Daniel Harper
Daniel is a finance writer covering personal finance topics including budgeting, credit, and beginner investing. He began his career contributing to his Substack, where he covered consumer finance trends and practical money topics for everyday readers. Since then, he has written for a range of personal finance blogs and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, straightforward content that helps readers make more informed financial decisions.
Latest Articles by Daniel Harper
A new federal student-loan plan called RAP starts July 1, setting payments by income and family size
Federal student-loan borrowers who take out new loans on or after July 1, 2026, will face a different repayment system. The Repayment Assistance Plan, known...
8% a year is what your Social Security check grows for every year you wait past 67
Americans born in 1960 or later who reach full retirement age at 67 face a straightforward but high-stakes math problem: every year they delay collecting...
Lower-income savers can claim up to $1,000 for funding a retirement account
Workers earning modest incomes who put money into a retirement account can reduce their federal tax bill by as much as $1,000 per person, or...
Comparing three mortgage lenders can save a borrower thousands over the loan
Homebuyers who accept the first mortgage rate they receive can end up paying thousands of dollars more than borrowers with identical credit profiles who collect...
$8,750 can go into an HSA this year — the only account that’s tax-free three ways
Workers with family high-deductible health plans can now set aside up to $8,750 in a health savings account for 2026, the highest annual cap the...
Roth IRA earnings turn tax-free only after five years in the account
Savers who opened a Roth IRA for the first time in 2025 and plan to tap earnings in early retirement could owe federal income tax...
Freezing your credit at all three bureaus is free and blocks crooks from opening loans in your name
Anyone who has had personal data exposed in a breach, or simply wants to prevent identity thieves from taking out credit in their name, can...
A reverse mortgage lets homeowners 62 and up borrow against equity, payment-free
Homeowners who are at least 62 years old can borrow against the equity they have built in their homes without making monthly mortgage payments, a...
A coming change to S&P 500 rules could push large money-losing companies into the index funds inside millions of 401(k)s
Millions of Americans with retirement savings tied to S&P 500 index funds faced the prospect of their money flowing automatically into large, money-losing companies after...
Officials widened a listeria recall of soft Mexican-style cheese after new contaminated products turned up
Consumers who bought soft Mexican-style cheese, prepared salad kits, or meal kits containing crema earlier this year now face a widening recall tied to Listeria...
The yearly IRA catch-up for savers 50 and older rises to $1,100 in 2026 for the first time in years
Workers age 50 and older will be able to put an extra $1,100 into an individual retirement account starting in 2026, up from the $1,000...
Workers 50 and older can add an extra $8,000 to a 401(k) in 2026 above the $24,500 limit
Workers age 50 and older will be able to set aside up to $32,500 in a 401(k) during 2026, combining a $24,500 base deferral limit...
First-time buyers made up 35% of May home sales, the highest share since 2020
First-time home buyers grabbed their largest slice of the housing market in five years during May, accounting for 35 percent of existing-home sales as overall...
You can split your tax refund straight into an IRA using Form 8888
Taxpayers expecting a federal refund this filing season have a little-known option that can turn part of that money into retirement savings before it ever...
A low-cost index fund tracking the whole market has historically returned about 10% a year and beats most active managers
Millions of American investors pay fund managers to pick stocks, hoping to beat the market. The exposed math tells a different story. A broad-market index...
Social Security sends this month’s last checks on June 17 and June 24 by birth date
Millions of Social Security beneficiaries born after the 10th of the month are waiting on two final payment dates in June 2026: June 17 for...