Every current-year figure in this volume — contribution limits, tax brackets, interest rates, benefit amounts, and every live policy question — was checked against primary or clearly authoritative sources as of October 2026, and every link below was checked on October 4, 2026. Sources are grouped by topic, with the sections that rely on each in brackets. Rules, rates, and thresholds change; when in doubt, verify against the primary source directly rather than this snapshot. Appendix A.2 lists every figure that will change, with the date it is next due for review.
Rates, Inflation and the Economy (Parts 2, 5, 7)
- Federal Reserve — FOMC statement, September 16, 2026: target range raised to 3.75%–4.00%
- Federal Reserve — H.15 Selected Interest Rates: prime rate and Treasury yields
- Federal Reserve — G.19 Consumer Credit: credit-card, auto and personal-loan rates (3.3, 3.9)
- Freddie Mac — Primary Mortgage Market Survey: weekly 30- and 15-year mortgage rates
- FDIC — National Rates and Rate Caps: national average savings and deposit rates
- Bureau of Labor Statistics — Consumer Price Index news release: CPI-U inflation (2.7)
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) — 10-year Treasury yield, series DGS10: 10-year yield history (7.2, 7.8)
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) — 10-year TIPS yield, series DFII10: real yield and breakeven inflation (7.8)
- TreasuryDirect — I bond interest rates: I bond composite rate (7.8)
- TreasuryDirect — Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS): TIPS mechanics (7.8)
- TreasuryDirect — Treasury bills: T-bill terms and taxation (2.7)
Banking, Payments and Deposit Insurance (Part 2)
- FDIC — Your Insured Deposits: $250,000 limit and ownership categories (2.6)
- FDIC — Understanding Deposit Insurance: what deposit insurance covers (2.6)
- FDIC — Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE): coverage calculator (2.6)
- NCUA — Share insurance coverage: credit-union coverage (2.6)
- Federal Reserve — Joint statement on Silicon Valley Bank, March 12, 2023: systemic risk exception (2.6)
- Federal Reserve — Regulation II proposal, October 25, 2023: debit interchange cap (2.2)
- Federal Reserve Financial Services — FedNow participating organizations: FedNow adoption (2.3)
- The Clearing House — RTP network: RTP participants (2.3)
- CFPB — Enforcement action: Synapse Financial Technologies: pass-through insurance failure (2.6)
- IRS — About Form 1099-INT: interest reporting (2.7)
Credit, Debt and Collections (Part 3)
- CFPB — Technical correction and update to the credit invisibles estimate (June 2025): credit-invisible share (3.7)
- myFICO — FICO Score minimum requirements: first-score criteria (3.7)
- CFPB — Ways to start or rebuild credit: secured cards, credit-builder loans (3.7)
- CFPB — Card issuers and applicants under 21: CARD Act under-21 rule (1.7, 3.7)
- FTC — Free credit reports: permanent free weekly reports (3.2)
- AnnualCreditReport.com — Official free credit report site: where to get reports (3.2, 13.4)
- CFPB — When a card issuer can raise your rate: penalty APR (3.8)
- CFPB — Debt validation notices: validation rights (3.8)
- CFPB — Regulation F (12 CFR 1006): debt-collection rules (3.8)
- FTC — Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: statute text (3.8)
- CFPB — Collecting on old debts: statutes of limitations (3.8)
- CFPB — How long information stays on a credit report: seven- and ten-year rules (3.8)
- FTC — How to get out of debt: debt management plans and settlement (3.8)
- U.S. Department of Labor — Fact Sheet #30: wage garnishment: garnishment limits (3.8)
- U.S. Courts — Chapter 7 bankruptcy basics: liquidation and the means test (3.8)
