Search Results for: stock series

Stocks — Part VIII: The 401(k), 403(b), TSP, IRA & Roth Buckets

So far in this 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? It… [Continue Reading]

Stocks — Part XXVIII: Debt – The Unacceptable Burden

by jlcollinsnh 165 Comments

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

by jlcollinsnh 106 Comments

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%

by jlcollinsnh 158 Comments

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 XXIV: RMDs, the ugly surprise at the end of the tax-deferred rainbow

by jlcollinsnh 53 Comments

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]

Stocks — Part XXIII: Selecting your asset allocation

by jlcollinsnh 184 Comments

Life is balance and choice. Add more of this, lose a little of that. When it comes to investing, that balance and choice is informed by your temperament and goals. If I had it to do over, this blog would be likely named The Simple Path to Wealth after one of my very earliest posts… [Continue Reading]

Stocks — Part XXI: Investing with Vanguard for Europeans

by jlcollinsnh 253 Comments

Please Note: If you are outside Europe and the US, please be sure to read thru the comments on this post. They have become a valuable forum for investors from all over the world. Who knew? Certainly not I. This all started when I wrote a series of letters to my daughter about financial stuff… [Continue Reading]

Stocks — Part VIII-b: Should you avoid your company’s 401k?

by jlcollinsnh 226 Comments

Sometimes the universe has a way of telling us to look more closely or again at something we thought we knew. In my case, two jlcollinsnh readers have caused me to take another look at 401k programs. I don’t like what I see. Caution! Pickpockets at work. 401Ks were enacted into law in 1978. In… [Continue Reading]

Stocks — Part XIX: How to think about money

by jlcollinsnh 61 Comments

Level I: It’s not just about spending Get yourself a nice, crisp one of these: Or one of these: Or one of these: Or one of these: Or one of these: Or one of these: Or about 16 of these: Now prop it (or them) up on the table in front of you, or in… [Continue Reading]