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Educate parents and young adults in practical money matters

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Hardwired to Help

September 5, 2023 By Dina Isola

  Sometimes you find a cause to support, but when a cause finds you it means something in life has sunk its teeth in and has torn some of your flesh. Such was the case for our family when, in 2014, our fifth-grade son showed me a lump on his neck.  What appeared to be an infected lymph node turned out to be Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  And, while it was caught in its early stages and is one of the more curable cancers, the road to recovery was filled with a hot-coal walk no child should Read on...

Hardwired to Help

September 5, 2023 By Dina Isola

    Dear Reader: My posts tend to be timeless, as is the case with this oldie. I'm reposting because the urgency is ever-present. There is a cause that could use your support. I encourage you to find it...   Sometimes you find a cause to support, but when a cause finds you it means something in life has sunk its teeth in and has torn some of your flesh. Such was the case for our family when, in 2014, our fifth-grade son showed me a lump on his neck.  What Read on...

School Administrators and Unions Can Be the Real Heroes

August 4, 2023 By Dina Isola

As the adage goes, charity begins at home. And I hope that school district administrators and teacher unions will see this dire situation for what it is: an opportunity to take a stand for their colleagues. For too long, teachers have suffered at the hands of salespeople peddling investments with offensively high fees in their 403(b) plans. What is supposed to be a great benefit and a responsible way to prepare for retirement has turned into a deceptive dance, with teachers blissfully unaware Read on...

Mid-Year Pump

July 18, 2022 By Dina Isola

With the first six months of 2022 in the rearview, you have valuable data at your disposal that can help you plan for a stronger second half and, even lay the groundwork for a better 2023. To start – set concrete goals of what you hope to accomplish before the year is out – save more, get ahead of income taxes, reduce spending, save for college – and attach a number to that goal. By December 31 I will save $X in my retirement plan, I will reduce my monthly spending by $X per month, Read on...

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Dina Isola

Since 2002, Dina Isola has worked closely with investors, hearing their concerns. Drawing on her experiences and challenges, Real$martica was born, which focuses on making personal finance issues relatable to women, children and families and educating investors to make informed decisions. A contributor to A Teachable Moment, she is a client relations specialist at Ritholtz Wealth Management. She also serves on Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Task Force.

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Recent Articles

  • Finding Your Financial Balance
  • The War Within
  • Give Yourself (and Your Money) Some Love
  • Why You’re Failing Miserably, and How to Stop
  • Hardwired to Help
  • Hardwired to Help
  • School Administrators and Unions Can Be the Real Heroes
  • Mid-Year Pump

In the news..

Mortgage Stories
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Retirement Stories
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Read current mortgage rates and home loan stories.
Read the latest retirement planning topics and trends.

RSS College Tuition News

  • Community College System of New Hampshire to increase tuition for upcoming academic year - WMUR
  • Higher tuition approved for Pa.'s state-owned universities; state funding could trigger rollback - WTAE
  • Is Belt-Tightening at Top Universities a Crime Against Education? - The Imaginative Conservative

RSS Personal Budget News

  • White House aide on skipping full budget: It ‘wasn’t in our interest’ - The Washington Post
  • Button up your budget: Which Houston essentials are getting more expensive - khou.com
  • Israel To Boost Budget By $12.5 Billion For Iran And Gaza Wars - NDTV Profit

© This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment. The commentary in this “post” (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Ritholtz Wealth Management employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Ritholtz Wealth Management LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Ritholtz Wealth Management or performance returns of any Ritholtz Wealth Management Investments client. References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see disclosures here.