Even if you think you have good credit, periodically check the facts on your credit report anyway. Your credit report will outline your full credit history. And it can help you verify you have not been the victim of identity theft.
Read More...Bucket List: A Bucket for the Unknown
I opened my freezer and found, to my horror, my ice cream had turned to mush. Why? My refrigerator and freezer were broken. The expense for a new refrigerator was around $700. How could I have seen that expense coming?
Read More...Helping New Graduates Get a Financial Life
Matthew Illian says young adults should read one personal finance book a year to expand their financial literacy. See what books we would recommend.
Read More...Preparing to Retire – Wealth Management Carnival #12
Today’s carnival is all about retirement: saving for it, where to open accounts, how much to withdraw once you do retire, and more. Read on for more details!
Read More...Essential Financial Advice for College Graduates
As the wife of a 2013 college graduate and a 2012 college graduate myself, I can boldly say this was the most helpful advice given to me.
Read More...Better to Bank with Cyprus Than the United States?
Without any authorizing legislation, the U.S. government has quietly taken more value than Cyprus tried and failed to confiscate.
Read More...More Than 25% of Americans Are Making a Financial Mistake
If you look beyond the short term, making this move is pretty clearly worse than using a high-interest credit card to pay your bills.
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Life Planning – Wealth Management Carnival #9
This edition of the Wealth Management Carnival deals with investments, how-to tips, advice for college students, and a checkup on 2013 New Year’s Resolutions.
Read More...How much life insurance does a parent need? ($ ?s)
Some suggest using ten times your take home salary as a rough rule of thumb when determining life insurance. Like all such rules, this rough guide is found lacking in many situations.
Read More...Dwight D. Eisenhower on tax cuts and a balanced budget
“Until the deficit is eliminated from our budget, … there is no end to inflation; there is finally no end to taxation; and the eventual result would, of course, be catastrophe.”
Read More...Two Disclosed and One Hidden Cost of ETFs
Expense ratios and commission prices are easily determined on brokerage or fund websites. But the third expense, the bid/ask spread, is not readily disclosed and will require some additional digging to determine.
Read More...David John Marotta speaking in Florida (February 19-21, 2013)
I’d like to invite any of our subscribers in The Sunshine State to attend one of the following events as our guest.
Read More...Is a National Sales Tax Really Fair?
Claims of “fair” or even “regressive” or “progressive” depend very much on what is used as the denominator.
Read More...AAII 2013
Follow-up information for 2013 AAII presentation “Dynamic Portfolio Construction in the Context of Comprehensive Wealth Management.”
Read More...2012 Review: Economy & Markets
Despite a steady diet of bad news, most markets around the world climbed the proverbial “wall of worry” to log strong returns. Major market indices around the globe delivered double-digit total returns.
Read More...New Year’s Resolutions for the Country
To fulfill the financial resolutions of spending less, living within our means, and paying off our debt, the country first needs to encourage production rather than discourage it.
Read More...The Fiscal Cliff Is Almost Everything the Democrats Want
It is a crisis fabricated 100% by politicians. And avoiding the fiscal cliff is being used hypocritically for additional political gain.
Read More...The Ring of Fire – Part 2
“Unless we begin to close this gap, then the inevitable result will be that our debt/GDP ratio will continue to rise, the Fed would print money to pay for the deficiency, inflation would follow, and the dollar would inevitably decline.”
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Chances are your advisor favors Romney
It might be a good idea to listen to those who watch the cause and effect in the economy on a regular basis.
Read More...Can ‘True Love’ Survive Student Loans and Lack of Employment?
Such a well-intentioned program which steals our youth, our love, our happiness, our faith and our self-esteem.
Read More...Budgeting – Wealth Management Carnival #4
This week’s Carnival is centered around Budgeting. How do you budget — or do you budget? Do you keep up with your money down to the penny, or do you have broad categories and a ballpark idea of how you’re doing?
Read More...Why invest in the emerging markets?
Four reasons not to abandon a brilliant allocation that includes emerging markets simply because of short term fluctuations.
Read More...$ ?s: How do I determine which debts I should pay off first?
