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How Does the Pope Get Paid?

Fact checked by Stella OsobaVatican Pool / Contributor / Getty Images Pope Leo XIV greeting a group of nuns at the Vatican.The Vatican doesn't disclose any financial payments it makes to popes, so how much they might be paid is left to speculation. What's clear is that while the pope doesn't earn a salary in a traditional sense, he is paid a modest monthly stipend and has all of his living expenses paid by the Vatican.Key TakeawaysThe pope receives a monthly stipend, is provided a residence, and has all of his expenses paid for by the Vatican.Pope Leo XIV took a vow of poverty when he entered the Order of St. Augustine.Pope Francis also adhered to a vow of poverty—the first pope to do so since the mid-1800s.A Vow of Poverty?While being pope is obviously a demanding, high-profile job, drawing a large salary for serving as a spiritual guide for the world's Catholics would certainly raise many eyebrows. In fact, it's natural to wonder whether the pope, as many monastics do, might take a vow of poverty.Not all Catholic clergy take vows of poverty but Pope Leo XIV, when he was known as Robert Prevost, signed a strict vow of poverty in his 20s when he entered the Order of St. Augustine. He handed over everything he owned at the time to the Order, which also collects any salaries earned by its members.As a Jesuit, Pope Francis also adhered to a vow of poverty, making him the first pope to live under a vow of poverty since the mid-1800s. Francis reportedly refused any personal income during his time as pope from 2013-2025 and won respect for his frugal, humble lifestyle. He also chose not to live in the Apostolic Palace, traditionally the pope's residence, choosing instead the more modest Casa Santa Marta, a Vatican guesthouse.Monthly StipendThe Vatican, which is facing a financial crisis, does not disclose how much of a stipend it pays the pope. Some sources say it is $2,814 a month. In any case, it's not clear what Pope Leo, who became first American to lead the Catholic Church in May 2025, will do with that stipend. He is expected to move into the Apostolic Palace.(Daniel Rober, a professor of Catholic studies at Sacred Heart University, is reported to have said that the pope is paid a total salary of about 30,00 euros ($34,000) a month, which works out to about $400,000 a year— the same amount the U.S. president earns.)All Expenses PaidThe pope also isn’t expected to pay for anything. They are provided a residence at the Apostolic Palace at Vatican City, while other expenses, including food, transportation, and health care, are also covered by the Vatican. When someone asked Pope Francis about his paycheck, he responded: “When I need money to buy shoes or something, I ask for it.”The Bottom LineHigh-profile jobs generally pay big salaries. But of course serving as pope is not an ordinary job. Popes are selected for qualities such as spiritual leadership, humility, and self-sacrifice—and some have literally taken a vow of poverty. So perhaps it's fitting that the pope doesn't earn the salary of a CEO.
When to Distribute—and When to Delay—Family Wealth

Fact checked by Michael RosenstonThomas Barwick / Getty Images A revocable trust is a flexible estate planning tool that can be changed as your heirs mature.Do you trust that your heirs are prepared for a lump sum all at once? Or would a slow drop be a smarter approach for them? Or maybe you're not ready to make that call but are in the middle of your estate planning and need to make a call for now that you can change later on. When it comes to passing on your wealth, timing is everything—especially if you think your family isn't quite ready for a big windfall.Key TakeawaysDifferent factors may influence whether you leave your beneficiaries a lump sum or delay their inheritance.A revocable trust is a flexible tool that can be changed anytime.Staggering distributions can help young children learn financial responsibility or help your beneficiaries meet age-based or life milestones.Distribute or Delay the Wealth?There isn’t an easy answer to this question because it depends entirely on your situation. Ask yourself the following questions when you’re trying to decide:How much and what types of assets are you planning to leave behind?How many beneficiaries do you have?How old and/or responsible are your beneficiaries?Do you see your relationship with them changing over time?Are there any special considerations for your beneficiaries, such as spending concerns, substance abuse, gambling issues, etc., that would affect your estate planning decision?Understanding your circumstances can help you make better decisions about how you should distribute your wealth.Estate planning isn’t just for the ultrarich. Everyone should have a plan, regardless of their net worth. This can include creating a power of attorney, drafting a will, and/or establishing a trust.Consider a Revocable TrustA revocable trust is a flexible estate planning tool that can be changed anytime. As the owner of the assets (and the trust’s grantor), you retain control over the trust and remain a trustee over your lifetime, according to Kristin McKenna, certified financial planner and president of Darrow Wealth Management in Needham, Massachusetts.“Because of this, there are no adverse tax implications or benefits during life,” McKenna says. “But at death, assets passing through a revocable trust avoid the probate court process, saving time and money.”McKenna suggests revocable trusts as a tool for anyone with probate assets, mostly non-retirement assets that are owned individually. Revocable trusts also work in certain situations where inheritances may be complicated, such as a second marriage or blended family.Along with giving assets to family and friends, revocable trusts can be used to make charitable donations and provide for your pets.Staggered DistributionsStaggered distributions are one way to delay the wealth to your beneficiaries. This is a common strategy for parents who want to teach their young children about financial responsibility.“Avoiding a situation where a young person receives a large sum of money at once is often prudent because of the temptation to splurge on lifestyle items,” McKenna says, which is why she suggests setting up trusts with age-based and life milestones. This means crafting distribution plans when they reach certain ages and specific goals like graduating from college, getting married, and/or starting a family.“It helps ensure heirs have additional access to funds if needed, and I think it helps parents feel connected to these future life events if they pass away prematurely,” McKenna says.The Bottom LineYou’ll have to consider your family dynamics when you decide whether your heirs will get a lump sum or a delayed inheritance. Don’t rule out flexible tools like revocable trusts, which give you control over how your assets are managed. You can also stagger distributions so your loved ones are taken care of when they need it the most.Be sure to talk to a financial advisor or estate planner if you’re having trouble finding the right solutions.
Millennials and Gen Z Are Using AI to Improve Their Investing—Should You?

