My Comments: For most people, monthly benefits from Social Security are a critical element of one’s financial life in retirement. While started in the 1930’s to allow poor people to avoid destitution, it’s evolved to where today it’s critical for many millions of not so poor people. While we can argue it’s a drain on …
Continue reading Don’t Claim Social Security Benefits Until You Can Answer These 3 Questions
My Comments: The filibuster is confusing. Not only how it's applied, but the rationale for its existence and whether it should be eliminated. These words from Noah Bookbinder have helped me understand the dynamics involved and the potential threats to democracy it poses if left to stand as it does today. by Noah Bookbinder \ …
Continue reading I’m done with the Senate filibuster. We’re running out of time to save democracy.
My Comments: Are we going to experience a market crash? Most certainly, at some point in the future. How far into the future is, in my opinion, an educated guess. These words from Man Yin To are to my mind, a very educated guess. What you do with them is up to you. by Man …
My Comments: This post is about investing money for use in the future. The SPX referenced in the title is essentially the S&P 500, basically the 500 largest companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Not long ago, I was the owner of a Registered Investment Advisory firm called Florida Wealth Advisors. Today, many …
Continue reading SPX: It Is Different This Time, It’s Much Worse
Some 50 years ago, or more, I happened to be in Mike’s Bookstore in downtown Gainesville one evening. I recall seeing a map cabinet with maps for sale. I picked one out, paid for it, and then it languished in a cardboard tube for many years. At some point I had it framed and it’s …
Continue reading The 1890 US Geological Survey Map / Arredondo, Florida
My Comments: Being “rich” is a subjective concept. Nevertheless, having more money for retirement is much better than having less money. So, wherever you are on life’s trajectory, it helps to have your financial reserves invested intelligently to increase your chances of having more money along the way. As for investing with Vanguard, it’s where …
Continue reading 3 Unstoppable Vanguard ETFs That Can Make You Rich
My Comments: My knowledge of history is limited. But I do know the Roman Empire eventually disappeared. And I’ll wager few of it’s educated citizenry in AD 300 realized it’s time was soon to end. What followed is now referred to as the “dark ages”. That in turn lasted several hundred years until perhaps AD …
My Comments: Few, if any of us, “enjoy” paying taxes. But we recognize the need for government to collect money from us, its citizenry. We expect government to play a role in our lives, ensuring our safety, and as it happens, a million other reasons. We can argue the merits of what the revenue will …
My Comments: Before you take me to task for being a Democrat, let me say I’ve been trained as an economist and have spent the better part of my adult life earning a living by understanding the dynamics of money. With the recent transition from Republican to Democrat administrations, there’s lots of noise in the …
Continue reading Republican Presidents Have Been Bad for the Economy? Why is That?
My Comments: This is about portfolio allocation and philosophy. It takes a while for the dialog below to get to the point about what we in the money business refer to as the 60:40 Rule. During my professional lifetime it’s been the sweet spot between the 80:20 Rule where you have 80% of your money …
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