As students embark on their college journeys, they are often filled with excitement and anticipation for new experiences and opportunities. However, despite the excitement, personal safety should remain a top priority.

While college campuses are generally safe, they are not immune to the risks and dangers that exist in any community. The hub of student life, filled with young people living away from home for the first time, can present unique safety challenges.

In partnership with GradGuard, here’s a look at why college campus safety is important and practical college campus safety tips to help students stay safe and secure on campus.

GradGuard is an excellent choice for both tuition insurance and renters insurance. Both of these tools can help protect your family financially should something happen to your student. Curious to learn more? 

Check out GradGuard here >>

Why College Campus Safety Is Important

Campus safety starts with recognizing the reality of campus risks and crimes. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, campus crime has surged in recent years. The statistics highlight students' need to be vigilant and proactive about their safety. Recent high-profile cases have further emphasized the need for heightened awareness and preventive measures among students.

Alcohol abuse and sexual assault are particularly prevalent problems. While sexual assault can happen to anyone, young women are at a particularly high risk.

Impact on Students

The consequences of campus crimes extend beyond the immediate physical harm. Victims can experience long-lasting emotional trauma, which can adversely affect their mental health and academic performance.

Fear and anxiety resulting from safety concerns can hinder students' ability to fully engage in campus life and take advantage of the opportunities college offers.

This underscores the importance of fostering a secure environment where students can thrive without constantly worrying about potential dangers.

Building a Safe Campus Community

Creating a safe campus is a collective responsibility that involves students, faculty, and administration. Students play a critical role by staying informed, looking out for one another, and reporting suspicious activities.

Faculty and administrative staff contribute by implementing and maintaining effective safety measures, conducting regular security assessments, and providing student resources and support. Together, these efforts help establish a culture of safety and vigilance on campus.

College Campus Safety Tips

Here are some college campus safety tips to be mindful of:

• Stay Aware of Your Surroundings: Always be conscious of your surroundings, especially when walking alone or in unfamiliar areas. Avoid distractions like texting or using headphones, as these can make you less aware of potential dangers. Trust your instincts and avoid isolated areas, especially at night, to reduce the risk of encountering unsafe situations.
• Use Campus Safety Resources: Familiarize yourself with campus and community safety services like escorts, emergency call boxes, and safety apps. These resources are there to protect you and can provide immediate assistance if you feel threatened or unsafe. For example, calling for an escort before crossing campus by yourself at night can ensure a safer campus experience.
• Secure Your Belongings: Always lock your dorm room and secure personal items to prevent theft. Don’t leave valuables unattended in public spaces, as this can make them easy targets for thieves. Being vigilant about securing your belongings can save you from the hassle and stress of lost or stolen items. Remember, it only takes a moment for a thief to steal your laptop when you’re studying in the library.
• Travel in Groups: Whenever possible, travel with friends, especially at night, as there is safety in numbers. Use campus shuttles or ride-sharing services instead of walking alone after dark. Group travel can deter potential threats and provide mutual support in an emergency.
• Know Your Campus Layout: Learn the quickest routes to safe locations and identify well-lit, frequently patrolled areas. Avoid isolated shortcuts that can put you at risk. Familiarity with the campus can help you navigate safely and quickly reach safety if needed.
• Attend Safety Workshops: To stay informed and prepared, participate in self-defense classes and safety seminars offered by the college or university. These workshops can equip you with practical skills and knowledge to handle potential threats effectively. Staying engaged with safety education enhances your overall campus experience.
• Keep Emergency Contacts Handy: Save important phone numbers like campus security and local emergency services in your phone. Inform friends or roommates of your whereabouts and expected return times so they can check on you if necessary. A network of trusted contacts can provide quick assistance in urgent situations.
• Report Suspicious Activities: Report any suspicious behavior to campus authorities immediately to help maintain a safe environment. Encourage peers to be proactive about safety and to report anything unusual. Prompt reporting can prevent incidents and enhance overall campus security.
• Practice Safe Online Behavior: Protect your personal information and be cautious with what you share online. Be wary of online scams and phishing attempts, which often target students. Safe online behavior can prevent identity theft and other cybercrimes, safeguarding your digital life. Never share images with others you wouldn’t want to show up on a social media profile or group chat.
• Stay Informed About Campus Alerts: Sign up for campus alert systems and follow campus security on social media for real-time updates on safety issues. Staying informed allows you to respond quickly to any potential threats or emergencies. Regular updates ensure you are aware of any changes in the campus safety environment.

