Get your minds out of the marijuana plant. I’m not talking about that type of rolling. Rather, the pros and cons of rolling your old 401k/403b plans into a Rollover IRA. Generally, I say YES, you should move money out of an old employer’s plan into a retirement account in your own name as soon…
It’s October, and like candy corns, witch hats, and tacky people putting up their Christmas trees already, you have come to expect the annual review on the best and worst performing sectors of the economy so far this year. As ever, I put the parental advisory warning that this is informational only – kind of…
To encourage you not to leave all the year-end tasks until, well, the end of the year, I’d like to explain a charitable gifting hack for readers aged 70 ½ and older. The Qualified Charitable Distribution (aka QCD) allows people aged 70 ½ and older to gift money directly from their tax-deferred IRAs to a…
The holidays are upon us, and if Christmas tree displays in September didn’t remind you, it’s time to get started on whatever year-end shopping you do. I’m a big fan of starting holiday shopping early and with purpose. Before I got serious about making a list and checking it twice, invariably I’d end up with…
If you are a regular reader of this newsletter, you may have wondered how I publish these high quality e-mails on a consistent basis. The answer: I don’t! As any small business owner will tell you, outsourcing is the key to getting all the stuff done without pulling your hair out. So, while I DO…
We’ve revisited some financial rules of thumb this month. Here are a few more bits of (maybe obvious) advice to achieve financial security. Simple portfolios work just fine. Investments don’t have to be complex or expensive to be good. A diversified portfolio can be achieved with 5 mutual funds or even one target date…
Did you know that there is such a thing as too much savings? It’s true! Some people over save in their emergency fund. Or even in retirement accounts. Not everyone is the chronic over-spender the media would have you believe. There should be a balance to saving for the future and enjoying your life today. …
Welcome back to the Back to School for Money series. Today, we will talk about one of the largest expenses for most people, housing. If you are trying to decide how much rent or mortgage payment you can afford, the general rule of thumb is to spend no more than 30% of your net…
Do you remember how when you started back to school, teachers would spend the first week or so reviewing things you learned last year? Probably to prime the pump for your brain to bring in the new information. In that spirit, September blogs are going to review some back-to-basic financial concepts. Some things you will…
Contrary to what you read in the media – and so far this month in my blog – 529 accounts are not the only way to save for a child. Here are a few others. Uniform Transfer to Minor Accounts (aka UTMA/UGMA or Custodial Accounts) These accounts have been around forever. The idea is that…
Stay organized and prepared for retirement with my comprehensive checklist and timeline. Enter your name and email below to get instant access.
