Here is SMI's Money Roundup for a mid-winter day. We hope you find these articles interesting and helpful!
The ex-U.S. trade is working (Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense). So far in 2026, foreign stocks are outperforming U.S. stocks — and it isn't even close.
All 7 members of the Magnificent Seven are now down on the year and underperforming the S&P 500 (Charlie Bilello via X). Through mid-February.
Retirement tax planning is about managing tradeoffs, not following rules (Retirement Researcher). "Rules tend to fail because they ignore how taxes interact over time."
I'm a financial planner: This is how you can legally divorce the IRS for the rest of your life (Joe F. Schmitz Jr., Kiplinger). "Part of [your tax-deferred retirement account] belongs to you, and part of it belongs to Uncle Sam. You just don't know exactly how much yet."
Still working in retirement? Watch out for these Social Security and Medicare tax traps (Morningstar). Working later in life may be good for your emotional well-being. But be aware of the tax tradeoffs.
Why 'locking' your Social Security number is the new credit freeze (Kiplinger). "Locking your SSN is a strategic move that shuts down the two most common avenues for fraud."
A U.S. 'debt spiral' could start soon as the interest rate on government borrowing is poised to exceed economic growth, budget watchdog says (Fortune). "How did you go bankrupt?" asks a character in Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises. "Two ways," his acquaintance responds. "Gradually and then suddenly."
Want to cut monthly costs? Start with your internet and streaming bills. (New York Times via archive.today). One suggestion: Buy your own modem instead of paying a monthly rental charge to your internet provider.
Ranked: The most reliable car brands in 2026 (Visual Capitalist). Based on research by Consumer Reports.
What fasting teaches us about giving (Lauren Street, National Christian Foundation). "Both fasting and generosity surface the same question: What do I believe I can't live without?"
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