/* ============================================================
   blog.css — MergerDomo Blog Index Page
   Design system: exact match to guides.css / buyer.css
   Depends on: Bootstrap 5.3, Bootstrap Icons,
               Roboto via Google Fonts,
               mergerdomo.com/v3/css/custom.css
   ============================================================ */

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   ROOT VARIABLES — exact from design system
───────────────────────────────────────── */
:root {
  --md-blue:        #2d6cdf;
  --md-blue-dark:   #1a4fad;
  --md-blue-light:  #eef4ff;
  --md-blue-mid:    #b8d0f8;
  --md-navy:        #0d1b4c;
  --md-yellow:      #ffc107;
  --md-yellow-dark: #e6ac00;
  --md-gray-50:     #f8fafc;
  --md-gray-100:    #f1f5f9;
  --md-gray-200:    #e2e8f0;
  --md-gray-400:    #94a3b8;
  --md-gray-600:    #6b7280;
  --md-gray-800:    #1e293b;
  --md-text:        #111827;
  --md-teal:        #0d9488;
  --radius-sm:      8px;
  --radius-md:      12px;
  --radius-lg:      16px;
  --radius-xl:      24px;
  --shadow-sm:      0 1px 4px rgba(0,0,0,.06);
  --shadow-card:    0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,.07);
  --shadow-card-lg: 0 8px 28px rgba(0,0,0,.09);
  --shadow-blue:    0 4px 20px rgba(45,108,223,.18);
  --transition:     0.18s ease;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   BASE
───────────────────────────────────────── */
*, *::before, *::after { box-sizing: border-box; }
a { text-decoration: none !important; color: inherit; }
ul { list-style: none; padding-left: 0; }
.blog-page { font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif; background: var(--md-gray-50); color: var(--md-text); }

.container {
  max-width: 1400px;
  margin: 0 auto;
  padding: 0 40px;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   SCROLL ANIMATIONS
───────────────────────────────────────── */
[data-animate] {
  opacity: 0;
  transform: translateY(20px);
  transition: opacity .5s ease, transform .5s ease;
}
[data-animate="fade-left"] { transform: translateX(24px); }
[data-animate].animated    { opacity: 1; transform: none; }

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   ANNOUNCEMENT BAR
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.announcement-bar {
  background: #ffc107;
  color: #000;
  font-size: 13.5px;
  font-weight: 500;
  padding: 8px 0;
}
.ann-divider { margin: 0 10px; color: rgba(0,0,0,0.5); }
.ann-link { font-weight: 600; color: #000; }
.ann-link:hover { text-decoration: underline !important; }

