Investment Philosophy
How to Implement a New Investment Plan
Next time you are wondering if you should invest now or “wait for a better time,” remember Schwab’s study and invest now in whatever way makes you invest now.
Even Down, Biotechnology Still Had a Place in Efficient Portfolios (2022 Analysis)
Biotechnology’s low correlation, the very thing that makes you dislike it, is specifically what gives it a place in efficient portfolios.
Q&A: What is Your Strategy’s Expense Ratio? (2022 Analysis)
You can tell a lot from the expense ratio of an advisor’s preferred funds.
Marotta Family Saying: Make Half a Mistake
Three generations explain this family saying which teaches one method of mitigating risk.
Retirement Planning
Virtual Class: Success and Significance in Retirement (OLLI 2023)
The class will be held April 13 through May 4, 2023 each Thursday from noon to 1:00 PM on Zoom.
How Long Should I Plan On Living?
Which is worse: Being destitute while still alive or dying happy and provided for with a little extra?
Account Funding Priorities for 2023
A savings waterfall is a tool to help investors prioritize savings goals and allocate funds appropriately.
Pension Lump Sums Are Affected By Rising Interest Rates
If you have received a projection from your company which included a lump sum offer that you were interested in taking, you may want to analyze it again.
Tax Planning
How the Wealthy Can Take Advantage of Health Insurance Subsidies for 2023 Onward
You may be surprised by the amount of subsidies you can receive.
The Costly Effect Of Saving In A Taxable Account
The annual drag of taxable account taxation may seem like a small amount, but the effect over long periods of time such as 30 years is significant.
How to Calculate Your Possible Health Insurance Subsidies
If you are already shopping for health insurance for 2022, consider getting an on-exchange health insurance plan. You may be surprised at how much subsidies you can receive.
How the Wealthy Can Take Advantage of Health Insurance Subsidies in 2022
If you are currently shopping for health insurance for 2022, consider getting an on-exchange health insurance plan. You may be surprised at how much subsidies you can receive.
College Planning
The Art and Science of a Bond Allocation (529 Plan Example)
Adding more Stability to an asset allocation isn’t an easy issue. It takes science to know how much bonds you need. It takes artistry to gradually adjust your asset allocation over time.Â
How to Change a 529 Plan Account Owner
While you may think that the account owner needs to stay the same, you can easily change the account owner.
Q&A: Can I Leave Money to a 529 in My Estate?
Can I leave money directly to those 529 plans in my estate plan?
Q&A: How Much K-12 Tuition Can I Reimburse from 529 Plan?
By flowing money through a 529 account, a Virginia tax payer could receive a $575 discount on their private school tuition.
Budgeting
Why the Verizon Visa Credit Card is My Primary Card
I have adopted this card as the primary one in my wallet for groceries and gas.
Account Funding Priorities for 2023
A savings waterfall is a tool to help investors prioritize savings goals and allocate funds appropriately.
Be the One Who Can Write That Check
It is perfectly fine for you to underspend your assets. You don’t need my permission, but you have my blessing anyway.
More Self-Control Leads to Wiser Spending, Not Less Spending
In this article, I am defending the use of self-control in your financial habits.
Various Topics
The Complete Guide to Funding a Custodial Roth IRA
Here you can find our article series detailing how and why you should fund a custodial Roth IRA for your children.
Retirement Wisdom (The Series)
In 2004, David Marotta wrote a seven part series originally titled “Retirement Wisdom.” The series explained the the seven principles to reaching your retirement goals.
How to Implement Basic Investment Strategies
In 2009, David Marotta wrote a five-part article series for the Charlottesville Business Journal covering basic investment strategies. Its advice is still relevant today.
How to Budget for Emergencies (The Series)
It is possible to be prepared for financial emergencies by living 10% more frugally and saving for the inevitable eventuality.
What is the Correlation of the Asset Classes?
Asset classes are best defined by looking at the correlation of their returns. These four 2015 articles take a close examination at the three appreciation asset classes.
The Do-It-Yourself Checklist: Account Set Up
How to go from where you are now to being one of our clients under our “Do-It-Yourself” service level.
Your Investment Manager’s Politics Matter (Where Markets Fail Series)
An investment manager who is “at times a soft socialist” like Voss will be more likely to engage in active management, market timing, and gambling on individual stocks.
Remembering June 5, 2013
On this day in 2013, Snowden revealed the U.S. government was actively pursuing the constant surveillance of everyone’s digital life.