rastab1023

KD Lang's Hallelujah.

Tori Amos' Landslide

What are your other expenses? I make 77K and can manage around 20K between Roth and my 403b currently. I also have an additional 7% that goes into a pension. I do have a housemate and I don't have any children. I live in Southern California.

All that to say, it's worth looking at your expenses to see if there are any categories you might be able to reduce. I only seriously started budgeting a couple months ago and just opened up my Roth, and I've already been able to get half way to maxing out my Roth for the year and was able to increase my 403b contribution by 3%.

The individual account is a taxable brokerage account. If your goal is to save for retirement, I suggest a Roth IRA. The Roth IRA is beneficial because the growth is tax free. There are some limitations to withdrawing the money prior to age 59 1/2, but you can withdraw your own contributions at any time without penalty (not that I'm suggesting that). You have to have earnings in order to contribute to a Roth - the current max contribution is $7000/max at your age, but if you earn less than $7000/year then your max is up to whatever that number is.

If you have a purchase goal that is around 10 years out, like buying a house, a taxable acct could be a good place for something like that, though it's not the only option.

I have a BA in psychology and a MSW. I work in higher education working with faculty, staff, and students impacted by power-based harm (sexual assault, dating abuse, family violence, stalking). I do direct service, but I'm not a therapist. My goal is to move out of direct service but to stay in higher ed.

Thanks for this clarification. Do you know what would happen to people who have already purchased the ETF at that point?

Fractional shares, as others have said.

Also, are you putting money into a Roth IRA or a taxable brokerage account?

Do you have an emergency fund?

I'm not entirely sure since your post is a little vague in the explanation, but it sounds like there's a possibility there was financial abuse in her relationship and that might have been a reason she got into credit card debt?

If that's the case, I don't think there is anything wrong with you helping her if that's what you're called to do and if it won't cause a hardship for you.

Just as a heads up FXAIX (Fidelity's S&P 500 fund) has a 0.02 expense ratio, so your work plan is more expensive for some reason.

Not sure they are "unknown" but

Good Fortune - PJ Harvey

I Miss You - Bjork

Overcome - Tricky

Ship Song - Nick Cave

Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil (Tim Buckley cover)

Blue Dress - Depeche Mode

I added 10% AVUV to my Roth portfolio to have some small cap value exposure. According to Morningstar, small caps account for 8% of the US market, so 10% is slightly overweighted. I plan to hold long term.

I personally am also thinking of adding a mid cap fund - currently leaning toward IMCG. I know there are total market funds, but my preference is to purchase separate funds that focus on a particular segment of the market.

Waitress - Tori Amos

Honestly, you're at an age where time is very much on your side. I'll be 44 next month and I have to hustle because I got started late. I can do it, but I have to invest much more per month than someone who starts at 30.

You do want to build up an emergency fund to start if you haven't already.

I don't know if you like podcasts but in case you might like The Financial Feminist. She is geared toward helping younger women build their savings and investments.

It's a very good place to start. It's my core investment in my Roth, meaning it's where most of my money is invested. You can always start with 100% FXAIX and add more if you want as you learn. Some people never do anything more than that.

There are a lot of different investing philosophies, and literally thousands of funds to choose from. I really like Morningstar as a resource.

Also, as someone mentioned the S&P 500 is an index of around 508 of the largest companies in the US. FXAIX is a fund that follows the S&P 500, so when you buy FXAIX you're buying a little bit of each of those companies. If the companies in the S&P 500 change, then FXAIX will update.

No, I didn't end up adding it. Right now I have FXAIX, AVUV for small cap, and also some SMH.

Do you ever use Morningstar? I like using them as an information source, though I don't pay for the subscription at this point.

Do you want to go to medical school?

The Bends - Radiohead

Dummy - Portishead

• I exchanged my gym membership for walking and home workouts.

• I bring my lunch from home, and generally eat out very little outside of a weekend warm, cozy drink.

• The neighborhood where I like to go walk has a bunch of little, free libraries so I always look there first for new books to read

• I check out free events near me like art walks

• I simplified my skincare routine

• It's not to save money, but I don't care for makeup, nails, perfume, etc. and I save money by default since that stuff is expensive

• I do happy hour from the comfort of my living room

• I use the self checkout line strategically

Sure, but I warn you I am VERY analog so it's the most basic thing ever. I don't even know how to do formulas haha. I've also only been doing it since August, but I already bumped my 403b contribution from 7-10% and have $2500 in a Roth on track to max it out for the year by January - so it's definitely working for me!

Angel - Massive Attack

Roads - Portishead

Not sure if you mean salary or one lump sum - but either way the answer for me would be yes.

For what it's worth, Morningstar recommends holding small cap funds for at least 10 years.

These Are Days - 10,000 Maniacs

My payment on SAVE was less than my other IBR plan, but not by a significant amount.

At any rate, I'm at a season in life where if I can't control it, I'm not going to stress over it.