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   BREADCRUMB BAR
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.breadcrumb-bar {
  background: #fff;
  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(13,27,76,.06);
  height: 64px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  position: relative;
  z-index: 2;
}
.breadcrumb-bar .container { display: flex; align-items: center; height: 100%; }
.breadcrumb {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 10px;
  margin: 0 !important;
  padding: 0 !important;
  background: transparent !important;
  font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
  font-size: 14px !important;
  font-weight: 500;
  line-height: normal;
}
.breadcrumb a { color: #7f8aa3; transition: color .2s ease; }
.breadcrumb a:hover { color: var(--md-blue); }
.bc-sep { color: #c5cede; font-size: 11px; display: flex; align-items: center; }
.bc-current { color: var(--md-blue); font-weight: 700; }
@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .breadcrumb-bar { height: 54px; }
  .breadcrumb { font-size: 12.5px !important; gap: 7px; }
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   SECTION LABEL PILL
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.section-label {
  display: inline-block;
  font-size: 11px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .10em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--md-blue);
  background: var(--md-blue-light);
  padding: 4px 14px;
  border-radius: 999px;
  margin-bottom: 14px;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   SECTION HEADING HELPERS
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.section-h2 {
  font-size: clamp(24px, 3.2vw, 38px);
  font-weight: 800;
  color: var(--md-navy);
  margin-bottom: 12px;
  line-height: 1.18;
}
.section-h2.light { color: #fff; }
.h2-accent { color: var(--md-blue); }
.section-sub {
  font-size: 15.5px;
  color: var(--md-gray-600);
  margin-bottom: 36px;
  line-height: 1.65;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   BUTTONS
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.btn {
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  gap: 7px;
  font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
  font-weight: 600;
  font-size: 14px;
  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: background-color .25s ease, border-color .25s ease,
              color .25s ease, transform .2s ease, box-shadow .25s ease;
  white-space: nowrap;
  text-decoration: none !important;
  border: none;
}
.btn-primary  { background: var(--md-blue) !important; color: #fff !important; padding: 13px 24px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: 0 4px 14px rgba(45,108,223,.14); }
.btn-primary:hover { background: var(--md-blue-dark) !important; transform: translateY(-1px); }
.btn-outline  { background: transparent !important; color: var(--md-navy) !important; border: 1.5px solid var(--md-gray-200) !important; padding: 13px 24px; }
.btn-outline:hover  { border-color: var(--md-blue) !important; color: var(--md-blue) !important; background: var(--md-blue-light) !important; }
.btn-ghost-light { background: transparent !important; color: #fff !important; border: 1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,.4) !important; padding: 11px 22px; font-size: 14px; border-radius: var(--radius-sm); }
.btn-ghost-light:hover { background: rgba(255,255,255,.1) !important; border-color: rgba(255,255,255,.7) !important; }
.btn-cta-primary { background: var(--md-yellow) !important; color: var(--md-navy) !important; padding: 14px 26px; font-size: 14.5px; font-weight: 700; box-shadow: 0 4px 20px rgba(255,193,7,.3); border: none !important; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 6px; cursor: pointer; }
.btn-cta-primary:hover { background: var(--md-yellow-dark) !important; transform: translateY(-1px); }
.btn-cta-outline { background: transparent !important; color: rgba(255,255,255,.9) !important; border: 1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,.35) !important; padding: 14px 22px; font-size: 14.5px; font-weight: 600; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 6px; cursor: pointer; }
.btn-cta-outline:hover { background: rgba(255,255,255,.08) !important; border-color: rgba(255,255,255,.7) !important; color: #fff !important; }
.btn-sm { padding: 9px 18px !important; font-size: 13px !important; }
.btn-arrow { display: inline-block; transition: transform var(--transition); }
.btn:hover .btn-arrow { transform: translateX(3px); }
@media (max-width: 768px) { .btn { width: 100%; justify-content: center; } }

/* ════════════════════════════════════════
   BLOG HERO
════════════════════════════════════════ */
.blog-hero{
    background:#fff;
    padding:72px 0 0;
    position:relative;
    overflow:hidden;
    isolation:isolate;
}

.blog-hero::before{
    content:'';
    position:absolute;
    inset:0;
    background:
        radial-gradient(ellipse 700px 500px at 110% 0%,rgba(45,108,223,.06) 0%,transparent 60%),
        radial-gradient(ellipse 500px 400px at -10% 80%,rgba(45,108,223,.04) 0%,transparent 60%);
    pointer-events:none;
}

.blog-hero .container{
    max-width:1160px;
    margin:0 auto;
    padding:0 24px;
}

.blog-hero-inner{
    display:grid;
    grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1.02fr) minmax(0,.98fr);
    gap:48px;
    align-items:center;
    position:relative;
    z-index:2;
}

/* LEFT CONTENT */
.blog-hero-content{
    position:relative;
    z-index:2;
}

.blog-hero-headline{
    font-size:clamp(30px,4vw,52px);
    font-weight:800;
    color:var(--md-navy);
    line-height:1.12;
    margin-bottom:18px;
    letter-spacing:-.03em;
}

.blog-hero-sub{
    font-size:15.5px;
    color:var(--md-gray-600);
    line-height:1.7;
    max-width:540px;
    margin-bottom:22px;
}

.blog-hero-actions{
    display:flex;
    gap:12px;
    flex-wrap:wrap;
    margin-bottom:0;
}

/* RIGHT IMAGE */
.blogs-hero-visual{
    display:flex;
    align-items:center;
    justify-content:center;
    position:relative;
}

.blogs-hero-visual img{
    width:120%;
    max-width:760px;
    height:auto;
    display:block;
    object-fit:contain;
}

/* MOBILE */
@media (max-width:991px){

    .blog-hero{
        padding:56px 0 0;
    }

    .blog-hero-inner{
        grid-template-columns:1fr;
        gap:36px;
        text-align:center;
    }

