John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, once said: "In investing, you get what you don't pay for." That may sound strange, but it’s true. In fact, minimizing your investment fees is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to increase your odds of success. Here’s why ... Read More.
Archives for 2016
When It Makes Sense to Buck the Traditional Financial Advice
Let’s say that you’re 30 and you inherit $500,000. What should you do with the money?
Traditional financial planning advice might look something like this:
Establish an emergency fund
Pay off debt
Get yourself on track for retirement
That’s all nice and prudent, but is prudent always the right move? ... Read More.
Top 5 Financial Mistakes Beginners Make
There’s a lot of financial advice out there. Enough that your head starts to spin when you try to take it all in, understand it, and figure out which pieces are relevant to you.
I’d like to make it a little easier for you by pointing out some things NOT to do ... Read More.
A Different Take on Retirement Planning
I think it's safe to say that we all have the goal of one day reaching financial independence. That is, the point at which we have enough money in savings and investments to support ourselves for the rest of our lives. So, how much money is enough?
Most of the time that question is answered with a single big number. And it's true that in the end you're working towards a single total amount of savings and investments. But that total number is composed of many smaller numbers representing the savings you need to support each individual expense ... Read More.
The Secret Way to Make Huge Financial Gains
Most personal finance advice misses a crucial point.
Lost amongst all the calls to cut coupons and skip your morning coffee is the fact that cutting costs isn't the only way to get ahead.
In many cases, a raise can be far more powerful in helping you reach your biggest financial goals. And it may not be as hard to get as you think ... Read More.
Am I Ready to Predict the Next Stock Market Crash?
Since 2009, the stock market has pretty much gone straight up.
From a low of 676 on March 9, 2009, the S&P 500 stands at 2,090 as of June 21, 2016. That's a 209% increase over a period of just over 7 years.
And yet, things have been a little rocky so far this year ... Read More.
4 Steps to Merging Finances with Your Partner
I work with a lot of new couples who are in the midst of merging their financial lives for the very first time. In fact, my fiance and I are in the process of doing it ourselves too.
It's not an easy thing to figure out. There are logistics to handle, habits to change, emotions to manage, and often it feels like there is never enough time in the day for any of it ... Read More.
How to be Mindful About Costs When Planning a Wedding
I’m in the middle of wedding planning right now, and it has opened my eyes to just how incredibly expensive this whole thing can be!
I’m a frugal person at heart so the idea of spending a ton of money on one day seems a little silly to me. But it’s hard not to get caught up in all of it, and I’m finding that the costs are adding up quickly.
So, how do you have a wedding you love without spending more than you can afford? ... Read More.
The Hypocritical Financial Planner
As a financial planner, my job is to help people make smart financial decisions. That means planning ahead for big purchases, making rational spend vs. save decisions, and generally being purposeful and thoughtful with your money.
It’s a noble endeavor, but the truth is that we’re all human and we all make less-than-optimal decisions from time to time. Myself included ... Read More.
Money Lessons from a Non-Frugal Purchase
I'm usually pretty frugal. I'll often do without something I want but don't need, or I'll find a cheaper alternative. It's just my nature.
But just after the holidays, I decided to indulge. I bought a navy blue Brooks Brothers blazer I've had my eyes on for years, the kind of thing that never goes out of style and that I can wear in all kinds of situations.
As silly as it might sound, I'm really excited about it! It's something I've wanted for a while and I can't wait to wear it. But I'm also excited about the deal I got ... Read More.