The US dollar drives all world currency. If it were to experience hyperinflation the likes which we've seen in lesser developed nations, no currency in the world would be safe.

>Ideally, this would be the last vehicle I purchase for the foreseeable future

This is what literally everyone says, and then 3 years later they're back at the dealership eyeing the newest cars and all their cool features.

Why don't you go to one of these labs in your area and find out? Ask them what it takes in order to get reimbursed and what the risks are.

I donated plasma once a week in college for extra money.

You better hope the $6K shows up as basis. Or the conversion you made in tax year 2023 is going to be taxable income.

Dave is wrong, from a financial perspective. You sound like you're fully aware of the problem with your debt. So you should tackle it head on by paying off the highest interest debt first.

The only people who should follow Dave's approach are the very ignorant and/or financially immature people who are only motivated to keep paying off their debt by seeing one of their accounts go to zero and feeling good about it.

It is not uncommon for the listed beneficiary at the financial institution to supersede a Will.

You say that you set up beneficiary accounts, but did you actually update the named beneficiaries on your Grandfather's account before he passed?

Take your question over to r/tax. There are helpful pinned posts and tax professionals in there that can point you in the right direction.

There's nothing different about the taxes. Taxes are taxes. If you earn interest or dividends by putting this cash into anything, you'll pay taxes on that income.

Wrong. See the link above from the IRS.

No one can tell you which portfolio will do better over the next 5 years.

Portfolio A is riskier so if the markets are kind, it'll do better than B. But the tradeoff is a higher likelihood that they could make nothing or even lose a little bit.

If they aren't sure what to do, they can split the difference and go with a 50/50 portfolio which would almost certainly not lose money in a 5-year time frame.

The only thing that matters is the traditional IRA balance at the end of the year. So as long as you move that money out of the IRA and into the 401k by the end of the year, you'll be fine.

You will stay pay taxes on your wife's IRA conversion.

You should not expect your CC to side with you if you cannot offer evidence of the thing you're disputing.

Why is there no mention anywhere in your post about putting this money into low-cost index funds? That is the #1 investment recommendation from this sub. Index funds, invested over a long period of time, ensure that you will achieve the returns of the US stock market.