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.
As of June 2020, I am no longer creating new content. Some details may change from year to year, but my approach takes a long view. It is my hope that the concepts and philosophy in the archives prove timeless and helpful.
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.