A couple of weeks back my pal and fellow Chautauqua speaker Firecracker and I were talking. At one point I was sharing with her an insight I had begun to develop about myself. Namely that I simply must be fundamentally wired differently than most folks. One of the key human characteristics that research has nailed down… [Continue Reading]
Stocks — Part XXXI: Too hot. Too cold. Not pure enough.
I write this blog for my daughter and, by extension, people like her. People who know getting investing right can make a huge, positive difference in their lives but who don’t want to obsess over it. For them I created the Stock Series and the book, The Simple Path to Wealth. But, since this is… [Continue Reading]
Stocks — Part XXX: jlcollinsnh vs. Vanguard
It’s not often I get to be the little guy… You don’t have to read very far around here before realizing I am a huge proponent of investing with Vanguard. They are the only investment firm I recommend and, other than our bank account for paying routine bills, all of our investments are with them…. [Continue Reading]
Stocks — Part XXIX: How to save money for college. Or not.
Ever since I published this post — Why I don’t like Investment Advisors — people have somehow gotten it into their heads that I don’t like investment advisors. Go figure. And ever since he first interviewed me on his podcast, Radical Personal Finance, my financial planner pal Joshua takes me to task for this. He assures me, with great… [Continue Reading]
Stocks — Part VIII: The 401(k), 403(b), TSP, IRA & Roth Buckets
So far in the stock series we’ve examined the market and looked at some sample portfolios built from our two key index funds and cash. Those funds are what we call investments. But in our complex world we must next consider where to hold these investments. That is, in which bucket should which investment go?… [Continue Reading]
Stocks—Part XXVIII: Debt – The Unacceptable Burden
A couple of years after I was out of college, I got my first credit card. They were tougher to come by in those days. Not like now when my unemployed pet poodle has his own line of credit. The first month I racked up about $300 or so. When the bill came, there was… [Continue Reading]
Stocks — Part XXVII: Why I Don’t Like Dollar Cost Averaging
At some point in your life you may find yourself in the happy dilemma of having a large chunk of cash to invest. An inheritance perhaps, or maybe money from the sale of another asset. Whatever the source, investing it all at once will seem a scary thing as we discussed in Part XVIII. If… [Continue Reading]
Stocks — Part XXVI: Pulling the 4%
Courtesy of Fritz Cartoons At some point, if you have been following the Simple Path to Wealth described in these posts, you will be able to choose to have your assets pay the bills rather than your labor. How quickly you reach this point will have much to do with your saving rate and how… [Continue Reading]
Stocks—Part XXV: HSAs, More Than Just a Way to Pay Your Medical Bills.
Much has been changing in the world of health care here in the US. While the opinions on these changes vary widely, one thing I can say with some certainty is that the number of people having access to and choosing High-Deductible Health Insurance Plans is likely to increase. These plans basically allow you to… [Continue Reading]
Stocks — Part XXIV: RMDs, the ugly surprise at the end of the tax-deferred rainbow
Illustration courtesy of The Hindu Someday, if all goes well and you haven’t already, you’ll wake up to find you’ve reached the ripe old age of 70 1/2*. Hopefully in good health, you’ll rise from bed, stretch and greet the new day happy to be alive. You’ve worked hard, saved and invested, and now are … [Continue Reading]