- U.S. Courts — Chapter 13 bankruptcy basics: repayment plans (3.8)
- U.S. Courts — Bankruptcy court miscellaneous fee schedule: filing fees (3.8)
- U.S. Trustee Program — Approved credit counseling agencies: pre-bankruptcy counseling (3.8)
- IRS — Tax deductions for working Americans and seniors: car-loan interest deduction (3.9, 9.2)
Student Aid and Student Loans (Part 4)
- Federal Student Aid — Interest rates for loans first disbursed July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027: 2026–27 Direct and PLUS rates (4.1)
- Federal Student Aid — FY27 sequester-required changes: origination fees (4.1)
- Federal Register — Federal student loan program final regulations, May 1, 2026: RAP, Tiered Standard and PSLF plan rules (4.2, 4.3)
- U.S. Department of Education — Next steps for borrowers enrolled in SAVE: end of SAVE (4.2)
- U.S. Department of Education — Student loan interest rate reduction: autopay reduction (4.1)
- Federal Student Aid — Repayment plans: plan menu (4.2, 4.3)
- Federal Student Aid — FAFSA: the free application (1.7, 4.6)
- Federal Student Aid — FAFSA updates (Financial Aid Toolkit): 2027–28 FAFSA launch (4.6)
- Federal Student Aid — 2026–27 Pell Grant maximum and minimum awards: Pell amounts (4.6)
- IRS — Instructions for Form 8863: AOTC and Lifetime Learning Credit (4.6)
- IRS — Education credits: AOTC and LLC: credit comparison (4.6)
Housing and Mortgages (Part 5)
- FHFA — Conforming loan limit values for 2026: 2026 conforming limits (5.4)
- HUD — 2026 FHA loan limits: FHA floor and ceiling (5.4)
- Fannie Mae — Selling Guide B3-6-02: debt-to-income ratios: DTI limits (5.2)
- National Association of Realtors — Existing-home sales, August 2026: median home price (5.2, 14.3)
- CFPB — What is a Loan Estimate?: three-business-day delivery (5.3, A.1)
- CFPB — What is a Closing Disclosure?: three-business-day review (5.3, A.1)
- Freddie Mac — Breaking down PMI: PMI cost range (5.5)
- CFPB — Removing private mortgage insurance: Homeowners Protection Act (5.5)
- CFPB — Regulation X §1024.17: escrow accounts: escrow cushion (5.5)
- Bankrate — HELOC rates: HELOC averages (5.7)
- Bankrate — Home equity loan rates: home equity loan averages (5.7)
Employer Benefits and Retirement Accounts (Part 6)
- IRS — 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026: 2026 plan and IRA limits (6.2–6.4)
- IRS — COLA increases for dollar limitations: $72,000 overall limit and other limits (6.2, 6.8)
- IRS — Retirement topics: IRA contribution limits: IRA limits (1.7, 6.4)
- IRS — Retirement topics: catch-up contributions: catch-ups and the Roth catch-up rule (6.2)
- IRS — Final regulations on the Roth catch-up rule: Roth catch-up effective dates (6.2)
- IRS — Instructions for Form 8606: pro-rata rule (6.4)
- IRS — Revenue Procedure 2025-19: 2026 HSA and HDHP limits (6.6, 8.2)
- IRS — Publication 969: HSA rules (6.6, 10.9)
- IRS — Publication 15-B (2026): dependent-care exclusion (6.6)
- IRS — New HSA benefits under OBBBA: bronze and catastrophic plans (6.6)
- IRS — Rollovers of retirement plan and IRA distributions: 60-day and direct rollovers (6.7)
- IRS — Exceptions to tax on early distributions: age-55 separation rule (6.7)
- IRS — One-participant 401(k) plans: Solo 401(k) (6.8)
- IRS — Simplified Employee Pension plan (SEP): SEP-IRA (6.8)
- IRS — Publication 560: self-employed plan rules and deadlines (6.8)
- IRS — Retirement savings contributions credit (saver’s credit): saver’s credit (9.1 and 9.4)
Investing and Financial Advice (Part 7)
- S&P Dow Jones Indices — SPIVA U.S. Year-End 2025: active vs index performance (7.3)
- IRS — Publication 550: investment income and TIPS taxation (7.8)