Insurance for Students

Insurance is designed to help you with the financial loss associated with being the victim of an event. It can’t protect you against the emotional aspect of theft or other issue, but it can help alleviate the financial damage.

Health Insurance

Ensuring you have adequate health insurance is crucial. Check if your college offers a student health plan and compare it with your current coverage. Health insurance can cover medical expenses from accidents or illnesses, providing peace of mind.

Renter’s Insurance

Renter’s insurance protects your personal belongings in case of theft, fire, or other damages in your dorm or apartment. It's an affordable way to ensure you won't bear the financial burden of replacing stolen or damaged items. Learn more about renter’s insurance for college students from GradGuard.

Auto Insurance

Maintaining comprehensive auto insurance is essential if you have a car on campus. This coverage can protect you from financial liability in case of accidents, theft, or damage to your vehicle.

Tuition Insurance

Tuition insurance can be a valuable protection for college students and their families. With tuition insurance, you may be reimbursed for tuition costs if the student can’t complete a term due to a covered reason, such as a major accident or illness.

Learn about tuition insurance from GradGuard.

Campus Safety is Critical

Campus safety is a shared responsibility that requires awareness, proactive measures, and community cooperation. By adopting these safety tips and ensuring you have the appropriate insurance coverage, students can significantly reduce their risk of encountering dangerous situations and contribute to a safer campus environment.

Remember, your safety is paramount. Taking simple steps to protect yourself can make a significant difference. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and encourage your peers to do the same. You can work with other students and faculty to create a secure and supportive campus community where everyone can thrive together.

And remember, for as little as $9 per month, you can get renters insurance through GradGuard which can help protect you financially if something were to happen.

Check out GradGuard here >>

The Solo 401(k) auto-contribution tax credit can earn you $1,500 over three years by just enabling automatic contributions to your solo 401(k) plan.

Solo 401(k) plans are a type of retirement plan that allow solo business owners to save on taxes while putting away funds for retirement.

While most people associate 401(k) plans with larger businesses, even the smallest businesses with a single employee can create a 401(k) plan for their business.

The Solo 401(k) auto-contribution credit regulations are quite complex, so we're sharing what you need to know to receive up to $1,500 in tax credits. In partnership with My Solo 401k Financial, we break down what the auto-contribution tax credit is, and how you can take advantage of it with your Solo 401k plan.

What’s A Solo 401(k) Plan?

A Solo 401(k) can also be called a Self-Employed 401(K), Individual 401(k), or another name. What’s most important to know is that it’s a 401(k) but designed for just one person.

If you’re new to the concept, Solo 401(k) plans are the exact same as 401(k) plans offered by large employers, but with only a single member. You can open and run a Solo 401(k) for free at major brokerages like Schwab and Fidelity, however, specialty providers like My Solo 401k Financial make opening and running a Solo 401(k) easier in many cases, for a fee. 

Most free solo 401k plans don’t offer all the features that you could have if you open your own solo 401k. For example, some don’t allow Roth contributions or after-tax contributions. And currently, no free plan provider has the auto-contribution feature to enable the tax credit.

If you open your own plan with a company like My Solo 401k Financial, you can still hold your stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) at Fidelity or Schwab. 

Understanding the Solo 401k Auto Contribution Tax Credit

As part of SECURE Act 2.0, Congress passed a law encouraging businesses to offer 401(k) plans with automatic contributions. Businesses can earn $1,500 in tax credits, broken down to $500 per year for three years.

Freelancers and other business owners with no employees are not excluded from the credit. While other parts of the 401(k) credit program are a bit more dubious, the general consensus is that Solo 401(k) plans are eligible for the $1,500 automatic contribution credit.

