Researchers discover a new way to “nudge” people to save more money — The internet is full of “bumper sticker” financial advice. That is advice that has been so oversimplified that it could fit on a bumper sticker. “Save 10% of your income” is classic bumper sticker advice. This type of advice is so watered down that it has no relevance to most…

“The first rule of the Dunning-Kruger club is you don’t know you’re a member of the Dunning-Kruger club” — “We Are All Confident Idiots” -David Dunning We all have that friend who acts like an expert on every topic that comes up in conversation. At the beginning of the night, they are giving you stock tips, and by the end of the night, they are explaining to you how…

Research shows that if your spending matches your personality, you’ll live a happier life — The best comedians have jokes that make you say, “Why didn’t I think of that!?” I’ll never forget the Seinfield bit where he described how we all deal with the single hair stuck to the side of the shower wall, using the water from the showerhead to slowly push it…

The financial world has become too complex for “financial literacy” to keep up — Few problems are as widely agreed upon and misunderstood as financial literacy. Politicians, the general public, and personal finance experts agree that most people’s lives would be improved if they were taught how money works. The point I continue to drive home through the “Money on my Mind” series is…

Four takeaways from a Freakonomics study to help you make meaningful change in your life — Let’s say you are thinking about quitting your job. You make decent or even great money, but your boss is a jerk, the hours are long, and the work is dull. Maybe you have ideas for a business or want to find another job you actually enjoy. You’ve obsessively weighed…