Could Trump’s $169B bill cut your SS?

Good afternoon. Big numbers are making the rounds today, and every single one of them means something different than it looks like on the surface.

On The Money Today:

Let's get into it.

The pile didn't build overnight — it climbed year after year as Berkshire sold more than it bought, right through a market that kept setting records. Keep reading to find out what Buffett might be waiting for, and whether sitting in cash like this makes sense for your own portfolio too.

Berkshire Hathaway just posted its largest cash position in company history, large enough to buy nearly any company in the S&P 500 outright. Buffett hasn't said he sees a crash coming, but plenty of investors are quietly copying the move anyway.

Why it matters: Trying to time the market by sitting in cash is riskier than it sounds. Missing just 10 of the stock market's best days over a 20-year period can cut your long-term returns in half, according to J.P. Morgan.

With Vanguard, you can connect with a personal advisor who can help assess how you're doing so far and make sure you've got the right portfolio to meet your goals on time.

Vanguard's hybrid advisory system combines advice from professional advisors and automated portfolio management to make sure your investments are working to achieve your financial goals.

All you have to do is fill out a brief questionnaire about your financial goals, and Vanguard's advisors will help you set a tailored plan, and stick to it.

You've spent years watching your own credit card balance climb, and you may assume that debt automatically passes to your children once you're gone. It doesn't always work that way.

Why it matters: One in three Americans 60 and older carried a credit card balance last year, and one overlooked detail on the account, whether your child is an authorized user, a joint holder or a co-signer, can decide whether they inherit nothing or inherit everything.

Trump vowed Social Security wouldn't take a hit under his watch, but the tax breaks in his signature bill are chipping away at the trust fund that pays your benefit. The Social Security Administration's own actuary confirmed it, moving the depletion date a full year closer than expected.

Why it matters: If the trust fund runs dry on schedule, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates an across-the-board benefit cut of roughly 24%. On the average $1,976 monthly check, that's about $470 gone every month, for current retirees and future ones alike.

The answer is: D) 20+ years. At a typical 23% APR, sticking to minimum payments on a $5,000 balance can stretch repayment past two decades, and you'll end up paying more in interest than the original balance itself. It's a good reminder that "minimum payment" and "real plan" are two very different things.