    .blog-hero-sub{
        margin-inline:auto;
    }

    .blog-hero-actions{
        justify-content:center;
    }

    .blogs-hero-visual img{
        width:100%;
        max-width:520px;
    }
}
/* ───────────────────────────────
   STATS BAR 
──────────────────────────────────*/
.stats-bar { background: var(--md-navy); margin-top: 0; }
.stats-inner { display: flex; align-items: stretch; }
.stat-item { flex: 1; text-align: center; padding: 24px 16px; border-right: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.08); }
.stat-item:last-child { border-right: none; }
.stat-num { font-size: 28px; font-weight: 800; color: var(--md-yellow); line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5px; letter-spacing: -.03em; }
.stat-label { font-size: 12px; color: rgba(255,255,255,.55); font-weight: 400; }
@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .stats-inner { flex-wrap: wrap; }
  .stat-item { flex: 1 0 48%; border-right: none; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.08); }
  .stat-item:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
}
@media (max-width: 520px) {
  .stat-item { flex: 1 0 100%; }
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   MAIN LAYOUT — wider sidebars, more gap
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.blog-main-area {
  padding: 60px 0 72px;
  background: var(--md-gray-50);
}
.blog-layout {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 310px 1fr 310px;
  gap: 44px;
  align-items: start;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   LEFT SIDEBAR — wider, better spaced
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.blog-sidebar {
  background: #fff;
  border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
  padding: 28px 22px;
  box-shadow: var(--shadow-card);
  position: sticky;
  top: 130px;
}
.blog-sidebar > h6 {
  font-size: 11px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .10em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--md-blue);
  margin-bottom: 16px;
  margin-top: 2px;
}
.sidebar-link {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 12px;
  padding: 13px 16px;
  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
  margin-bottom: 5px;
  color: var(--md-gray-800);
  font-size: 14.5px;
  font-weight: 500;
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: background var(--transition), color var(--transition);
  text-decoration: none !important;
}
.sidebar-link i { font-size: 16px; flex-shrink: 0; }
.sidebar-link:hover, .sidebar-link.active {
  background: var(--md-blue);
  color: #fff;
}
.sidebar-divider {
  border-color: var(--md-gray-200);
  margin: 20px 0;
}
.sidebar-cta-box {
  border-radius: var(--radius-md);
  padding: 20px;
  margin-top: 4px;
}
.sidebar-cta-box.blue { background: var(--md-blue-light); }
.sidebar-cta-box.yellow { background: #fff8dd; }
.sidebar-cta-icon {
  font-size: 28px;
  margin-bottom: 12px;
  display: block;
  color: var(--md-navy);
}
.sidebar-cta-box h6 {
  font-size: 14.5px;
  font-weight: 700;
  color: var(--md-navy);
  margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.sidebar-cta-box p {
  font-size: 13px;
  color: var(--md-gray-600);
  margin-bottom: 16px;
  line-height: 1.6;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   BLOG CONTROLS
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.blog-controls {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 12px;
  margin-bottom: 22px;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}
.filter-pills {
  display: flex;
  gap: 6px;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}
.filter-pill {
  padding: 7px 14px;
  font-size: 13px;
  font-weight: 600;
  border-radius: 999px;
  border: 1.5px solid var(--md-gray-200);
  background: #fff;
  color: var(--md-gray-800);
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: all var(--transition);
  white-space: nowrap;
}
.filter-pill:hover, .filter-pill.active {
  background: var(--md-blue);
  border-color: var(--md-blue);
  color: #fff;
}
.blog-sort select {
  border: 1.5px solid var(--md-gray-200);
  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
  padding: 7px 12px;
  font-size: 13px;
  font-weight: 500;
  color: var(--md-gray-800);
  background: #fff;
  cursor: pointer;
  outline: none;
  transition: border-color var(--transition);
}
.blog-sort select:focus { border-color: var(--md-blue); }