Fact checked by Katie Reillyprimeimages/Getty ImagesMillennials and Gen Zers have entered the world of investing with a tech-first mindset, as 41% of both generations say they would entrust an AI assistant to manage their investments—nearly three times the rate of Baby Boomers.From sleek AI-enabled robo-advisors to the stock-picking prowess of AI-powered exchange-traded funds (ETFs), artificial intelligence is transforming how we build and monitor portfolios in the digital age.If you haven’t yet dipped your toes into AI‑driven finance, here’s what you might be missing.Key TakeawaysMore than 40% of millennials and Gen Zers say they would allow an AI assistant to manage their investments.They are more likely than other generations to use AI in investing. AI tools range from robo-advisors to chatbots and analytics engines.Ways To Invest With AIIn a 2024 survey across 13 economies, the World Economic Forum found that millennials and Gen Zers are significant early adopters of AI, with 41% of each group indicating comfort using AI tools to help manage their investments. That's compared with 29% of Gen Xers and just 14% of Baby Boomers.Research by Experian suggests that 67% of Gen Zers and 62% of millennials use AI to manage their personal finances, including increasing their savings, improving their budgeting, and enhancing their credit score.As AI matures, retail investors have a growing array of AI‑enabled tools at their fingertips, each designed to simplify different aspects of the investment process.Robo-advisors: Automated investment platforms that incorporate AI and machine learning into their algorithms to assess risk profiles and build and rebalance portfolios according to investors' profiles.Algorithmic trading bots: Advanced investors can deploy bots (AI agents) that execute momentum, mean‑reversion, or pairs‑trading strategies 24/7, reacting to microsignals far faster than any human trader.AI-powered ETFs: Funds such as the Amplify AI-Powered Equity ETF (AIEQ) use machine learning to analyze vast amounts of historical data and over one million news and social media sources, informing portfolio composition.AI assistants: Existing chatbots powered by generative AI can parse earnings call transcripts, summarize market‑moving headlines, and answer ad‑hoc questions about sectors or individual stocks in real time.Predictive analytics platforms: Tools like Kavout’s K Score employ deep learning to rank equities by their probability of outperformance and detect subtle shifts in investor sentiment.Can AI Help Your Portfolio?Many non-investors say they don't invest because they lack knowledge about how to begin and lack confidence in their ability to create an investment plan. AI can help break down and personalize financial reports and other materials through interactive, on‑demand tools. The World Economic Forum survey found that 28% of investors use AI chatbots to help guide their financial decisions, and 42% of current investors say they would invest more if an AI chatbot were assisting them.Meanwhile, concerns about model bias, inaccuracies, data privacy, platform outages, and a lack of transparency underscore the need for caution when using these systems.Potential BenefitsRemoves emotion, bias, and human errorCan process many trading signals across multiple economic and non-economic indicatorsMore accessible/lower-cost than traditional advisorsCan adjust to individual goals, timelines, and risk tolerances as markets evolveKey RisksAI trained on historical data may falter when markets shift unexpectedlyAI lacks transparency and accountability, making it difficult to debug decisionsData gaps and biases, outages, or platform glitches (e.g., "hallucinations") could lead to unintended negative consequencesIncreasing volumes of personal and financial data being collected may pose privacy and cybersecurity vulnerabilitiesThe Bottom LineAI is no longer the future of personal finance—it’s already here. Millennials and Gen Zers are increasingly embracing these tools. If you’re looking to tighten up your portfolio, you might consider experimenting with a robo-advisor, investing in an AI‑powered ETF, or using an AI research assistant. Just remember: AI can only help with, not replace, sound financial judgment.