SoFi Blog

What is it about money and the heart? We try to make rational decisions about buying houses, investing for retirement, even something as simple as deciding on a household product. We think we can take emotion out of the equation.

The truth is, we can’t. There’s no such thing as a completely logical decision. Every choice we make is a mix of rational thinking and emotional desire. And that can be a dangerous cocktail when your personal finances are at stake.

What’s more, most people are largely unaware of their subconscious desires and motivations and fail to take them into consideration when making decisions. You can help to make sound financial decisions every day if you follow some simple guidelines. Even better, you can improve your decision making by taking the steps to uncover the emotion behind the money.

Earlier today, we invited a small group of reporters to chat with our CEO Anthony Noto about what we accomplished in 2018 and what we have in store for 2019. We thought you might be interested to hear what he had to say, too!

In any good relationship, communication is key. This fact is even more important when it comes to the often-uncomfortable subject of money and how to divvy up financial responsibilities between partners.

Here’s a look at how to talk finances with your partner and figure out who will take on what financial roles.

Did you go to law school dreaming of working in public service? Maybe you wanted to fight to protect the environment, hold corrupt corporations accountable, or defend free speech. Or perhaps you wanted to go to bat on behalf of people experiencing discrimination, persecution, or predatory behavior.

When it comes time to actually graduate with your J.D., however, figuring out how to make a public service career work can be daunting. The vast majority of your peers are embarking on high-paying jobs with corporate law firms. Meanwhile, you likely have a bunch of student loans that you’ll need to start repaying soon, which can be challenging on many public interest salaries.

Despite these downsides, about 30% of 2017 law school graduates went into public service jobs after graduation, among the highest share ever recorded. Of those, about 7% of graduates chose to work at public interest organizations. If you want to make a public service career work, there are plenty of opportunities out there.

Almost 70% of U.S. households have a pet at home, with 60% of U.S. households having a dog and 47% of households having a cat. And there’s a good reason: our pets make us happier and healthier . Having a pet at home can improve self-esteem, physical fitness, and decrease loneliness. Plus, there’s pretty much nothing cuter than a newly adopted kitten or puppy.

But for all the positives of pet ownership, the costs can be overwhelming. As it turns out, 98% of pet owners seriously underestimated the cost of pet ownership. Excluding emergency and other serious vet procedures, the cost of taking care of a dog over the course of its lifetime ranges from $27,074 to $42,545. Thinking smaller?

The lifetime cost of owning a rabbit ranges between $12,893 and $19,338. Most of these costs end up concentrated at the start of adoption, when new pet owners pay for adoption fees , vaccinations, vet care, and the bulk of supplies, while the remaining costs are spread out over the animal’s lifespan and account for things like food, vet care, and supplies.