Author name: Steve Burns

After a lifelong fascination with financial markets, Steve began investing in 1993 and trading his accounts in 1995. It was love at first trade. After more than 30 successful years in the markets, Steve now dedicates his time to helping traders improve their psychology and profitability. New Trader U offers an extensive blog resource with more than 4,000 original articles, online courses, and best-selling books covering various topics.

Average Middle-Class 401(k) Balance by Age (2026 Edition)

Average Middle-Class 401(k) Balance by Age (2026 Edition)

Investing, Personal Finance, Retirement /

The 401(k) has become the retirement workhorse for middle-class Americans. Unlike previous generations who relied on pensions, today’s workers face the full responsibility of funding their own retirement. Understanding where you stand compared to your peers isn’t about comparison for its own sake. It’s about gauging whether your retirement trajectory is sustainable or whether course […]

Average Middle-Class 401(k) Balance by Age (2026 Edition) Read More »

The Unspoken “Poor People Rules” That Stop Wealth Before It Starts

7 Unspoken “Poor People Rules” That Stop Wealth Building Before It Starts

Personal Finance, Wealth /

Most people who struggle financially don’t lack intelligence or work ethic. They’re following invisible rules, absorbed from childhood and reinforced by their environment, that feel like common sense but actually sabotage wealth building at every turn. These aren’t conscious decisions. They’re automatic responses shaped by scarcity, fear, and generational patterns. Understanding these unspoken beliefs is

7 Unspoken “Poor People Rules” That Stop Wealth Building Before It Starts Read More »

10 Stoic Habits Of Almost All Successful People

10 Stoic Habits Of Almost All Successful People

Habits, Success /

The ancient Stoics weren’t philosophers debating abstract concepts. They were emperors, statesmen, and merchants facing real problems. Marcus Aurelius led Rome through wars and plagues. Seneca advised emperors and built wealth. Epictetus taught practical wisdom that could be applied immediately. The habits they practiced weren’t theoretical. They were battle-tested methods for maintaining clarity, making better

10 Stoic Habits Of Almost All Successful People Read More »

10 Habits of the Rich Vs the Middle Class (Financial Literacy)

10 Habits of the Rich Vs the Middle Class Due To Financial Literacy

Business, Investing, Personal Finance, Wealth /

The difference between wealth and middle-class financial struggle isn’t about intelligence, work ethic, or income. It’s about consistently applying financial literacy over decades. The wealthy think differently about money because they’ve learned principles most people never encounter. Financial literacy creates a framework for decision-making that compounds over time. While the middle class operates on incorrect

10 Habits of the Rich Vs the Middle Class Due To Financial Literacy Read More »

Actual Net Worth to Be Considered Wealthy in 2026

Actual Net Worth to Be Considered Wealthy in 2026

Economics, Personal Finance, Wealth /

Most middle-class Americans spend their lives chasing an undefined financial target. They work harder, save more, and invest diligently without ever knowing the actual number that separates “comfortable” from “wealthy.” The goalposts keep moving, and the definition of wealth remains frustratingly vague. The truth is more concrete than you might think. Recent surveys and Federal

Actual Net Worth to Be Considered Wealthy in 2026 Read More »

5 Stoic Signs You’re a High Value Person, According to Psychology

5 Stoic Signs You’re a High Value Person, According to Psychology

Psychology, Stoicism /

The ancient Stoics understood something modern psychology is only now confirming: actual value isn’t measured by wealth, status, or achievements. It’s revealed through how you handle adversity, regulate emotions, and interact with the world around you. Stoicism, the philosophy practiced by Marcus Aurelius and other ancient thinkers, shares remarkable overlap with contemporary psychological research on

5 Stoic Signs You’re a High Value Person, According to Psychology Read More »

5 Unspoken Rules Of The Wealthy

5 Unspoken Rules Of The Wealthy

Business, Investing, Wealth /

The gap between the wealthy and the middle class isn’t just about money. It’s about fundamentally different mental operating systems for viewing finances, risk, and opportunity. While conventional financial advice focuses on budgeting, saving, and avoiding debt, the wealthy follow a separate playbook that often contradicts everything the middle class has been taught. These unspoken

5 Unspoken Rules Of The Wealthy Read More »

America’s Middle Class Is Fleeing to These 10 States in Droves in 2026

America’s Middle Class Is Fleeing to These 10 States in Droves in 2026

Economics, Real Estate /

The American middle class is on the move in 2026, and their destination choices reveal a fundamental shift in priorities. These families are no longer chasing the traditional coastal dream. Instead, they’re searching for what migration experts call “the sweet spot”: regions that balance genuine economic opportunity with a cost of living that doesn’t drain

America’s Middle Class Is Fleeing to These 10 States in Droves in 2026 Read More »

How To Master The Art Of Self-Discipline According to Stoicism

How To Master The Art Of Self-Discipline According to Stoicism

Psychology, Stoicism /

Mastering self-discipline through Stoicism isn’t about forcing yourself through sheer willpower or white-knuckling your way through complex tasks. It’s about training your mind to follow reason rather than react to every impulse that crosses your path. The ancient Stoics developed a practical framework for self-discipline that remains remarkably effective for modern challenges, from maintaining focus

How To Master The Art Of Self-Discipline According to Stoicism Read More »

