Expertise
- 401(k)s and IRAs
- Account comparisons
- Beginner portfolios
Marcus works on the durable side of the site: the pages people still need six months after the headline fades.
Author profile
Marcus Lee
Retirement editor covering account decisions, tax buckets, and contribution habits
Related
Keep moving through the same topic without dead ends
Recent bylines
What This Means For Me
After a pullback, what long-term investors should check first
A calmer checklist for readers whose portfolios feel louder than usual after a market decline.
Guides
Strategy Guide
Dollar-cost averaging explained without the sales pitch
What DCA actually does, what it does not guarantee, and why it can still be the right default for ordinary investors.
Beginner Guide
How to start investing without waiting for the perfect moment
A step-by-step guide for readers who want to begin investing but keep getting stuck on whether now is the wrong time.
Account Decision
Roth IRA vs taxable account for a beginner investor
How to think about flexibility, tax treatment, and contribution priority when both accounts are on the table.
Comparisons
Comparison Center
ETF vs mutual fund for a beginner investor
The practical differences between ETFs and mutual funds when simplicity, fees, and trading behavior are the real decision points.
Comparison Center
Roth vs traditional 401(k)
Compare today’s tax break against future withdrawal flexibility without pretending anyone can forecast every future tax bracket.
Community answers
Community answer
How much cash should stay outside the market?
An answer for readers who want to invest but are unsure where their cash buffer should stop.
Community answer
Is now a bad time to start investing?
A moderated answer for readers who feel stuck because headlines make every month sound like the worst possible starting point.