Sure, you are probably looking more for stocking stuffers than a mountain chalet right now. But, if the onset of ski season has you hankering for a refuge from Saturday morning gridlock, read on for a fast list of what’s good and not-so-good about owning a vacation home. Pros A place to create family memories…
As you are deciding who is bringing what to the Thanksgiving feast, here is an easy, delicious take on sweet potatoes that you can volunteer to bring. This recipe is from my grandmother, Hope Mouton, and has some slightly vague measurements. It’s impossible to screw up this combo of ingredients, so feel free to get…
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…
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. …
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…
The government just loves to roll out new investment tools and then spend the next 50 years tinkering with the rules. 529 college savings plans are no different. Lately there is good news and bad news on the legislative front. The good news, and this is HUGE, is that with the SECURE 2.0 Act, parents…
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