For example, if you start a new Solo 401(k) plan in 2024, you could earn the following tax credits: 

Remember, tax credits are not the same as deductions. While a tax deduction lowers your taxable income, credits directly reduce your taxes. That makes this program worth essentially $1,500 in free money for solo entrepreneurs who choose to take advantage.

To get the credit, you can create a new Solo 401(k) plan with automatic contributions or update your existing Solo 401(k) plan to include automatic contributions. On a personal note, after researching what’s possible, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. 

It’s also important to remember that just because your plan has automatic contributions doesn’t mean it’s a feature that you personally have to enable. You can opt-out of your own plan’s auto contribution feature and still receive the tax credit.

Providers like My Solo 401k Financial will help you both ensure your plan has the appropriate auto contribution setup, and ensure that you opt-out if you so desire.

Eligibility Requirements

Determining which businesses are eligible for the 401(k) automatic contribution credit is a bit complicated. When I first asked my accountant, he indicated that I might not be eligible. But after a little back-and-forth, we decided that my business, where I’m the only employee, is eligible. I verified this with several sources.

The instructions for Form 8881, the form you must use to get the credit, mentions several types of retirement plan credits. Not all solo businesses can get all credits included on this form, but Solo 401(k) plans qualify for Section II, which is dedicated to the automatic contribution credit.

If you already have a 401(k) plan with automatic contributions enabled, you may not qualify. If you are new to automatic contributions, you probably do qualify. If you’re unsure, consult with a trusted tax professional.

Your Solo 401(k) must have specific language stating that new employees are automatically enrolled for auto contributions to qualify for the credit.

Benefits Of Automatic Contributions

Many workers in large companies don't participate in 401(k) plans. A recent survey found that about 40% of employees aren't set up. But with automatic signup for contributions, nearly 100% of employees participate.

Social Security alone is typically not enough to maintain the same standard of living during retirement. Most experts suggest that Americans save at least 15% of their income for retirement to maintain their standard of living. With automatic enrollment and auto contributions to a 401(k) plan, they’re more likely to stay on track for retirement.

Setting an automatic 3% contribution is somewhat of an industry standard. After your enrollment, you can increase or decrease your contribution level at any time.

Claiming The Tax Credit

To claim the tax credit, you’ll need to complete and submit Form 8881. It’s a simple, one-page form that you or your accountant can complete in just a few minutes.

The Small Employer Auto-Enrollment Credit is calculated in Part II of the form. You'll enter the $500 credit amount in Box 9.

According to IRS guidelines, “An eligible employer that adds an auto-enrollment feature to their plan can claim a tax credit of $500 per year for a 3-year taxable period beginning with the first taxable year the employer includes the auto-enrollment feature.”

Again, if you have any doubts or questions, it’s best to consult with a licensed tax professional.

Is The Auto-Enrollment Credit For Solo 401(k) Plans Worth It?

If you don’t already have an automatic enrollment feature in a Solo 401(k) plan, the credit is absolutely worth the effort. While it takes some time to complete the forms, there’s a lot to gain and little to lose by setting up this plan feature and receiving the credit.

In many ways, it’s like the government is subsidizing you $1,500 to make tax-advantaged contributions for your own retirement. That’s a big win for your finances if you’re self-employed.

Companies like My Solo 401k Financial can help you with this. Whether you’re open an new Solo 401k for the first time, or you have an existing plan you need to update (called recharacterization), they can help.

Check out My Solo 401k Financial here >>

Options trading offers interesting opportunities to educated and savvy investors, with the potential to profit from swings in market prices and other strategies can help protect yourself from losses if an investment strategy doesn’t pan out as expected.

But that’s not all you can learn from options trading. By reviewing options trading data, you may be able to spot irregular activity by other traders, giving you critical insights into what others may be thinking and expecting.

Here’s a closer look at how you can hunt down and keep track of unusual options trading activities to give you a potential leg up when making your next option trade.

Thanks to investment platform moomoo for making this article possible. You can learn more about what you can do with moomoo in our full in-depth moomoo review. 

What Is Unusual Options Activity?

