RichCalcs Blog
Financial strategy articles — mortgage, retirement, debt, investing. Math first, opinions where helpful, no lead-generation nonsense.
- 2026-05-28 · mortgage · homeowner
When to Remove PMI: The $1,800/Year Mistake Most Homeowners Make
PMI auto-cancels at 78% LTV — but you can request removal at 80%. Here is when, how, and why this is worth $1,800+ a year.
- 2026-05-27 · retirement · taxes
Roth IRA vs Traditional 401(k): The 2026 Decision
Pick Roth in low-tax years, Traditional in high-tax years. Here is the bracket-by-bracket math and what to do if you cannot decide.
- 2026-05-26 · savings · planning
Emergency Fund: 3 Months or 6 Months? The Honest Answer
Three months covers most layoffs. Six months covers the bad ones. Here is how to pick based on your actual job, debt, and dependents.
- 2026-05-25 · mortgage · affordability
How Much House Can You Afford on a $100K Salary? The 2026 Answer
On $100k gross income at 7% rates, you can afford roughly a $295k home — not the $400k a lender will approve you for. Here is why.
- 2026-05-24 · mortgage · decision
15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgage: 2026 Decision Framework
15-year saves $260k+ in interest but the payment is ~30% higher. Here is the exact math, the break-even, and who should pick which.
- 2026-05-22 · mortgage · investing
Pay Extra Mortgage Principal or Invest the Difference? The Real Math
At today's 7% mortgage rates the math is closer than people think. Here's the break-even — and the emotional argument that changes the answer.
- 2026-05-20 · retirement
How Much Should You Have Saved at 30, 40, 50? Honest Benchmarks
Fidelity's 1×/3×/6×/8× salary multipliers explained, why they're probably too optimistic, and what to do if you're behind.
- 2026-05-17 · debt
Snowball or Avalanche? The Real-World Choice for Paying Off Debt
Avalanche saves more money. Snowball gets more people to the finish line. The boring truth nobody wants to hear.
- 2026-05-14 · mortgage · refinance
Should You Refinance? The Break-Even Calculation Most People Skip
A 1% rate drop saves you $X/month. Closing costs are $Y. Divide and you have your break-even in months. Now the question gets interesting.
- 2026-05-11 · 401k · retirement
Your 401(k) Match is Free Money. Most People Leave Some on the Table.
About 22% of US workers don't capture their full employer match. Here's why, what it costs them, and how to fix it in 5 minutes.