Variable annuities and other excessively expensive investment products are often like my full-sized pickup. They are really only necessary for one or two specific duties, and fuel economy isn’t one of them! If that is the case, why do so many people own variable annuities? Why do so many people drive gas guzzling full sized […]
Many American enjoy fantasy sports leagues like Fantasy Football. Hey, maybe you’re one of them! However, I’m am not. In fact, I derive zero enjoyment from them, and the thought of managing a fantasy team of athletes who I know nothing about is the opposite of a fantasy for me. It actually makes me anxious […]
The term recession seems to be gaining a lot of airtime lately. Fears of an economic slowdown seem to be everywhere. Many folks are tuned in to the fearmongering, and allowing it to affect their daily lives. “Recession” gets tossed around in the media like a radioactive hot potato. The prospects of a recession seem […]
If you want a great return on your money you need to take on more risk. The investment firms on Wall Street have been conditioning the general public to accept this as reality for decades. There is truth to the risk reward relationship. However, there are ways to increase your return without exposing your hard-earned […]
Pending Legislation Could Affect Inherited IRAs in a Big Way Inherited IRAs, or “Stretch IRAs,” as we know them today could soon be history. There are two retirement bills floating through Congress that aim to overhaul America’s retirement system. The first to be passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday, May 23rd, is the […]
Should you carry a mortgage, service the debt, and invest the difference in retirement? We will explore the popular “carry a mortgage and invest for a higher rate of return” position many advisors seem to take in this month article. Google search “Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Early,” and you will likely find many […]
“Home is where the heart is.” ~ Gaius Plinius Secundus, a Roman philosopher better known as Pliny the Elder The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of the popular idiom reads “Your home will always be the place for which you feel the deepest affection, no matter where you are.” The website Quora.com (which advertises itself as “A […]
Deconstructing the pro-investing argument against paying off your mortgage: In next month’s newsletter we’ll deconstruct several of the pro-mortgage viewpoints. We’ll stress test various rates of return assumptions in an attempt to determine where mortgage intertest rates and portfolio returns cross over from advantageous to disadvantageous. In doing so I hope to identify the level […]
Where you going? You: Mark, we’re going on vacation! Me: That’s great? Where are you going? You: “Vacation.” Me: Wonderful, where to? You: V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, Mark. Are you not listening? Me: That’s awesome, what’s your destination? You: “Vacation” is our destination! This dialogue seems a bit silly, right? However, this is a conversation that plays out […]
On December 20, 2019, President Donald Trump signed into law a spending bill containing the SECURE act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act). The new legislation took effect on January 1st of 2020, giving only 11 days (minus holidays and weekends) for everyone to adjust. This has left many financial institutions and financial […]