To understand what constitutes unusual options activity, you must filter out superfluous information and hone in on the market data that matters most. According to NASDAQ data, about 40 million options contracts trade daily. That makes it easy to get caught up in the minutiae and miss a market-moving trade.

Unusual options activity is any large trade outside the market norms and typical trends. Individual traders making irregular trades are unlikely to move the markets. However, institutional investors and other whales in the markets may enter massive trades, indicating they know something others don’t or expect a specific outcome in the markets relatively soon.

Large spikes in volume for a specific asset or asset class can give insights into potential market moves or insider activity. And while a single small trader entering orders surrounding a particular asset may not be important, many traders buying calls or puts could add up to a significant signal.

Stories Of Unusual Options Activity

You don’t have to go too far into stock market history to find examples of unusual options activity. Here are a few interesting large options trades where traders like you could gain insights into insider and institutional investor strategies.

Michael Burry Shorts The Entire Stock Market

Michael Burry rose to fame as the trader who shorted the housing markets leading up to the 2008 industry unraveling. This earned his Scion Capital a massive return and vaulted him into an elite tier of famous investors who earned big betting against the crowd.

In late 2023, Burry made the news for entering a massive short trade against the entire stock market. Burry entered trades shorting an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 and an ETF that tracks the Nasdaq 100 index. He bought 2 million puts on each, easily enough to attract the attention of other investors and financial media.

He closed the positions later that year, which was another signal offering insights into Burry’s view of future market performance.

NVDA Insider Trading

Recent insider transactions at Nvidia have captured market attention, particularly sales by CFO Colette Kress and Director Mark Stevens, with notable sales executed at high prices. These transactions are part of a broader trend of insider selling within the company, influencing investor sentiment and potentially Nvidia's market valuation.

This pattern of insider activity underscores the need for investors to monitor such transactions as part of their investment due diligence. Significant insider sales can serve as a barometer for a company's prospects and may necessitate reevaluating investment strategies.

When insiders execute large trades, automated trading systems, including ones facing the options markets, typically respond as soon as the information is available. If you’re keeping close tabs, you may notice a shift in calls or puts around a specific stock, like Nvidia, and spot an opportunity to potentially profit.

Discovering Unusual Options Activity

Now that you understand what constitutes unusual trading activity and how you might interpret the data, you’re probably wondering where to find unusual options trades. Here’s a look at several platforms you can utilize for market data insights.

moomoo Options Unusual Activity

moomoo is a stock and options trading platform offering commission-free stock, ETF, and options trades. Users can unlock free access to level 2 market data and other analysis tools, helping to inform their investment strategy without paying extra.

The platform includes a section titled Options Unusual Activity. The Options Unusual Activity view highlights moments when there's an unexpected, significant jump in trading a particular option. This surge often reflects the strategies or expectations of big-time players in the game, such as institutional investors.

moomoo also offers a Capital Tracking chart to monitor net inflows and outflows. Combining the two may give you enough information to make an informed trading decision.

Ready to get started? Check out moomoo here >>

Other Platforms For Unusual Options Activity Tracking

While moomoo’s tools are enough for many investors (and many are free to use on moomoo), you may want to utilize several tools to get a broad look at unusual options trading.

• Unusual Whales: A dedicated platform for options tracking, Unusual Whales offers robust tools to find unusual whale trades, but you’ll have to pay for access.
• ChatterQuant: The ChatterQuant platform monitors social media activity to find sentiments for or against a particular investment. It’s also a paid tool.

How To Leverage Unusual Options Activity

Making informed decisions in options trading requires a comprehensive strategy, leveraging insights from unusual options activity and other data sources. By interpreting these signals correctly, traders can develop strategies aligning with market movements and investment goals. With a good grip on risks and goals, you can implement trades to help reduce risk, speculate for potential gains, or adjust existing portfolios based on predicted market directions.

Successful trading is about more than recognizing patterns. Risk management is critical. Understanding and mitigating the risks associated with options trading are crucial in avoiding large-scale losses. Don’t just rely on single data points. Consider a range of indicators and market data to inform decisions. A well-thought-out risk management plan can better help traders from unexpected market shifts and minimize potential losses.

