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Retirement rules are changing in 2026. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 , certain high earners now have to make catch-up contributions to workplace retirement plans as Roth contributions rather than pre-tax contributions. IRA contribution limits also rose to $7,500, or $8,600 if you’re 50 or older, while the Roth IRA income phase-out range for single filers increased to $153,000 to $168,000 ($242,000 to $252,000 for married couples filing jointly).

If you've ever compared two mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) , you probably know their net asset values (NAVs) can look very different. One fund may have a NAV of $18, while another has an NAV of $95. At first glance, it might seem like the fund with the higher NAV is a better investment, or that the one with the lower NAV is a better bargain. Neither is necessarily true. Net asset value (NAV) is the per-share value of a mutual fund or ETF.

You've decided to invest. Now comes the next question: Where should that money go? A Roth IRA and a brokerage account are both solid starting points, and they let you invest in a lot of the same things, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs. But they're built for different jobs. In general, a Roth IRA tends to reward patience, offering potential tax advantages that may grow the longer your money stays invested for retirement.

10 Wisconsin nonprofits to be honored on gamedays this season The Green Bay Packers and Thrivent, a Fortune 500 financial services company, today announced the 10 Wisconsin nonprofits that will be honored this season through Game Changing Players, a new community program celebrating the people and organizations going above and beyond to make a difference across the state.

When you're saving for the future, deciding where to put your next dollar isn't always easy. You may be balancing retirement savings, healthcare costs and other financial goals—and wondering whether an HSA or Roth IRA should come first. The answer depends on your situation. But many financial professionals follow a savings strategy that starts with getting your full employer retirement match, then considering a Health Savings Account (HSA) before a Roth IRA. Why?

Imagine you’re comparing two companies you’re considering adding to your investment portfolio. One has a high stock price, the other is low. Without context, a straightforward price comparison isn’t enough to go on when determining the value of these stocks . What matters is what you’re getting for that price, measured by the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. For many investors, the P/E ratio is one of the first tools they use when evaluating stocks .

You don't need to become a bond expert to invest in them well, and that's the whole idea behind fixed-income ETFs (exchange-traded funds). Instead of researching individual bonds one by one, you buy a single fund that holds a whole basket of them for you. That doesn't mean they're risk-free or one-size-fits-all. Interest rates move bond prices frequently, and the right fixed-income ETF for a 35-year-old building wealth may not be the right one for someone five years from retirement.

Sector ETFs are exchange-traded funds, which means they’re baskets of investments you can buy and sell throughout the day, just like a stock. The difference is what they hold. Instead of tracking the entire market , sector ETFs focus on one part of the economy, like technology, healthcare or energy. That lets you choose where you want more exposure instead of owning everything in equal measure. But that added control also can increase risk.

Your investment strategy isn't a race to the finish line. It's a matter of timing. While it may feel safer to stay in your lane, there are often other ways to make your money work for you. And when you’re choosing between growth and income investing, you're likely really answering a bigger question: What is this money for? Not just today, but for the life you're building. If retirement is decades away, you may want to stay in cruise control and focus on slowly growing your wealth.

You don't have to be a market expert to build real wealth for the people and goals that matter most to you. That's the whole idea behind passive investing . So, when it comes to ETFs vs. index funds, the real question isn't which one is better; both are generally low-cost, diversified ways to invest. It's which one fits how you invest, how you're taxed and what you're investing for.