- IRS — Digital assets: crypto taxed as property; Form 1099-DA (7.8)
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) — Coinbase Bitcoin, series CBBTCUSD: bitcoin drawdowns (7.8)
- Investor.gov (SEC) — Regulation Best Interest: broker-dealer standard (7.9)
- Investor.gov (SEC) — Fiduciary duty: adviser standard (7.9)
- Investor.gov (SEC) — Form CRS: relationship summaries (7.9)
- SEC — Investment Adviser Public Disclosure: Form ADV lookup (7.9)
- FINRA — BrokerCheck: broker background checks (7.9)
Insurance and Health Coverage (Part 8)
- KFF — 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey: average premiums (8.2, 10.9)
- KFF — Marketplace premiums if enhanced credits expire: subsidy cliff (8.2)
- HealthCare.gov — Federal poverty level: 400% FPL subsidy limit (8.2, 9.1)
- HealthCare.gov — Out-of-pocket maximum: 2026 ACA cap (8.2)
- HealthCare.gov — Dates and deadlines: Marketplace open enrollment (A.1)
- HealthCare.gov — COBRA coverage and the Marketplace: switching rules (10.9, 11.4)
- U.S. Department of Labor (EBSA) — An employee’s guide to health benefits under COBRA: COBRA rules (10.9, 11.4)
- IRS — Publication 525: taxation of disability benefits (8.4)
- IRS — Publication 15-A: FICA on sick pay (8.4)
Taxes (Part 9)
- IRS — Revenue Procedure 2025-32: 2026 brackets, standard deduction, credits, estate and gift figures
- IRS — 2026 tax inflation adjustments (IR-2025-103): 2026 adjustments incl. health FSA (6.6, 9.1)
- IRS — Federal income tax rates and brackets: bracket tables (9.1)
- IRS — Working Families Tax Cuts: individuals and workers: senior, tips, overtime deductions (9.2)
- IRS — One Big Beautiful Bill provisions: OBBBA overview (9.2)
- Cornell LII — 26 U.S.C. §164: SALT cap and phase-down (9.2, 9.6)
- IRS — Child Tax Credit: CTC phase-outs (9.4, 11.2)
- IRS — Form W-4 (2026): withholding steps (1.7, 9.3)
- IRS — Tax Withholding Estimator: checking withholding (9.3, A.1)
- IRS — Publication 501: filing requirements (1.7)
- IRS — Publication 505: withholding and estimated tax (9.3)
- IRS — Topic 306: underpayment penalty: safe harbors (9.3, 11.5)
- IRS — Form 1040-ES (2026): estimated tax due dates (11.5)
Retirement Income, Social Security and Medicare (Part 10)
- Social Security Administration — Latest cost-of-living adjustment: 2026 COLA (10.3)
- Social Security Administration — Retirement earnings test exempt amounts: 2026 earnings-test limits (10.3, 10.8)
- Social Security Administration — 2026 Trustees Report: trust fund projections (10.3)
- Social Security Administration — Contribution and benefit base: 2026 wage base (1.6, 6.8)
- Social Security Administration — Benefits planner: born in 1960 or later: reductions and spousal percentages (10.3, 10.8)
- Social Security Administration — Actuarial life table: survival odds (10.7)
- Social Security Administration — Medicare premiums: rules for higher-income beneficiaries: IRMAA and form SSA-44 (10.9)
- IRS — Publication 915: taxation of Social Security benefits (10.8)
- IRS — Required minimum distribution FAQs: RMD ages (10.6)
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles: Part B premium and IRMAA tiers (10.9)
- CMS — Final CY 2026 Part D redesign program instructions: Part D out-of-pocket cap (10.9)
- Medicare.gov — Avoid late enrollment penalties: Part B and D penalties (10.9)
- Medicare.gov — Joining a plan: October 15–December 7 open enrollment (A.1)
- Medicare.gov — When to buy Medigap: Medigap open enrollment (10.9)
- Morningstar — What’s a safe retirement withdrawal rate for 2026?: 3.9% starting rate (10.2)
- Genworth — CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey release: long-term care costs (10.10)