Finally, avoiding common pitfalls, such as following the herd without due diligence, is vital. Traders should always consider the bigger picture, looking beyond individual data points and avoiding decisions based purely on popular trends.

By maintaining a balanced view and conducting thorough research, investors can navigate volatile markets more effectively, make informed, strategic decisions, and be less prone to common missteps.

Having a tool like moomoo in your toolbox is a great way to help make savvier trading decisions.

Trade With Care For Options Success

Unusual options activity offers savvy investors a lens through which they can view potential market movements.

It's not a magic crystal ball, but with the right approach and tools like moomoo, it can provide valuable insights. Stay informed, stay cautious, and use market knowledge to navigate the complex waters of the stock and options markets.

Kudos is a handy web browser extension that helps you maximize your credit card rewards earnings when you shop online. 

If you have multiple rewards cards, knowing which card will get you the best possible cash back or travel rewards rate for different purchases can be a challenge. 

Between my wife’s and my wallet, we have more than a dozen rewards cards. While doing this review, I signed up myself, as it seems helpful for my personal needs.

It's browser plugin automatically fills out your credit card details based on which card offers the best rewards from that particular merchant. Here’s a closer look at how the Kudos wallet app works and who may benefit most.

Promo: New users with the promo code COLLEGE will get $20 after their first eligible Boost purchase.

What Is Kudos?

Kudos is a California-based venture capital-funded company founded in 2021. Founders Tikue Anazodo and Ahmad Ismail previously worked together at large tech companies and decided to solve one of their biggest challenges with rewards cards: knowing which to use to maximize the rewards from each card in their wallet.

The Kudos system supports more than 3,000 different credit and debit cards and works with more than 2 million merchants, so there’s a good chance it’ll work with all of your credit cards and the places you shop most.

They claim to have helped their 200,000 members earn over $150,000,000 in rewards to-date.

Kudos has raised $7 million, giving it room to grow and improve. Those funds have also allowed the company to invest heavily in security features to keep your credit card details safe, which should put most users at ease so they don’t have to worry about adding their cards to the app.

How Does Kudos Work?

The main feature of the Kudos wallet is helping you pick the best credit card for each purchase, focusing on which card you have that offers the best rewards in that purchase category. It also works with over 15,000 participating merchants to offer increased rewards, similar to other boost programs offered by credit card and investment companies.

Kudos is best used as a browser extension on desktop or laptop computers, though you can also use it with Safari on iOS devices. There’s currently no app for Android users, but it’s on their roadmap.

Pick The Best Rewards Credit Card At Checkout

The primary feature of Kudos is a smart credit card picker. The Kudos wallet looks at where you’re shopping and compares cards in your online wallet to choose the best rewards card for that specific store. Whether you’re looking to earn cash back or travel rewards, the Kudos app considers where you will earn the most value.

According to the Kudos website, it supports more than 3,000 payment cards. When I signed up, I was able to easily find and add every card my wife and I have to my account. That includes some older Chase and Amex cards that are no longer available and both business and personal accounts.

Kudos Boost

Kudos Boost is a partner program (that’s also part of the Kudos revenue model) that allows you to earn enhanced rewards with participating merchants. While browsing the top deals, I saw big brands, including Walmart, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Tractor Supply, Staples, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Office Depot, Groupon, and CVS. The list includes retail, travel, and other places you likely already shop.

In order to earn Kudos Boost, you need to add your cards to your Kudos wallet and activate the extension at checkout. Boost rewards are accumulated in your Kudos account. Once you reach a balance of $10 or more, you can redeem them for an Amazon gift card. Additional redemption options such as cash or airline miles are coming soon.

After completing a few signup tasks in the app, I earned more than $4 in rewards before making my first Boost-eligible purchase.

Promo: New users with the promo code COLLEGE will get $20 after their first eligible Boost purchase.

Automatic Credit Card Form Filling

While it’s not a standalone feature, the added convenience of automatically filling in your credit cards when shopping online is helpful. While I already get this from my browser and password manager, if I didn’t, I’d certainly consider this a nice value-add. 

Are There Any Fees?