5 Wealth-Destroying Mistakes, According to Dave Ramsey

5 Wealth-Destroying Mistakes According to Dave Ramsey

Investing, Personal Finance, Wealth /

Dave Ramsey has built a personal finance empire by telling middle-class Americans what they don’t want to hear. His message cuts against the grain of modern consumer culture, challenging the normalized debt lifestyle that keeps most people trapped in financial mediocrity. While his advice sometimes sparks controversy, his core teachings about wealth-destroying behaviors are backed

5 Wealth-Destroying Mistakes According to Dave Ramsey Read More »

Minimum Annual Income Needed to Qualify as Middle Class in California in 2026

Minimum Annual Income Needed to Qualify as Middle Class in California in 2026

Economics, Personal Finance /

Living in California has always come with a premium price tag, but the financial threshold to maintain middle-class status in the Golden State continues climbing. Understanding where you stand on California’s income ladder requires more than just comparing your salary to national averages. The state’s unique economic landscape, driven by astronomical housing costs and regulatory

Minimum Annual Income Needed to Qualify as Middle Class in California in 2026 Read More »

The Stoic Power Of Silence: 10 Reasons Quiet People Are Successful

The Stoic Power Of Silence: 10 Reasons Quiet People Are Successful

Stoicism, Success /

In a world that rewards the loudest voice in the room, silence has become a lost art. Social media culture celebrates constant self-promotion, and many equate talkativeness with intelligence or leadership ability. Yet throughout history, some of the most successful people have been notably quiet. The ancient Stoics understood something that modern society often overlooks:

The Stoic Power Of Silence: 10 Reasons Quiet People Are Successful Read More »

Are You Rich? Here’s the Net Worth You Need to Be Considered Poor, Middle Class, and Wealthy (2026)

Are You Rich? Here’s the Net Worth You Need to Be Considered Poor, Middle Class, and Wealthy (2026)

Economics, Personal Finance, Wealth /

Most Americans can’t answer a simple question: Are you rich? The confusion isn’t surprising when income and net worth tell completely different stories about your financial standing. A six-figure salary doesn’t guarantee wealth, and many millionaires still consider themselves middle-class. The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances provides the clearest picture of where Americans actually

Are You Rich? Here’s the Net Worth You Need to Be Considered Poor, Middle Class, and Wealthy (2026) Read More »

The Top 5 Stoic Habits of Self-Made Millionaires

The Top 5 Stoic Habits of Self-Made Millionaires

Stoicism, Wealth /

The ancient Stoics believed that wealth was meaningless if one lacked control over one’s desires. Modern research on self-made millionaires tells the same story. The people who build lasting wealth don’t chase status symbols or fall victim to lifestyle inflation. They practice the same virtues the Stoics preached two thousand years ago: temperance, practical wisdom,

The Top 5 Stoic Habits of Self-Made Millionaires Read More »

How to Stay Calm in Any Situation: 5 Samurai Principles From Miyamoto Musashi

How to Stay Calm in Any Situation: 5 Samurai Principles From Miyamoto Musashi

Psychology, Success /

Miyamoto Musashi walked through 16th-century Japan as an undefeated swordsman, winning over 60 duels before age 30. His survival didn’t come from superior technique alone. It came from something more profound: the ability to remain calm when defeat stood inches away. Most people today won’t face sword fights, but the principles Musashi developed translate directly

How to Stay Calm in Any Situation: 5 Samurai Principles From Miyamoto Musashi Read More »

10 Wealth Lessons People Learn Too Late In Life, According to Self-Made Millionaires

10 Wealth Lessons People Learn Too Late In Life, According to Self-Made Millionaires

Millionaire, Personal Finance, Wealth /

Most people spend decades making the same financial mistakes before discovering what truly builds wealth. The patterns are remarkably consistent across generations. Self-made millionaires often share similar regrets about what they wish they had understood earlier in life. These lessons aren’t about getting rich quickly or finding secret investment strategies. They’re about fundamental shifts in

10 Wealth Lessons People Learn Too Late In Life, According to Self-Made Millionaires Read More »

5 Stoic Phrases Only Introverts Use, According to Psychology

5 Stoic Phrases Only Introverts Use, According to Psychology

personality types, Psychology, Stoicism /

The ancient Stoics and modern introverts share a profound connection: a deep appreciation for the inner world. While Stoicism emerged over two thousand years ago in ancient Greece and Rome, its principles align remarkably with how introverts naturally process life. Both value reflection over reaction, depth over superficiality, and internal wisdom over external noise. Psychology

5 Stoic Phrases Only Introverts Use, According to Psychology Read More »

5 Things the Middle Class Must Stop Buying in 2026

5 Things the Middle Class Must Stop Buying in 2026

Economics, Personal Finance /

The habits that kept middle-class families comfortable in the past decade won’t serve them well in 2026. Economic headwinds are shifting, and the purchasing patterns that once seemed reasonable now pose a threat to their financial stability. This isn’t about extreme deprivation or abandoning quality of life. It’s about recognizing which expenses deliver genuine value

5 Things the Middle Class Must Stop Buying in 2026 Read More »

5 Things the Middle Class Can Buy To Be Wealthier, According To Warren Buffett

5 Things the Middle Class Can Buy To Be Wealthier, According To Warren Buffett

Personal Finance, Warren Buffett, Wealth /

Warren Buffett built one of history’s great fortunes not through complex strategies or insider advantages, but through principles anyone can follow. His advice to the middle class is remarkably consistent across decades of shareholder letters and interviews. The investments he recommends aren’t exotic or expensive. They’re purchases most people can make starting today. Here are

5 Things the Middle Class Can Buy To Be Wealthier, According To Warren Buffett Read More »