chip away at your debt balance even faster and cut down the total cost of interest."
💡 Another smart option? Stash your extra cash in a high-yield savings account. This top-rated option pays around 4% APY and offers a $300 cash bonus for new customers. Hello, free money.
House hunting? There’s a step most people skip that could save you $1,200 a year. Research shows that homebuyers who apply with at least four lenders can save up to $1,200 annually on their mortgage. And yet, according to a new Zillow report, nearly 7 in 10 buyers don’t shop around at all. There’s one caveat, though – the loan with the lowest rate might not always be the best option. "One factor to consider is that loan offers with lower rates often come with different terms for things like down payment requirements and closing costs," notes Zillow. "Home shoppers should consider the full picture of each loan offer in their decision-making." |
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| Your Wallet’s New Favorite App |
Ready to stop reacting to your money and start running the show? Meet Monarch — the personal finance app built for proactive planners, not just expense trackers.
Powered by Monarch Intelligence (which is trained on the real-world wisdom of Certified Financial Planners), Monarch’s new AI tools are basically your 24/7 financial coach. Ask anything from "Where did my shopping money go?" to "How do I finally crush my student loans?" Then sit back while AI Insights uncover hidden patterns and your AI Weekly Recap flags spending spikes, net-worth shifts, and upcoming expenses. Real users say Monarch helps them save $200+ per month on average, and 8 out of 10 say they feel more in control of their money — which sounds like exactly the kind of energy we’re bringing into 2026!
This New Year, achieve your financial goals for good! Monarch is the all-in-one tool that makes proactive money management simple, all year long. Use code HERMONEY at monarch.com for half off your first year! |
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Retirement Planning, Simplified:
Join Us Every Third Wednesday |
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Let’s be honest. Retirement planning can feel overwhelming. Confusing. And often, like a second full-time job. You’ve told us you want more straight-talk guidance, so we’re delivering.
Starting next week, on the third Wednesday of every month, we’re teaming up with LIMRA to bring you a special retirement-focused episode of the HerMoney Podcast.
These monthly convos are all about practical tips, smart strategies, and real-world advice to help you feel more confident about what comes next — from figuring out how much you need to save to turning your nest egg into a paycheck you can actually live on.
So mark your calendar (or even better, subscribe!) and tune in every third Wednesday. Our first episode drops January 21 and will feature Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar. We know she’s one of your faves! Don’t miss it! |
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| Ask Jean |
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| Q: |
Today’s question comes from Jenn. She writes: My daughter is getting her first apartment post-college. Is it smart to get her renters’ insurance? |
| A: |
Even if her landlord doesn’t require it, renters’ insurance is one of those small-money, big-peace-of-mind moves that just makes sense. About 55% of U.S. renters have it (and many landlords now insist on it), but even when it’s an option, it’s worth a serious look.
Why? Because renters’ insurance helps cover stuff that would be costly to replace if something went sideways – think furniture, laptops and other electronics, clothes, etc. It typically also includes liability protection, which kicks in if someone gets hurt in your place or if you accidentally cause damage to someone else’s property.
There’s also another benefit people sometimes overlook – coverage for extra living expenses. If a fire or other covered disaster makes the apartment unlivable, insurance can help pay for temporary housing, meals and other essentials while things get sorted out.
Of course, it’s not a magic shield for everything. Most standard policies don’t cover floods or earthquakes, and some limit coverage for certain dog breeds or pet-related claims. Read the fine print.
Now for the best part – renters’ insurance is usually very affordable, often around $20 a month for solid coverage. You can customize the policy to fit your needs (or your daughter’s budget if she’s footing the bill), and for many renters, it’s a smart, low-cost way to protect against high-stress surprises. |
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| Submit your questions to Jean here. |
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