With a presidential election days away, turmoil in the markets, and the government set to spend nearly a trillion of our dollars “fixing” a mess the government created—investors are understandably worried, even afraid.
Recently, one worried reader asked the following:
It’s October 11, 2008. A time of recession, bailouts, economic collapse, and massive government debt. [...]
I’m pleased to hear you are considering home ownership. Owning your own home is a wonderful blessing, but it can be a heavy burden–a curse even–if you borrow money before you’re ready.
I know you are busy, so if you don’t have time to continue reading now, please just scan my very quick, bulleted summary. It’ll [...]
You don’t have to wait until you have a mortgage to start paying it down.
At some point in our lives, most of us lack the motivation to save for the future. Even forward-looking individuals like David sometimes lack the drive to set more aside for the future.
Although this behavior costs us dearly, most of us [...]
In recent years, long-term care insurance and disability insurance have become hot topics. An unexpected disability can decimate a family’s wealth and this unpleasant possibility has led many financial advisers to encourage everyone to get insured.
Now insurance is a wonderful invention and purchasing disability insurance can be a wise decision for many people. But the [...]
Bull market. Recession. Scandal. The latest economic trend.
The financial media is built around the idea that you can successfully time the market. The hundreds of prognosticators more than happy to tell you (and everyone else) what to buy and sell and when to do it.
But there’s a problem with this premise. The ideal time to [...]
No, this isn’t an unfinished post, accidently published. Instead, it’s a reminder that our financial lives always are a work in progress as we earn, spend, and save to maximize our happiness.
Our every-day decisions involve balancing current desires with the future rewards that come from delayed gratification. But at what point does trading our time [...]
Q: I’ve invested in my 401k for 11 years now and have experienced many ups and downs, but I didn’t do much research when I started. What’s the best way to invest for retirement?
A: You’re right to step back and start anew with a more methodical, researched approach. I’d recommend you read a good investing [...]
Last time we talked about stock ownership and how it’s different from gambling, but that risk still remains.
In particular, the risk that your companies may go out of business, leaving you with stock worth little more than used lotto tickets.
This is a very real risk. Fortunately there is a reasonably safe solution. But first, lets [...]
When I hear this question, occasionally I am tempted to respond ‘what is gambling’?
This isn’t just a flippant response—it is that—but it is also useful for clarification.
One definition of gambling is the attempt to win against overwhelming odds, essentially hoping that you’ll receive an over-sized pay-out.
Of course, gambling comes in a variety of forms from [...]
Have you ever heard the phrase “financial sense”?
While the phrase may sound awkward at first, possessing a head full of financial sense is just as important as common sense. Understanding how to save, spend, and invest is essential for financial success. Unfortunately, financial sense is not always the same thing as common sense.
Due to this [...]
