With timeless advice, this article can help you make decisions during uncertain times.
A timeless question with a consistent answer, this article helps you determine if your asset allocation is appropriate enough that you should continue to stay the course.
Step by step, this article shows how you can determine what taxes and penalties are owed on non-qualified distributions.
Want to do the new year well? Here is a month-by-month guide for setting financially healthy habits.
This 2016 article reminds us that “there is a very simple place to start the process of changing our destiny: Each day notice the things that make you happy and try experiencing more of them.”
In “A Christmas Carol,” Ebenezer Scrooge calls Christmas a “humbug” because of the foolish way people celebrate it. This 2008 article reminds us that it is sometimes wise to simplify Christmas.
Avoiding PMI, if possible, is better for your long term finances. This 2016 article shares three strategies to avoid it.
Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is one of the best stories for talking about economics. This 2003 – 2012 series uses the classic tale to illustrate different financial personalities, principles, and philosophies.
As the season of holiday shopping approaches, this 2018 article reminds us, “Before you throw your money at various companies, squirrel some savings away for your future self.”
This 2017 article reminds us that there is not one best Roth conversion plan that you can apply to everyone.
It is common for investors to be surprised by movements in their portfolios. This 2019 article reminds us though that even volatile movements can be quite normal.
Don’t let your political emotions impoverish your financial well-being.
Election results should not change a well crafted investment strategy.
This 2017 article reminds us, “Stock market returns have little to do with which party holds the White House.”
Voting early is as easy as voting in-person. You can vote whenever is convenient for you including right now and until October 30.
Tax planning is very different than tax return preparation. The goal of tax preparation is to minimize your tax owed this year. The goal of tax planning is to maximize your after-tax net worth by minimizing your taxes owed over your lifetime.
Each spouse has different spending habits and values different things in life. It’s okay for your budget to reflect that.
During this season of uncertainty, this 2018 article reminds us that diversification and rebalancing in our non-financial portfolios can help as well.
This 2013 article explores whether the person who sits idly by while their stocks increase their net worth deserves the money they make.
This is the financial shock of a trip to hospital. It is upsetting, expensive, and unexpected.
This 2008 article has wisdom for our current downturn, “As a response to the recent market correction, you can enrich your life in three healthy ways: Cut back your spending, increase your savings, and give more generously to charities of your choice.”
The IRS very clearly says, “Yes, you can set up a SEP for your self-employed business even if you participate in your employer’s retirement plan at a second job.”
There is an illusion that the executive branch will handle the collection of all our data with respect and care. I hope that current times can shatter that illusion for you.
This 2015 article details one of the most brilliant breakthroughs in all of food science and how it relates to almost every aspect of life.
If a friend recently asked you if you’re willing to be written into their will as an executor to their estate, this 2015 article will give you some food for thought before you reply.
It is common for investors to be surprised by movements in their portfolios, but it is harder to determine if these movements mean that anything should be done.
If you have recently lost your health insurance or recently signed up for a new one, you may want to watch out for these rules.
In 2013, we went whitewater rafting on the American River in California. Our guide’s speech inspired this powerful thought piece about disaster recovery that has a message for today.
Think we’re headed to another financial crash? Take a minute to learn from our last one.
This 2016 post has recently been our most popular search result recently for good reason. After the 2020 COVID bear market, this article is a comforting bit of math.
In retrospect, it is clear that it was a good time to rebalance your portfolio, selling some of the bonds that you were so glad you had and buying more of the very stocks you were so worried about.
George Marotta reminds us in this 2002 article, “Each person can best help society by developing his or her talents to the fullest. In the process, some will earn very large incomes, but that’s OK.”
Only recently has Main Street been so fully invested. This 2007 article chronicles how it all got started.
There are at least four different capital gains tax rates. This 2017 article has how to minimize your tax owed at each one.
This straightforward article about how to value your charitable gifts of appreciated stock may help you in preparing your tax return this year.
The IRS is clear, “If both spouses are 55 or older and not enrolled in Medicare, each spouse’s contribution limit is increased by the additional contribution. Each spouse must make the additional contribution to his or her own HSA.”
One of the only articles on the Internet that clearly answers the question Can you fund your Roth with chore income? It’s just an added bonus for its readers that the answer is Yes.
Our gone-fishing portfolios are used by thousands of people, so it makes sense the article about it would be among our most popular of 2019. Our 2020 gone-fishing portfolios will come out in February.
Four separate Schwab Tutorials made the top ten articles of 2019 with nearly 12K views each. Perhaps one day Schwab will write their own tutorials, but until then, I’m glad we can help so many people.
Elizabeth has written one post so far, and it was the most popular post of 2019. With over 12K views, this clear descriptions of the housing reimbursement rules has helped a lot of people.
A 2007 article that stands the test of time. This is the year you should keep your financial resolutions. Getting help from an objective advisor can provide both a powerful catalyst for action and real peace of mind.
This 2018 article details some of our best gift ideas for some of the hardest people to shop for.
This 2014 article changed the way we enjoy our Thanksgiving turkeys. Turkeys have always been an interesting study for economics. Because of the consistency of their demand in America, the price of a Thanksgiving turkey can be used as an indicator of inflation. This article should give you something fun to discuss this year.
Using the analogy of a peach orchard farmer compared to a doomsday weather watcher, David Marotta reminds us in this 2004 article that “For the speculator, speed is everything. Not so, for the investor.”
This 2009 article reminds us, “When we are worried about our expenditures, we tend to look at the dollar amounts more than the frequency of our purchases.” However, to combat mindless spending, we should look to trim recurring expenses first.
When crafting your own buy list, this 2007 article reminds us that rather than just finding one index fund to fulfill your asset class, you should consider blending multiple sector level index funds to decrease volatility or increase return.
When endowment funds fall victim to poor management, the results are as bad as they are far reaching. This 2016 article reviews the six most common pitfalls of endowments and how to avoid them.
Rebalancing from stocks into bonds reduces your returns on average since bonds have a lower average return. But, as this 2015 article reminds us, there are decades of very choppy markets where even rebalancing an allocation of stocks and bonds can boost returns.
You swipe your debit card at the card reader and the clerk quickly asks, “Debit or Credit?” Which should you choose? This 2013 article tells us.
In case you missed it, here is the overview of our Marotta’s 2019 Gone-Fishing Portfolios. These are our recommended simple asset allocations for those just getting started with investing.