How much money do I need to make?" you'll say, "What do I want to do with my life — and how can I use money to do it? - Ramit Sethi

Schwab rolled out a phenomenal high-interest checking account years ago that offered unrivaled benefits for free. They've honored it and improved it over time. I trust them and have a checking account with them. Vanguard has consistently demonstrated a long-term focus on low costs and putting their clients first. They actually lower fees proactively. I trust them and invest with them.

But ultimately, expertise is about results. You can have the fanciest degrees from the fanciest schools, but if you can't perform what you were hired to do, your expertise is meaningless.

The American Psychological Association reports that Americans today, compared to the 1950s, seem less happy, even though we eat out twice as much and own two times as many cars. We have so many more toys, like big-screen TVs, smartphones, and microwaves. But that isn't leading to a more satisfying life.