Hi, Friends!

Most months, when I sit down to choose what goes into this edition, I look for one thing: what is costing people money that they do not know is costing them money?

The first is about how you pay your bills. There are fees attached to certain payment methods that most companies will never volunteer to tell you about. They are small enough individually that they rarely cause concern.

The second is about the first price you see. Most of us accept it. Most of us were never taught not to. But in 2026, with grocery prices up 32 percent since 2020 and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive option wider than it has been in years, accepting the first price without a five-minute comparison may be one of the most consistently expensive habits a household can have.

Both articles this week come with a practical worksheet inside. Neither one asks you to give anything up. They simply show you where money may be slipping out — and how to slow it down.

Warmly,
Mike Bridges

You probably know what you pay for electricity.
You know your insurance premium.
You notice when the property tax bill shows up.

But here is a question most of us have never stopped to ask:

How much are you paying just to pay your bills?

This article walks through seven specific ways to stop it. The payment audit worksheet is inside.

Most people missed the first Roth conversion window. History is offering a rare second chance — but not a long one.

With today's tax rates extended, IRA Millionaires have a brief stretch of historically low brackets left. When it closes, the math changes: higher rates, bigger required distributions, and fewer conversion opportunities each year you wait.

Craig Wear, CFP®, has spent 15+ years helping more than 3,000 families with $1M+ in IRAs plan Roth conversions — helping them avoid a projected $10B+ in lifetime taxes. His new book, Roth Conversion Reset, is the step-by-step playbook:

Lock in today's low rates
Avoid RMD surprises at 73
Protect your spouse from survivor taxes
Keep more for your heirs

The book is free — no credit card, no shipping. The full PDF lands in your inbox in minutes.

Get My Free Copy

There is a second layer to your monthly bills that most households never look at.

Not the amount owed. The cost of paying it.

This article covers seven specific moves, including how to use your bank's bill pay to sidestep most portal fees, when rewards cards actually cost you money, and the one question that can unlock a free payment option on almost any account.

Find out if another carrier could offer you a better rate. Compare your offers all in one place and get your best rate on LendingTree.

Check My Quotes

For investors with $1M+ in retirement accounts, the tax code allows specific strategies that can reduce your tax exposure once RMDs begin—but only if used before then. 

The window is open for anyone within ten years of 73. A fiduciary advisor can review which may apply, at no cost.

Get Matched Today