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The Two-Box System: Where Your Money Should Actually Go

This entry is part 10 of 14 in the series Seeds of Wealth.

Now that you’ve saved a dollar, or a few dozen, the question becomes: where should it go? This is where most people stall out. They get paralyzed by options: savings accounts, investment platforms, cash envelopes, budgeting apps with more categories than a tax return. And in that fog of choice, they do what comes naturally… Nothing. Which is why we need to simplify—radically. The Two-Box Method Forget spreadsheets and dashboards for a minute. Imagine you…

MoneySprout July 11, 2025

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The Fallout of Losing the Narrative

This entry is part 4 of 6 in the series How Trades Lost the Spotlight.

What happens when a generation is told there’s only one path to success—and then that path doesn’t pan out? We’re living the answer. Across the country, nearly 40 million Americans have what researchers call “Some College, No Credential.” They started their higher education journey with high hopes but never finished—and now carry the burden of student debt, lost time, and stalled career momentum. This isn’t just a personal challenge. It’s a national problem—one fueled by…

DigitalNinja July 10, 2025

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401(k) Contributions: Your Future-Self Will Thank You

This entry is part 4 of 8 in the series Guide to Employee Benefits.

When you’re just starting a job, retirement might feel like a lifetime away. But starting to save for retirement early is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make. Why? Because time—and compound interest—are on your side. As much as compound interest on credit card borrowing can put you in a death spiral – the opposite occurs with savings. One of the best retirement savings vehicles is the 401(k). Let’s walk through how to…

Preston July 10, 2025

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Choosing a Healthcare Plan

This entry is part 3 of 8 in the series Guide to Employee Benefits.

Making the Right Call for Your Health (and Wallet) Your new job offers health benefits—congrats! But now you’re staring at acronyms, charts, and confusing terminology. PPO? HMO? HDHP? HSA or FSA? Don’t worry. With a little clarity, you can confidently choose a plan that fits your health and your wallet. Let’s walk through what all this means—and how to choose wisely based on your own needs. How Employer Healthcare Plans Work An employer-sponsored healthcare plan…

Preston July 8, 2025

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The Calling

This entry is part 1 of 5 in the series The Calling.

Why We Show Up You don’t stumble into the first responder’s life. You get called to it. Sometimes that call is loud—a siren in your soul that says, “This is what I was made for.” Maybe it’s a bell beneath your pillow that wakes you up at night. Other times, it’s a whisper that grows over time. But every first responder I know has felt it: that pull toward service, that instinct to run toward…

shoe1971 July 8, 2025

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How the Trades Lost the Marketing Battle to Traditional Colleges

This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series How Trades Lost the Spotlight.

Think back to your high school experience. Odds are, the loudest voices—teachers, counselors, media, even family—urged one path above all others: college. Meanwhile, the trades sat quietly in the background, often framed as a “Plan B” for students who didn’t “fit” the academic mold. This didn’t happen by accident. Over the past several decades, traditional four-year colleges won the marketing war. They captured the narrative, redefined what success looks like, and in the process, pushed…

DigitalNinja July 7, 2025

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Changing Perceptions of Career Schools

This entry is part 2 of 6 in the series How Trades Lost the Spotlight.

From Back-Up Plan to First Choice Ask a high school student what they want to do after graduation, and you’ll likely hear the word “college.” Ask them if they’ve considered a career school—a program focused on trades, technical skills, or certifications—and many will look puzzled or unsure. That reaction isn’t accidental. For decades, vocational education has lived under the shadow of the four-year degree, seen by many as the back-up option for students who “couldn’t”…

DigitalNinja July 6, 2025

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Rethinking the College ROI

This entry is part 1 of 6 in the series How Trades Lost the Spotlight.

Why Career Education Deserves a Fresh Look Remember when graduating high school and learning a trade was a perfectly respectable, often celebrated, life path? Wanting to become a mechanic, an electrician, a dental tech, or a machinist were suggested paths to building a stable, prosperous future. These roles were seen as skilled, essential, and worthy. But somewhere along the way, that narrative changed. Suddenly, “success” was redefined. A four-year college degree wasn’t just one option—it…

DigitalNinja July 2, 2025

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Understanding Your W-4: The First Step to Smarter Paychecks

This entry is part 2 of 8 in the series Guide to Employee Benefits.

Starting a new job often comes with a flood of paperwork, and the W-4 form is usually near the top of the pile. It might look like just another tax document—but the choices you make here can impact your finances all year long. Starting about the time of the Super Bowl, you see a lot of ads for “maximum tax refund”. In reality, the tax refund you receive is not determined by the tax preparer…

Preston July 2, 2025

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You Got the Job, Now What?

This entry is part 1 of 8 in the series Guide to Employee Benefits.

A Simple Guide to Employee On-Boarding Starting a new job can feel like stepping into a whirlwind—new routines, new people, and a mountain of paperwork. Right in the middle of it all? Your employee benefits. From tax forms to health insurance to retirement plans, these choices can have a huge impact on your financial well-being. But most of us aren’t taught how to navigate them—and many people go years (or even decades) feeling unsure if…

Preston July 1, 2025

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