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Em Norton
Updated Feb 18, 2026
As the new year begins, it’s a natural time to take stock of your finances.
Trade tensions and higher tariffs pushed up the cost of living for Americans last year, squeezing both households and businesses.
Here are a few smart moves to help protect your wallet and set you up for a stronger financial start to 2026.
Fundrise Flagship Fund
Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund
1. Stop wasting money on overpriced car insurance
Car insurance is likely taking a big chunk out of your monthly budget, but it could be keeping you safe for less. Insurance companies tend to pile on confusing add-ons and lingo, which leads you to pay more than necessary.
OfficialCarInsurance.com lets you compare quotes from trusted brands, such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO to make sure you're getting the best deal.
You can switch to a more affordable auto insurance option in 2 minutes by providing some information about yourself and your vehicle and choosing from their tailor-made results.
Find offers as low as $29 a month. Just type your info into the fields below, and you'll instantly get a selection of quotes to choose from.
2. Invest in real estate
Most of the world’s most successful investors know that investing in real estate is one of the smartest choices for long-term growth. But did you know it is still possible to build your portfolio without having to play landlord or forking over a huge down payment?
The Fundrise Flagship Fund¹ is a $1 billion private real estate fund that lets you invest in an expertly crafted strategy without needing hundreds of thousands of dollars. You don’t need to be an accredited investor, and you can get started with as little as $10.
With 4,700+ single-family homes and 2,500+ residential units owned by the Fundrise Flagship Fund, you get exposure to institutional-style scale and diversification. After you place your first investment, the Fundrise Flagship Fund will work to find and add new assets to your portfolio over time and send you transparent updates along the way.
It only takes a few minutes to sign up now and become a real estate investor today.
Fundrise Flagship Fund
Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund
3. Make your cash work harder for you
If you have a lot of cash sitting in your checking account, consider moving it to a high-yield savings account so you can get more bang for your buck.
For example, a high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your savings, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your cash when you need it.
A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base variable APY of 3.30%, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%².
That’s ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s January report³.
With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks.
4. Secure your retirement with a gold IRA
Gold has long been touted as a safe-haven asset—and it can go a long way toward building your retirement portfolio. The precious yellow metal offers more stable returns than stocks, especially during market volatility and recession. In October 2025, gold prices reached a historic milestone, exceeding $4,000 per ounce for the first time.
You can open a gold Individual Retirement Account (IRA) with Thor Metals to reap tax advantages while investing directly in physical precious metals.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
Get your free information guide to learn how to get started and earn up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.
5. Automatically invest your spare change
You don’t always have to put away large sums to move toward your financial goals. Ten dollars a week could make a difference – if you’re smart about what to do with your spare change.
When you make a purchase on your credit or debit card, Acorns automatically rounds up the price to the nearest dollar and places the excess — the coins that would wind up in your pocket if you were paying cash — into a smart investment portfolio.
Let’s say you purchase a doughnut for $2.30. Before you’re done licking the sugar off your fingers, Acorns will round the amount to $3.00 and invest the 70-cent difference for you. Look at this math: $2.50 worth of daily round-ups add up to $900 per year — and that’s before your savings earn money in the market.
Plus, if you sign up now, you can get a $20 bonus investment.
More money moves to grow your wealth
SoFi
Trading account
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account.
Longbridge
Reverse mortgages
Tap into your home equity to pay off debt or fund a renovation.
Masterworks
Alternative investing
Invest in paintings by best-selling artists like Banksy and Basquiat.
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Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus. Read them carefully before investing. This marketing was vetted by the Moneywise team and sponsored by the Fundrise Flagship Fund.
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The Base Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is 3.30%, as of 01/30/26, and is subject to change. If you are eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the three-month promotional period. The Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront is not a bank. The Base APY is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where it earns the variable base APY and is eligible for FDIC insurance. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.
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Based on the national average interest rate for savings accounts as posted on FDIC.gov, as of January 22, 2026.
Em Norton
Content Specialist
Em Norton is a Staff Writer for Moneywise. Em holds a B.A. in Professional Writing from York University and has been writing professionally since 2019. Em's work has previously been published by Room Magazine, IN Magazine, Our Canada and more.
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