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   FEATURED CARD
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.blog-featured-card {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
  border-radius: var(--radius-xl);
  overflow: hidden;
  background: #fff;
  box-shadow: var(--shadow-card-lg);
  margin-bottom: 36px;
  transition: box-shadow var(--transition);
}
.blog-featured-card:hover { box-shadow: 0 16px 40px rgba(0,0,0,.12); }
.featured-img-wrap {
  display: block;
  position: relative;
  overflow: hidden;
  min-height: 360px;
}
.featured-img-wrap img {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  object-fit: cover;
  transition: transform .4s ease;
}
.blog-featured-card:hover .featured-img-wrap img { transform: scale(1.04); }
.featured-label {
  position: absolute;
  top: 16px; left: 16px;
  background: var(--md-yellow);
  color: var(--md-navy);
  font-size: 11px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .07em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  padding: 4px 12px;
  border-radius: 999px;
}
.featured-body {
  padding: 40px 36px;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  justify-content: center;
}
.featured-title {
  font-size: 22px;
  font-weight: 800;
  color: var(--md-navy);
  line-height: 1.3;
  margin-bottom: 14px;
}
.featured-title a { color: inherit; }
.featured-title a:hover { color: var(--md-blue); }
.featured-excerpt {
  font-size: 15px;
  color: var(--md-gray-600);
  line-height: 1.7;
  margin-bottom: 24px;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   SECTION HEADER ROW
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.posts-section-header {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.posts-count {
  font-size: 13px;
  color: var(--md-gray-400);
  font-weight: 500;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   POST META ROW
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.post-meta-row {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 10px;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.post-tag {
  font-size: 11px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .06em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  padding: 3px 10px;
  border-radius: 999px;
}
.tag-selling    { background: #fdf0f3; color: #be185d; }
.tag-buying     { background: var(--md-blue-light); color: var(--md-blue); }
.tag-fundraising{ background: #e8f8f2; color: #0f7a55; }
.tag-investing  { background: #eeeeff; color: #4338ca; }
.tag-valuation  { background: #fff8e6; color: #b45309; }
.tag-trends     { background: #f3eeff; color: #7c3aed; }
.tag-tools      { background: #f0f4f8; color: #334e68; }

.post-date, .post-read, .post-author {
  font-size: 12px;
  color: var(--md-gray-400);
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 3px;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   BLOG CARD GRID
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.blog-grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
  gap: 24px;
  margin-bottom: 32px;
}
.blog-card {
  background: #fff;
  border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
  overflow: hidden;
  box-shadow: var(--shadow-card);
  transition: box-shadow var(--transition), transform var(--transition);
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  animation: fadeInCard .35s ease both;
}
@keyframes fadeInCard {
  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(12px); }
  to   { opacity: 1; transform: none; }
}
.blog-card:hover {
  box-shadow: var(--shadow-card-lg);
  transform: translateY(-3px);
}
.card-img-wrap {
  display: block;
  overflow: hidden;
  height: 220px;
  flex-shrink: 0;
}
.card-img-wrap img {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  object-fit: cover;
  transition: transform .4s ease;
}
.blog-card:hover .card-img-wrap img { transform: scale(1.05); }
.card-body-inner {
  padding: 24px 24px;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  flex: 1;
}
.card-title {
  font-size: 16px;
  font-weight: 700;
  color: var(--md-navy);
  line-height: 1.4;
  margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.card-title a { color: inherit; transition: color var(--transition); }
.card-title a:hover { color: var(--md-blue); }
.card-excerpt {
  font-size: 13.5px;
  color: var(--md-gray-600);
  line-height: 1.65;
  margin-bottom: 16px;
  flex: 1;
  display: -webkit-box;
  -webkit-line-clamp: 3;
  -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
  overflow: hidden;
}
.card-footer-row {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 8px;
  padding-top: 14px;
  border-top: 1px solid var(--md-gray-100);
  margin-top: auto;
}
.card-read-link {
  font-size: 13px;
  font-weight: 600;
  color: var(--md-blue);
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 4px;
  transition: gap var(--transition);
  white-space: nowrap;
}
.card-read-link:hover { gap: 8px; }

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   NO RESULTS
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.no-results {
  text-align: center;
  padding: 48px 24px;
  background: #fff;
  border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
  box-shadow: var(--shadow-card);
}
.no-results i {
  font-size: 40px;
  color: var(--md-gray-400);
  display: block;
  margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.no-results p {
  color: var(--md-gray-600);
  font-size: 15px;
  margin-bottom: 16px;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   NEWSLETTER INLINE BANNER
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.newsletter-banner {
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--md-navy) 0%, #1a3580 100%);
  border-radius: var(--radius-xl);
  padding: 28px 32px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 24px;
  margin-top: 8px;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}
.newsletter-content {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 18px;
  flex: 1;
}
.newsletter-icon {
  font-size: 36px;
  color: var(--md-yellow);
  flex-shrink: 0;
}
.newsletter-content h4 {
  font-size: 17px;
  font-weight: 800;
  color: #fff;
  margin-bottom: 4px;
}
.newsletter-content p {
  font-size: 13px;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,.72);
  margin: 0;
  line-height: 1.5;
}
.newsletter-btn {
  white-space: nowrap;
  flex-shrink: 0;
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   RIGHT SIDEBAR
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.blog-right-sidebar {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 20px;
  position: sticky;
  top: 130px;
}
.right-box-card {
  background: #fff;
  border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
  padding: 26px 22px;
  box-shadow: var(--shadow-card);
}
.right-box-card h5 {
  font-size: 15px;
  font-weight: 700;
  color: var(--md-navy);
  margin-bottom: 18px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
}
.right-box-card.cta-navy {
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--md-navy) 0%, #1a3580 100%);
}
.right-box-card.cta-navy h5 { color: #fff; }
.right-box-card.cta-navy p  { font-size: 13.5px; color: rgba(255,255,255,.72); margin-bottom: 16px; line-height: 1.6; }
.cta-icon-wrap {
  font-size: 30px;
  color: var(--md-yellow);
  margin-bottom: 12px;
}