- Administration for Community Living — How much care will you need?: long-term care probabilities (10.10)
- NOLHGA — How you’re protected: guaranty association limits (10.10)
Life Events, Windfalls and Estates (Parts 11–12)
- IRS — Trump accounts: accounts for children (1.7, 4.6, 11.2)
- IRS — Guidance on Trump accounts (Notice 2025-68): contribution rules (1.7, 4.6)
- IRS — Publication 15: supplemental wage withholding (11.7)
- IRS — Topic 418: unemployment compensation: taxation of unemployment benefits (11.4)
- IRS — Required minimum distribution FAQs (beneficiaries): 10-year rule (11.7)
- IRS — Notice 2024-35: inherited-IRA penalty relief (11.7)
- IRS — Publication 551: basis of inherited property (11.7)
- IRS — Topic 701: sale of your home: home-sale exclusion (11.7)
- IRS — Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754: gambling withholding (11.7)
- IRS — Revenue Procedure 2022-32: late portability election (12.4)
Fraud and Identity Protection (Part 13)
- FTC — Consumer Sentinel Network: reported fraud losses (13.1)
- FBI IC3 — 2025 Internet Crime Report: internet crime and elder fraud losses (7.8, 13.1, 13.5)
- FBI IC3 — File a complaint: reporting online fraud (13.4)
- FTC — IdentityTheft.gov: identity theft reports and recovery plans (13.4)
- IRS — Get an Identity Protection PIN: tax identity protection (13.4, A.1)
- CFPB — Free credit freezes are here: freezes and fraud alerts (13.3)
- FTC — Lost or stolen credit, ATM and debit cards: card liability limits (1.7, 13.3)
- CFPB — Regulation E §1005.6: liability: unauthorized-transfer liability (13.3, 13.4)
- CFPB — Regulation E §1005.11: error resolution: investigation deadlines (13.4)
- CFPB — Electronic fund transfers FAQs: credentials obtained by fraud (13.4)
- CFPB — Regulation Z §1026.12 and §1026.13: credit-card liability and billing errors (13.4)
- FINRA — Rule 2165: financial exploitation of specified adults: temporary holds (13.5)
- FINRA — Rule 4512: customer account information: trusted contact persons (13.5)
- Office for Victims of Crime — National Elder Fraud Hotline: elder fraud help (13.5)
- Administration for Community Living — Eldercare Locator: local aging services (13.5)
India Lens Regulators
- RBI — Reserve Bank of India: banking, credit reporting and payments rules
- RBI — Customer protection: limited liability in unauthorized electronic transactions (2017): zero-liability framework (Part 13 India Lens)
- DICGC — Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation: ₹5 lakh deposit insurance
- SEBI — Securities and Exchange Board of India: investing rules
- IRDAI — Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India: insurance rules
- PFRDA — Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority: NPS and APY
- India Post — Small savings schemes: PPF, SCSS, Sukanya Samriddhi
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs — PMAY-U 2.0: interest subsidy scheme
- Ministry of Education — PM-Vidyalaxmi: education loans
- Ministry of Home Affairs (I4C) — National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: reporting cyber fraud
- Department of Telecommunications — Sanchar Saathi: mobile connections in your name
Further Reading
- The Psychology of Money — Morgan Housel: the behavioral lens behind Part 3.5, Part 7.7, and this volume’s emphasis on defaults over willpower
- Your Money or Your Life — Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez: an early, influential treatment of the “hours of life” framing behind Part 1’s budgeting chapters
- I Will Teach You to Be Rich — Ramit Sethi: a practical, automation-first companion to Parts 1, 2, and 6
- The Simple Path to Wealth — JL Collins: a deeper dive into the index-fund case made in Part 7.3