The question I get the most is, ‘Should I invest my emergency fund in the stock market?’ Your bank account has never been great at making money. For most of the 2000s, inflation has beat CD rates, which are usually a bit higher than regular bank account rates. The late 80s and 90s were the last time one could reliably make a little money after inflation in a bank account.

Trish, my late wife, and I traveled a lot with my girls after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. We didn’t always have enough money for travel. I got creative and started optimizing credit card points and harvesting miles, which comes naturally to a planner and finance nerd like me. The experience dividends have been priceless.