/* Quick links */
.quick-links-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 8px; }
.quick-link {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 12px;
  padding: 12px 14px;
  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
  background: var(--md-gray-50);
  font-size: 13.5px;
  font-weight: 500;
  color: var(--md-gray-800);
  transition: background var(--transition), color var(--transition);
  text-decoration: none !important;
}
.quick-link:hover { background: var(--md-blue-light); color: var(--md-blue); }
.ql-icon {
  width: 32px;
  height: 32px;
  border-radius: 8px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  font-size: 15px;
  flex-shrink: 0;
  color: #fff;
}
.ql-icon.bg-blue   { background: var(--md-blue); }
.ql-icon.bg-navy   { background: var(--md-navy); }
.ql-icon.bg-teal   { background: var(--md-teal); }
.ql-icon.bg-yellow { background: var(--md-yellow); color: var(--md-navy); }
.ql-arrow { margin-left: auto; font-size: 11px; color: var(--md-gray-400); }

/* Popular topics */
.popular-topics-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
.popular-topic-link {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 10px;
  padding: 11px 0;
  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--md-gray-100);
  font-size: 13px;
  color: var(--md-text);
  font-weight: 500;
  transition: color var(--transition), background var(--transition);
  cursor: pointer;
  text-decoration: none !important;
}
.popular-topic-link:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
.popular-topic-link:hover { color: var(--md-blue); }
.popular-topic-link:hover .pop-topic-arrow { color: var(--md-blue); }

/* Inner wrapper: stacks tag badge above title */
.pop-topic-inner {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 4px;
  flex: 1;
  min-width: 0;
}

/* Small category badge inside each popular topic row */
.pop-topic-tag {
  font-size: 10px;
  padding: 2px 7px;
  border-radius: 3px;
  width: fit-content;
  line-height: 1.4;
}

.pop-topic-title {
  line-height: 1.35;
  font-size: 13px;
  font-weight: 500;
  color: inherit;
  white-space: normal;
}

.pop-topic-arrow {
  font-size: 11px;
  color: var(--md-gray-400);
  flex-shrink: 0;
  transition: color var(--transition);
}

