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Plain-English guides to insurance and money, with the math worked out in front of you. No quotes, no rankings, no sales pitch.
Field guides
401(k) Basics: Employer Matches, Vesting, and the Money People Leave Behind
A 401(k) match is part of your pay, but only if you contribute enough to get it and stay long enough to keep it. Here is how matching formulas and vesting schedules work, with examples.
Guide, 4 min readNew explainers
What Is a Self-Insured Retention?
A self-insured retention is an amount you pay before certain coverage responds, common in umbrella and commercial policies. It works like a deductible but with key differences. Here's how.
Article, 1 min readWhat Is an Insurable Interest?
You can generally only insure something, or someone, whose loss would cause you a real financial or legitimate interest-based loss. Here is how the principle works in property and life insurance.
Article, 2 min readWhat Is an Insurance Declarations Page, and What to Check on Yours
The declarations page is the one-page summary of your policy: who and what is insured, limits, deductibles, premium, and the forms that apply. Here is how to read it and the items worth checking every year.
Article, 1 min readWhat Is Subrogation, and Why Your Insurer Might Get Your Deductible Back
When someone else causes a loss your insurer pays for, the insurer can pursue them to recover the money. Here is how subrogation works and how it can return your deductible.
Article, 2 min readWhy Your Home Insurance Premium Went Up When You Never Filed a Claim
Premiums are priced on the cost of risk across a whole region, not just your own history. Here are the forces that push renewals higher and the levers homeowners actually control.
Article, 3 min readWildfire Risk and Home Insurance: Availability, Mitigation, and Coverage Limits
In wildfire-prone areas, home insurance can be harder to find and more expensive. Here's how wildfire risk affects coverage, what mitigation can help, and the coverage limits that matter after a total loss.
Article, 1 min readFrom the blog
What Happens to My 401(k) When I Quit?
Your contributions stay yours. Unvested employer money may be forfeited, outstanding loans may come due, and small balances may be moved out automatically. Here's a checklist for the last day.
Blog, 1 min readWhat Is an Insurance Policy Rider?
A rider (or endorsement) changes a standard policy by adding, removing, or modifying coverage, often for an added premium. Here are common examples across life, home, and auto insurance.
Blog, 1 min readWhat Is an Out-of-Pocket Maximum in Health Insurance?
The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you'd pay for covered in-network care in a plan year. After you reach it, the plan pays 100% of covered in-network costs. Premiums don't count.
Blog, 1 min readWhat Is Coinsurance in Health Insurance?
Coinsurance is the percentage of covered costs you pay after your deductible, until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum. Here's an example and how it differs from a copay.
Blog, 1 min readWhat Should I Do With an Old 401(k)?
Leave it, roll it to your new employer's plan, roll it to an IRA, or cash it out. Here's how the four options compare on fees, choices, taxes, and convenience.
Blog, 1 min readWhy Did My Car Insurance Go Up When I Didn't Do Anything?
Rising repair and medical costs, more severe claims in your area, and changes in your rating factors can all raise renewals. Here's what's often behind it and what you can do.
Blog, 1 min read