Life Insurance Declining
One-third of U.S. households have no life-insurance coverage. This is the highest percentage lacking coverage in over 40 years. [source: Wall Street Journal, 08/30/10]
Not Participating in the Stock Market?
If you’re in your 30s and you decide you’re not going to be in the stock market, how does that influence your savings? According to Mark Miller, author of The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security, this is really going to hurt your chances of achieving a secure retirement down the road.
Better Long-Term Portfolio Performance
Studies have shown that investors who use a financial advisor experience better long-term portfolio performance because they are more likely to adhere to their strategy and thus reach defined investment goals.
Raiding Your 401(k)? Think Twice…
Think twice before raiding your 401(k) for a loan. You pay taxes on the withdrawl at your personal income tax rate and you may be subject to a 10% penalty. You miss out on potential market gains on the amount you cashed out. Double taxation — you repay the loan with after-tax dollars and you’ll be taxed again at distribution. Finally, if you change jobs, you usually have to repay the loan immediately.
Investor Life Cycle ~ Net Worth
It’s interesting to think about how your net worth changes over your life time. This chart does a great job illustrating the typical trajectory
Perils of Emotional Investing
“So many people get scared when everyone says the sky is falling. They get out of equities and into bonds when it’s exactly the wrong time to do it. When everything is sky high and everyone is optimistic, they then plow back into equities. Their emotions do the wrong thing. “
— Dr. Burton Malkiel (author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street)
Pitfalls of Money Management
Common pitfalls with managing money:
[from NPR’s economics editor Chris Farrell]
Fund Investors at “JetBlue” Breaking Point?
Fed-up fund investors at a ‘JetBlue’ breaking point. Change your investment flight plan, but stay airborne. [The headline is so good that the article almost doesn’t matter!]
Fund investors at ‘JetBlue’ breaking point Chuck Jaffehttp://www.marketwatch.comBOSTON (MarketWatch) — It’s been nearly a week since the man known as the “JetBlue flight attendant” got mad as hell and decided he was not going to take it any more. He cussed out everyone in sight, grabbed two beers, popped open the airplane door and escaped down an emergency slide onto the…
Beware the “nice” man at church…
Beware the “nice” man at church who is trying to sell you financial products with high fees and commissions that benefit him more than you. — Roger Wohlner, CFP®
Networth
Do you know your net worth? Grappling with this key number is a fantastic way to build a strong foundation for financial planning.
Recent Posts
-
What the Fed sees…and why it matters September 2,2025 -
New Tax Law: 7 Big Changes You Should Know About August 1,2025 -
-
Thoughts on the shifting housing market June 5,2025 -