Kudos is completely free, so there's not cost to add it to your browser or iPhone and give it a try. 

Kudos earns money by referring people to new credit cards and earns an affiliate commission if they sign up. It also earns revenue from the Kudos Boost program, getting a cut of the bonus or sale from participating merchants.

How Does Kudos Compare?

Kudos isn’t the only fintech company trying to help you maximize rewards. A couple of other alternatives include:

MaxRewards is a free app that helps you choose the right card for each purchase but doesn’t have the same level of automated integrations as Kudos. It’s more powerful for managing your credit card portfolio, and the premium version, MaxRewards Gold helps you automatically activate deals through your credit card portal. A Gold membership starts at $84 yearly. For more details, check out our MaxRewards review.

CardPointers is similar to Kudos, but it also allows you to automatically activate merchant-specific bonuses for your existing credit cards. However, you have to pay $60 per year to unlock most of the features.

While popular shopping tools like Rakuten, Honey, and Capital One Shopping can help you save money through coupons and cashback offers, Kudos provides a more holistic and automated approach to maximizing your credit card rewards. By seamlessly integrating with your existing credit cards, Kudos sets itself apart as the ultimate rewards optimization tool for savvy shoppers and credit card enthusiasts.

How Do I Download Kudos?

Opening an account took me about two minutes. I entered my name, email address, and phone number and had to enter a code to verify both. Once verified, Kudos took me through an onboarding process where I added my credit cards and the browser extension.

It was a smooth and easy process that anyone with basic internet skills should be able to handle without breaking a sweat.

Is It Safe And Secure?

Kudos makes a big deal of user security, and is transparent about its app and the steps it takes to keep your information safe:

• 256-bit encryption: This is the same level of encryption used by banks and other financial platforms to ensure users can’t read your information, even if they somehow break into Kudos.
• External auditing: Kudos hires outside auditors for SOC 2 security with consistent outside monitoring by a specialized digital security vendor.
• AWS hosting: Kudos uses Amazon Web Services secured hosting with encryption, one of the largest and most trusted cloud hosting providers.
• Data never sold: Personal data is never sold or shared with third parties outside of vendors used to make the service work.

How Do I Contact Kudos?

The best place to get help with a Kudos account or get answers to questions is by emailing support@joinkudos.com. There are no additional customer service methods, such as phone support.

The support section has a link for a contact form, which is essentially the same as email.

Why Should You Trust Me?

I’m a former bank manager and have been writing about fintech apps like Kudos since 2008. With more than two dozen credit cards of my own, I’m always on the lookout for new and unique apps that can help me make the most of my credit card rewards. In this case, I signed up for the app myself.

The College Investor team works to offer unbiased reviews to help users find the most helpful accounts and tools at the most reasonable price. If I wouldn’t recommend it to my sister, I wouldn’t recommend it to The College Investor readers.

Who Is Kudos For And Is It Worth It?

Kudos is for anyone with multiple credit cards looking for help knowing where to use each card to maximize their rewards. As it’s free, there’s no harm in trying to decide if it’s a good fit for your needs.

Considering that each credit card has its own “best” rewards perks, it can be hard to make sure you’re taking advantage of your card in the best way. Especially if your cards have annual fees. If you have a credit card with an annual fee, you want to be sure you’re getting enough value from the card to make sure the fee is worthwhile. Kudos can help with that.

Kudos may not be worth using if you only have one or two credit cards or are skittish about sharing your credit card details online. Otherwise, it’s a great value considering the cost and features.

Check out Kudos here >>

Kudos Features

Domain Money is a fee-only financial advising platform that connects users with Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) for financial planning sessions. While it’s not cheap, it could be a good value for some people who want help understanding their financial situation and creating a long-term plan for future savings and investments.

The Domain Money team consists of four CFPs. Three plans are available, ranging from a single 90-minute session to a comprehensive six-month financial review. It offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if the service doesn’t meet your expectations, you may be able to get a refund.

As a fee-only financial planning service, we like Domain Money more than competing financial advisors that charge a percentage of assets under management (AUM). However, the pricing model is a bit steep for many people, particularly compared to several other financial planning options.

