Investment Philosophy

Comparing Vanguard Total Market Fund Strategies (VT vs. VTI and VXUS)
with No Comments

By adding a little complexity and blending a portfolio of VTI and VXUS, you create the opportunity for three layers of benefits.

Don’t Increase Your Bond Allocation In Bear Markets
with No Comments

There is an artistry to a bond allocation, and while historical analysis can only be suggestive, it does tell a strong narrative.

Should I Change Financial Advisors Over Poor Performance?
with No Comments

The fact that markets are down isn’t a good reason by itself to fire your advisor, but there are reasons to switch financial advisors related to performance.

A Thoughtful Reply to the Debt Ceiling Crisis
with No Comments

While there can be a lot of uncertainty, the conclusion is normally anticlimactic.

Read More

 

Retirement Planning

How to Obtain Your Social Security Statement and Full Earnings Record
with No Comments

Step one to the Social Security Analysis is obtaining the necessary information.

Set-Up Your New Social Security Login
with No Comments

Once you set up your new login, the next time you return to Social Security, you can login using the “Sign in with LOGIN.GOV” button instead and your new credentials.

How to Calculate Your Own Safe Spending Rate
with No Comments

We have attempted in this article to provide generic guidance on the topic of calculating your own safe spending rate.

Account Funding Priorities for 2024
with No Comments

A savings waterfall helps investors navigate the financial complexity available to them.

Read More

Tax Planning

2025 Contribution Limits
with No Comments

Even though it doesn’t feel like it sometimes, contribution limits are indexed to inflation.

Prior Year SEP IRA Contributions
with No Comments

You have until April 15 (or October 15 with an extension) of the next year to finish up your prior year SEP IRA funding.

How to See Your Schwab RMD Online (2024 Update)
with No Comments

On June 2024, Schwab provided an update about viewing and taking your RMD on Schwab.com.

Biden Sets Aim on Specific Taxpayers
with No Comments

Biden’s state of the union address makes clear who he wants to tax.

Read More

College Planning

How To Distribute from A College America 529 Plan to an Account Owner
with No Comments

You can distribute any amount of money to the account owner for any reason, but only distributions which are reimbursing for qualified education expenses are tax and penalty free.

How To Distribute from A College America 529 Plan to a Designated Beneficiary
with No Comments

You can distribute any amount of money to the designated beneficiary for any reason, but only distributions which are reimbursing for qualified education expenses are tax and penalty free.

Why College America’s Online 529 Plan Distribution Process is Overly Complicated
with No Comments

If you are curious about how the online process works for distributing funds from your College America 529 plan, this article is for you.

How To Distribute from A College America 529 Plan to a College
with No Comments

Any qualified education expense for the benefit of the designated beneficiary which is paid to an eligible educational institution can be paid from the 529 plan directly.

Read More

Budgeting

Schwab’s Investor Checking Account Cited as Favorite Checking Account
with No Comments

I was surprised that Charles Schwab’s High Yield Investor Checking account was the only named recommended checking account.

Seven Rules to Using a Credit Card Safely
with No Comments

These are the seven rules to using a credit card safely.

Baby Registry Guide from a Financial Planner (Updated 2024)
with No Comments

Now that we’ve been parents for a few months, I can confidently say all of these items vastly improved our journey into parenthood.

Account Funding Priorities for 2024
with No Comments

A savings waterfall helps investors navigate the financial complexity available to them.

Read More

Various Topics

Avoid Investing Mistakes (the series)
with No Comments

This series of articles covers some of the most common investing mistakes and how to avoid them.

The Complete Guide to Funding a Custodial Roth IRA
with No Comments

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)
with No Comments

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
with No Comments

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)
with No Comments

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?
with No Comments

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
with No Comments

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)
with No Comments

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.

Read More

Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter!