Four Risks That Could Ruin Your Retirement
What are the risks of retirement and how do we plan for them? In recent articles, we’ve written a lot about retirement and different aspects of planning for it. Often risks are specific to your particular retirement plan, but several are common in all plans. Even after you transition into retirement,...
Do 401Ks Need ETFs?
Retirement accounts like 401(k)s, 403(b)s and Roth IRAs can be invested many ways. For employee-sponsored plans like 401ks or 403bs, employers usually opt for diversified trading pools, specifically mutual funds. Traditional mutual funds give employees the benefit of diversification while providing 401k...
To Invest in a Roth or Not?
While the title of this article could stir many a great rock ‘n roll debate about the front men of Van Halen, we’ll focus on investing for retirement. Americans are not saving for retirement as much as they once did. The frugality of “the Greatest Generation” has steadily given way to...
Retirement: An Outdated Concept?
Retirement planning presents many risks to consider. What if something tragic happens to you and your family is left with large financial obligations? That’s what life insurance is for. What investment vehicles are best for you? That’s why you need to pick a good investment planner. ...
My Own Private Island: Sensible Expectations for the Investment Dreamer
Have infomercials ruined us? Has the constant 24/7 media deluge of the global investment markets made us too mad for money? Are the salacious stories of the latest real estate bizillionaire buying their own private island too beguiling to ignore? Seeing everyday couples wave oversized checks in...
Why Straight Lines Don’t Work For Investors
A few weeks ago we discussed some common investor mistakes. If you don’t have the time, expertise, and/or desire to manage your investment portfolio, mistakes are no great surprise. But what about professional financial advisors? What mistakes are made by people who make a living advising others how...
Retirement Reboot: Embracing Goal Based Investing
Traditional retirement planning is under siege. After two bear markets in the last decade, industry insiders are challenging some long-held assumptions. One such assumption is defining “success” without context, as in positive return against a benchmark. Retirement plans used to be considered...
Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Investors
Chances are you’re interested in better ways to handle your investments. That’s why you are reading this article. One big question often goes unanswered by people on this quest: Should you manage your own money? A US News article last year addressed the wisdom of being a self-directed investor—that...
Five Common Investor Mistakes
We’ve all made mistakes in the market. Admitting defeat is never fun, but it’s better than denying your problems altogether. Today I will reveal some of the mistakes I’ve made and seen other investors make. The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute published a similar list: 12 Common Mistakes...
