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Michael Dell’s $6.25 Billion Gift: What 25 Million Children Will Receive—And How Early Investing Can Transform Long-Term Wealth

In December 2025, Michael and Susan Dell announced one of the largest philanthropic contributions ever made toward children’s financial futures: a $6.25 billion gift to fund $250 deposits into the investment accounts of up to 25 million U.S. children. This announcement comes alongside the federal “Trump Accounts” initiative, which provides a separate $1,000 seed deposit for newborns. Together, these two programs are designed to expand access to long-term investment accounts a

Matthew Delaney

5 days ago

Love, Money, and Merging Bank Accounts: A (Mostly) Painless Guide to Newlywed Finances

Congratulations! You’ve found The One — the person who laughs at your jokes, tolerates your family, and said yes to marrying you. You’ve conquered the hard part (finding each other) and survived the wedding planning process (which, statistically speaking, is more stressful than assembling IKEA furniture without instructions). Now it’s time for your next great adventure: combining your finances. Cue the dramatic music. Because nothing says “happily ever after” quite like deba

Matthew Delaney

Nov 12

The Hidden Tax Torpedo in the One Big Beautiful Bill—And How to Avoid It

The One Big Beautiful Bill has hit the tax world like a tidal wave. While high-income taxpayers can cheer at the temporary increase in the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, there’s a hidden trap lurking beneath the headlines—a tax “torpedo” that can blow a hole in your bank account if you’re not careful. Think of it as a financial booby trap: you see a treasure chest of deductions, but open it without planning, and—kaboom—your tax bill rockets higher than expected. What

Matthew Delaney

Nov 6

The Starbucks Dilemma: How Small Daily Choices Shape Long-Term Wealth

One of the most common conversations I have with clients revolves around a simple but powerful question: Where does all the money go? We work hard, we earn a good living, but at the end of the month the checking account seems to drain faster than we’d like. Often, the answer lies not in one large purchase, but in hundreds of small ones. This is what I call the “Starbucks dilemma”—spending more than we realize on coffee, meals, and convenience, while missing the opportunity t

Matthew Delaney

Nov 4

The Amazon Prime Problem: How “One-Click” Spending Eats Away at Your Future

For years, financial experts have warned us about the “Starbucks effect”—how small, repeated purchases can quietly drain our finances. But in today’s world, there’s a new culprit that deserves just as much attention: the Amazon Prime problem. Amazon Prime is a marvel of convenience. With free shipping, same-day delivery, and millions of products at our fingertips, it’s no wonder 200+ million people around the world subscribe. But the darker side of this convenience is how eas

Matthew Delaney

Oct 27

How to Start Aggressively Saving for 529 Plans—and Why It Matters

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is: How can we afford college? With tuition costs rising faster than inflation, preparing for higher education has become one of the biggest financial challenges for families today. The good news is that with the right strategy, you can harness the power of tax-free growth through 529 plans—and the earlier and more aggressively you start, the more dramatic the results. What Is a 529 Plan? A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged sav

Matthew Delaney

Oct 22