enRICHed: volume 171
spring is just around the corner!!!
Sunday March 01, 2026
Volume 171
Hey besties,
Have you ever wondered if it’s even possible to start saving in your 20’s? Between rent, high cost of living and grocery prices it can all feel pretty impossible. And when should you even start investing? What if you have debt? Well, this week on Networth and Chill, I sat down with Tori Dunlap aka Her First 100k! In this episode, we broke down how Tori saved 100k by age 25, how you can do it too (yes, even in this market) and why financial independence for women is a necessity. We also chatted about what makes you stand out when interviewing for a job, and what to do with the income once you actually land it! If you’re looking for tangible saving advice, this episode is for you!
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As a reminder:
HYCU, pronounced haiku: how the news impacts you and your wallet, aka How You Can Use
The Prosperitea: think discount codes, non-boring finance articles, sales, and personal links from the week. The fun stuff 😉
We love your comments, but please remember to keep it positive! And don’t take investing advice from anyone who isn’t your registered financial advisor!
Now that you’re up to speed, let’s get you enRICHed.
A New Retirement Plan Has Entered the Villa 💰
It’s not an IRA, it’s not a 403(b), but a secret third thing — during his State of the Union address, President Trump announced that his administration will be creating a brand new government-backed retirement program for the self-employed Americans who don’t have access to a company-sponsored retirement plan, like a 401(k).
Basically, the idea is that they’ll roll out the Thrift Savings Plan that’s given to federal employees to all Americans, and also throw in a $1,000 annual government match. We don’t know much more than that (including what these accounts will be called), but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said they should be able to show us a proposal in the next few weeks or months.
This move is meant to address the 56 million Americans who don’t receive retirement benefits from their employer (everyone who’s working freelance, permalance, contracted, etc). It’s also not a brand-new idea — the $1,000 annual government match was first created in 2022, stemming from a Biden-era effort trying to expand retirement enrollments. We know that the $1,000 match would go into effect in 2027, so we can assume that it’s the same deadline for these new retirement accounts.
There’s another mitigating factor to consider, though: Social Security’s main trust funds (how they’re paying benefits) are expected to empty out by 2033, which means that the amount they can actually give to people is going to get pared down after that. They still have a little bit of time to try and figure it out, but it’s unclear how this fact might impact the government’s plan to match contributions. It also means that people planning on retirement in 2032 should definitely adjust their expectations (and budgets) for their Social Security payments.
HYCU; The biggest advantage of working for a company is that when you open your retirement account, you get that sweet, sweet employer match (if offered), which is literally just money they give you for saving for retirement. Employers also sometimes offer Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) matches, which can help offset medical bills and costs. So self-employed people are at a disadvantage in this area. This would be a pretty big game-changer, allowing self-employed people to build up more personal wealth with a government-sponsored match. We still have to see what the plan actually entails, but if you’re looking to get even more savings beyond your SEP IRA or SOLO 401(k), this would be a great initiative for you.
It’s Getting Legally Fraught 🤔
There’s been a huge battle happening in the tariff department, and it’s getting really messy. Even though the Supreme Court literally struck down Trump’s IEEPA tariff plan this week, he basically just said “that’s cool, but I’m still going to do me.” He warned other countries to stick to their original trade deals with the US. The Supreme Court then said he was violating federal law. But instead of backing down, Trump signed an executive order to hike the global tariff rate up by 15% (not the 10% he originally said). So, is the president doing something illegal? WTF is going on? And most importantly, how is this going to impact you?
So here’s where we stand on these tariffs: yes, the 15% is in effect, because the president said so. But this is only temporary. The levy can be enacted for 150 days, however Congress could vote to extend them. There could also be more possibly coming: Trump is considering new “national security tariffs” as a result of the Supreme Court ruling, and sent out another warning shot — any country that “plays games” with him could face even steeper levies. Can he do this??? If he can keep abusing executive orders…yes.