What Is Domain Money?

Domain Money is a fee-only financial planning service offering several plans to help customers improve their finances, focusing on varying goals.

Founded in 2021, the relatively small team is based in New York City. Planning starts with a full review of your existing financial accounts, including cash and investments. Advisors create a customized plan for your money, including a review of what’s working well and specific actions you should take to meet your goals.

The team behind Domain Money has worked with major financial companies, including Marcus by Goldman Sachs, SoFi, and Clarity Money. It’s backed by major venture capital firms and investors, including Marc Benioff of Salesforce and Ashton Kutcher. 

What Does It Offer?

Domain Money offers three paid packages. You can start with a free introductory strategy session to decide if Domain Money is a good fit before committing to a paid plan.

One Page Plan

The lowest-cost offering from Domain Money is the One Page Plan, which requires a one-time $2,500 flat fee. With the One Page Plan, you start with a 30-minute introductory session. Then, the advisor takes a couple of weeks to review everything before a follow-up 90-minute planning session to review the results and your long-term plan.

The One Page Plan focuses primarily on saving, spending, and cleaning up your financial situation. Your plan includes a look at your net worth, cash flow, current expenses, a revised spending plan, an analysis of your current investments, and a goal-based plan. You’ll end with a to-do list of straightforward actions to reach your financial goals.

Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan is the mid-tier offering and costs $4,500. With this plan, you and your advisor focus on up to three areas of your finances you want help with. The most common areas are cash flow, the ability to afford a home, and retirement. However, you can choose anything that’s most relevant to your financial goals.

Clients who choose this plan get two meetings with their financial advisor plus a month of unlimited phone and email support. As with the One Page Plan, you’ll get reports including a review of your net worth, cash flow, expenses, investments, and a goal-based plan with specific actions to follow.

Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan costs $7,500 and includes six months of working with your dedicated financial advisor. It includes four meetings and an in-depth review of your entire financial situation. Focus areas include goal setting, cash flow analysis, debt management, investments, tax planning, real estate, education savings, retirement planning, insurance, and estate planning.

This in-depth plan includes essentially everything you get with the lower-cost plans and more. You’ll finish your six months with a detailed plan and actionable steps to confidently remain on track for your financial goals.

Are There Any Fees?

Domain Money is completely transparent with its fees. While it’s expensive, there’s no question about what you’ll pay, and no upsells beyond the three plans.

• One Page Plan: $2,500
• Strategic Plan: $4,500
• Comprehensive Plan: $7,500

We like that there are no AUM charges and that you’re not pressured to transfer your investments to a Domain Money account. However, $2,500 for a 90-minute planning session and more for the longer-term plans is a lot of money.

How Does Domain Money Compare?

How Do I Open An Account?

You can open an account by filling out the form to book a free strategy session. You’ll start by entering your contact info and basic financial information. Then, you can pick a time that works for you to meet for your 30-minute call. As of this writing, there’s a wait of about two weeks to get a time to chat with an advisor.

Is It Safe And Secure?

Domain Money doesn’t take control of your funds, so you can consider it safe and secure. The advisors are CFP professionals you can trust to give you unbiased financial advice to the best of their ability. There’s no AUM model, so you can trust that the advisor is working in your best interest.

How Do I Contact Domain Money?

New customers start by completing an online form to schedule their first meeting. Once you’re an active customer, you can contact your advisor by phone or email.

Customer service is available by email. The contact address is support@domainmoney.com. Domain Money's phone number is 646-970-6926.

Why Should You Trust Me?

I’m a finance writer with more than a decade of experience writing about money online. I have two finance degrees and spent a large part of my MBA program focused on investments. I’ve interviewed and reviewed many financial advisors, allowing me to give an informed opinion of Domain Money and other financial advising services to help you hone in on the best option for your budget and financial needs.

Who Is Domain Money For And Is It Worth It?

Domain Money is best for individuals and families with a solid income who want to improve their financial situation.

If you’re in a lot of debt or don’t have enough income to reasonably afford at least $2,500 for financial advising, you may want to shop around for a lower-cost service.

Domain Money Features