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   CTA + FAQ BAND — buyer.css pattern
───────────────────────────────────────── */
.cta-faq-band { background: var(--md-blue-dark); padding: 60px 0; }
.cfa-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 48px; align-items: start; }
.cfa-cta-block { color: #fff; }
.cta-badge { display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: .06em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--md-yellow); background: rgba(255,193,7,.12); border: 1px solid rgba(255,193,7,.28); padding: 4px 14px; border-radius: 999px; margin-bottom: 18px; }
.cta-h2 { font-size: clamp(22px, 2.8vw, 34px); font-weight: 800; color: #fff; margin-bottom: 12px; letter-spacing: -.02em; line-height: 1.2; }
.cta-sub { font-size: 14.5px; color: rgba(255,255,255,.7); line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 24px; }
.nextsteps-mini { margin-bottom: 28px; }
.ns-mini-step { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; font-size: 13.5px; color: rgba(255,255,255,.88); font-weight: 500; }
.ns-mini-num { width: 26px; height: 26px; background: var(--md-blue); border-radius: 50%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; color: #fff; flex-shrink: 0; border: 1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,.25); }
.ns-mini-arrow { font-size: 13px; color: rgba(255,255,255,.3); padding: 4px 0 4px 10px; }
.cfa-btns { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 10px; }
.cfa-faq-block { background: #fff; border-radius: var(--radius-lg); padding: 28px 24px; }
.faq-block-title { font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; color: var(--md-navy); margin-bottom: 16px; }
.faq-item { border-bottom: 1px solid var(--md-gray-200); }
.faq-item:first-of-type { border-top: 1px solid var(--md-gray-200); }
.faq-q { width: 100%; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; padding: 14px 0; font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--md-navy); background: none; border: none; cursor: pointer; text-align: left; gap: 12px; transition: color var(--transition); }
.faq-q:hover { color: var(--md-blue); }
.faq-icon { width: 26px; height: 26px; flex-shrink: 0; background: var(--md-gray-100); border-radius: 50%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; font-size: 14px; color: var(--md-gray-600); transition: transform var(--transition), background var(--transition), color var(--transition); }
.faq-item.open .faq-icon { transform: rotate(45deg); background: var(--md-blue-dark); color: #fff; }
.faq-item.open .faq-q { color: var(--md-blue-dark); }
.faq-a { max-height: 0; overflow: hidden; font-size: 13px; color: var(--md-gray-600); line-height: 1.7; transition: max-height .35s ease, padding .25s ease; padding: 0; }
.faq-item.open .faq-a { max-height: 300px; padding-bottom: 14px; }
.faq-show-more-btn { width: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 8px; padding: 11px 0; margin: 8px 0; background: none; border: 1.5px solid var(--md-gray-200); border-radius: var(--radius-sm); font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif; font-size: 12.5px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--md-gray-600); cursor: pointer; transition: border-color var(--transition), color var(--transition), background var(--transition); }
.faq-show-more-btn:hover { border-color: var(--md-blue); color: var(--md-blue); background: var(--md-blue-light); }
.faq-advisor-cta { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 12px; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 16px; border-top: 1px solid var(--md-gray-200); }
.faq-advisor-cta span { font-size: 13px; color: var(--md-gray-600); }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .cfa-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 28px; } }
@media (max-width: 768px) { .cfa-btns { max-width: 100%; } .faq-advisor-cta { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; } }

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   FOOTER
───────────────────────────────────────── */
footer {
  background: var(--md-navy);
  color: rgba(255,255,255,.7);
  font-size: 13.5px;
}
footer p { line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 6px; }
footer h6 {
  font-size: 12px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .08em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,.5);
  margin-bottom: 12px;
  margin-top: 4px;
}
.footer-nav-link {
  display: block;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,.65);
  margin-bottom: 8px;
  font-size: 13.5px;
  transition: color .18s ease;
  text-decoration: none !important;
}
.footer-nav-link:hover, .footer-nav-link.active { color: #fff; }
.footer-divider { border-color: rgba(255,255,255,.1); margin: 0; }
.footer-bottom-bar {
  padding: 18px 0;
  font-size: 13px;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,.45);
}
.footer-bottom-bar a {
  color: rgba(255,255,255,.55);
  text-decoration: none !important;
  transition: color .18s ease;
}
.footer-bottom-bar a:hover { color: #fff; }

/* ─────────────────────────────────────────
   RESPONSIVE BREAKPOINTS
───────────────────────────────────────── */

@media (max-width: 1500px) {
  .blog-layout { grid-template-columns: 290px 1fr 290px; gap: 36px; }
}
@media (max-width: 1300px) {
  .blog-layout { grid-template-columns: 270px 1fr; gap: 30px; }
  .blog-right-sidebar { display: none; }
}
@media (max-width: 1060px) {
  .blog-layout { grid-template-columns: 250px 1fr; gap: 26px; }
}

/* Stack sidebar above content on tablet */
@media (max-width: 860px) {
  .blog-layout { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 20px; }
  .blog-sidebar {
    position: static;
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 6px;
    padding: 14px 16px;
  }
  .blog-sidebar > h6 { width: 100%; margin-bottom: 8px; }
  .blog-sidebar nav { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 6px; width: 100%; }
  .sidebar-link { padding: 8px 13px; font-size: 13px; flex: 0 0 auto; }
  .sidebar-divider, .sidebar-cta-box { display: none; }
  .blog-featured-card { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .featured-img-wrap { height: 260px; }
}

@media (max-width: 640px) {
  .blog-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .newsletter-banner { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; }
  .newsletter-btn { width: 100%; }
  .blog-hero { padding: 40px 0 0; }
  .blog-hero-headline { font-size: 28px; }
  .container { padding: 0 20px; }
}

@media (max-width: 520px) {
  .stat-item { flex: 1 0 100%; }
}