He’s not the only one who wants something around here. A few Democrat representatives also want something —specifically, they’re demanding the $175 billion in tariff revenue returned to small businesses and consumers who ended up paying more than their fair share because of the tariffs. They also want Customs and Border Protection to refund us with interest, for, you know, all our troubles. But any refund check signed probably has to go through the courts first, and that process could take years, so keep that in mind.
HYCU; Realistically, if you’re just an everyday consumer who kind of got screwed on your groceries, electronics, clothing or other goods, this is going to feel a little like getting robbed twice. With increased tariffs, prices aren’t going down, but even if the refunds manage to wiggle their way through the courts, the majority of money is probably going to go back to corporations first. If you’re a small business owner, I recommend documenting everything, contacting a customs attorney, and filing a protest with customs within 180 days. This’ll help make sure you have the best chance for a refund when it comes time!
Women Are Dropping Out of Work 📤
The stats are getting a little alarming. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 455,000 women left the workforce between January and August 2025 — one of the steepest declines in history, except for the pandemic.
What was the number-one reason for quitting? Caregiving and childcare costs. For 42% of women who quit last year, the pressure to keep up with day care, preschool tuition, babysitting or other care costs were the breaking point. This coincides with companies pressuring RTO mandates, trying to get people back into the offices instead of staying on their flexible remote work schedules. Women are still getting paid less than men, and for plenty of working moms, between the inflexible schedules, lower pay, and burnout, it’s just not worth it anymore.
This is a huge loss for the workplace. Working mothers have an outsize impact on the workforce and economy — Forbes reported that moms are actually the key force behind most of the economic gains enjoyed by middle-class families since 1970. Yet women still have to deal with this archaic decision of balancing caregiving and career. As one C-suite executive and mom who left her job told CNN: “The system wasn’t built to support working mothers.” It’s not a question of skill, but a systemic one. Research shows that resources like paid emergency care days, subsidized child care, and regular pay audits are what actually benefit employees and keep them from having to sacrifice one thing entirely.
HYCU; So are there any resources to help out working moms? Cities like New York City have implemented universal childcare for two-year-olds this year, which is free to everyone, regardless of income, and are planning to invest in universal pre-K for children under the age of five. States like Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico have begun to roll out or are expanding upon their free childcare programs for parents as well. There’s also more help coming from the federal side: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has taken up the lead for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s initiative to cap daycare costs at $10 per day for lower-income families, as well as cap costs for higher-earning parents, too, using a sliding scale based on the US military’s child care program.
Sol asks, “If I decide to invest in international ETFs, would it be best to buy them inside of a Roth IRA or standard brokerage?”
Hey bestie! Smart question — this is one of those insider moves that can really boost your long-term returns!
For international ETFs specifically, your Roth IRA is generally the better home. Here’s why:
International ETFs can trigger tax penalties for U.S. investors primarily through Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) rules, which apply to foreign-registered funds. Penalties could include things like punitive tax rates on gains, no preferential long-term capital gains treatment, and complex annual reporting requirements.
That said, PFIC rules generally do not apply to investments held within a Roth IRA because Roth IRAs are tax-advantaged accounts meaning they are exempt from the punitive tax and reporting requirements associated with PFICs.
In fact, PFIC rules do not apply to investments held within a Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, or 401(k).
Thanks for your question!
Want to be featured in our Question Bank section?
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SEE YOU IN THE COMMENTS BESTIES
Hi Vivian, thanks for all your advice. I've read your first book and I've been following you for years.
I learned that the robo advisor I've been using for my automated taxable investment account has a 0.25% service fee, which is standard for the industry, but some friends say that I should instead choose a target date fund for investing in, which will not have an associated service fee. Is this a better option? I am 30 years old, and I know that time does compounding magic, so I don't want to lose out on the 0.25% long-term, if I could otherwise be making the same return with a target date fund.
Thank you! Keerthana
Wow, the stats about women leaving the workforce last year is eye opening. I was one of them! Great read and info, thanks Vivian!