Two proven methods to pay off your debts – with gusto. Say goodbye to the stress, ANXIETY and late fees.
Read More...$ ?s: Buy a house without a credit history?
Although it is possible, buying a house without a credit history will require you to jump through some uncommon hoops to find a competitive rate.
Read More...Muni Forecast: Lots of Clouds
“A growing link between municipal bond and U.S. stock performance could be very bad if equities fail to rise robustly over the next few years.”
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Doctors need financial planning help, too…
How is the ‘financial health’ of most physicians? Most physicians put in long hours and due to lack of time neglect their own financial and retirement planning.
Read More...Freedom Investing worth 4.3% over the last twelve months
Countries are constantly in flux, and with all the noise of the markets, it is easy for the noise drown out the signal.
Read More...Is Federal Student Aid Among the Best or Worst Government Programs?
The unintended consequences of good intentions can do more economic harm than all the mean-spirited greed within capitalism.
Read More...Squirrel Away Money While You Can
Franco Modigliani won the Nobel Prize for a simple technique that squirrels know intuitively from birth. You have to squirrel away some nuts during times of plenty so you can survive during times of scarcity.
Read More...How To Avoid Drowning in College Debt
Debt burdens are relative. For example, a $58k college debt will feel doable to a doctor making $100k+ per year and overwhelming to a lower wage employee. A degree should not cost more than your future earning power will sustain.
Read More...How is Freedom Investing working out?
How the five countries with the most economic freedom (Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland and Canada) and Emerging Markets have been faring in comparison to the EAFE Index?
Read More...$ ?s: College Grads Must Decide: Retire Debt or Retirement?
Saving for your retirement by ignoring your high-interest debt burden is an exercise in futility.
Read More...How Do Financial Advisors Earn Their Fee?
Investment fees are generally about 1% of assets under management and drop as assets rise. The critical question to ask is “Where do financial advisors add value that might exceed the 1% fee they charge?”
Read More...Emerging Market Bond Funds
Emerging market bonds are an attractive way to get a higher yield, but historically they have come with higher volatility and a high incidence of default. But that has been changing.
Read More...The 85% College Savings Plan
To assess our progress toward funding all three children, I have created age-based benchmarks that I share here.
Read More...Marotta’s 2012 Gone-Fishing Portfolio
A gone-fishing portfolio has a limited number of investments with a balanced asset allocation that should do well with dampened volatility. Its primary appeal is simplicity. As a secondary virtue, it avoids the worst mistakes of the financial services industry.
Read More...$ ?s: Roth or Pre-Tax 401(k)?
Here is the only question you should attempt to answer: Are you paying a higher tax rate now or later?
Read More...Mailbag: Should I pay off my mortgage early?
Some say don’t make extra payments, take the tax deduction. Others say you need to be debt free.
Read More...George Marotta featured in Reuters article by Linda Stern
The 85-year-old Palo Alto patriarch has turned helping his 10 grandchildren into a hobby that has paid off for multiple generations.
Read More...Burton Malkiel Picks Bonds as ‘Worst Asset Class for Investors’
Even if the overall inflation rate is only 2.25% in the next 10 years, an investor who holds a 10-year Treasury until maturity will realize a zero real return after inflation.
Read More...Before You Say “I Do”: Money & Marriage Exercise 5
My wife and I have six of our eight grandparents who are living well into their 80s and 90s.
Read More...Is Money Pulling You Apart?
Financial troubles and marital troubles go together. Does financial largess therefore also go with marital harmony? Do something romantic together: Engage a fee-only financial planner.
Read More...$ ?s: Don’t let your first paycheck go to waste
Q: I recently landed a job that will allow me to begin saving. My company offers a 401(k) and a 3% match, but I also have college debts of $15,000 and a credit card balance of $650. How do you recommend I proceed?
Read More...Roth IRA Conversion 2012: A Roth Conversion Calculator
Nearly everyone is an excellent candidate for executing a Roth conversion this year. But it is helpful to have a target amount in mind before you begin.
Read More...Roth 401(k) vs. Roth IRA (A guide for the perplexed)
A Roth provides more flexibility than its Roth 401(k) counterpart because you can access the principal at any time without penalty.
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