My Comments: Never, ever, take what I've written and/or shared as gospel. It's my opinion the market will be down further than the 35% it dropped before the bounce back. I'm willing to nibble here and there but my target date before doing anything of consequence is the end of May. And that may be …
Category: Investment Planning
Is the S&P 500 35% Overpriced?
My Comments: There is mounting pressure to start ignoring the negatives associated with the pandemic and instead focus on economic recovery. I understand that. The big question is where on the spectrum that runs from saving everyone to letting people die should we fall? This week I'm going to focus my thoughts on the stock …
ROTH IRAs and Why They Make Sense
My Comments: They’ve been around for some time now, but because they cause you to use after-tax money, there’s always been a cloud around them. That’s a shame since they make sense when it comes to tactically allocating your retirement income among different sources and types of accounts. That retirement, assuming you live a normal …
When Will (or IF) The Next Recession Hit?
My Comments: The current chaos in the markets is symptomatic of many variables that existed long before the coronavirus appeared and indeed, long before Trump was elected President. That they are happening now does not necessarily presage a recession, but for me, it’s looking more and more likely one will appear. For any number of …
10 Questions A Couple Should Ask BEFORE Retirement
My Comments: These ten questions deserve answers. However, they assume an existing readiness to retire that may not exist. In my world, there are 8 critical questions that precede these such that a couple, or anyone for that matter, must first ask of themselves, and answer. With millions of Americans arriving at their retirement date …
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When You Retire Could Make A Huge Difference
There is a risk associated with when you retire that’s sometimes the fault of your parents. It’s something over which you had absolutely no control. Specifically, when you were born. Let’s assume you’re now well into middle age, have a job that pays well but the idea of retirement is increasingly on your mind. You …
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New Risks We Face In Retirement
How much of life is dependent on luck? Personally, I consider myself very lucky. I’ve had good personal relationships, I’ve managed to live a productive life, my wife of 5 decades is still with me, our children are grown and have given us grandchildren. Life is good. Many of my days are spent sharing insights …
National debt surpasses record $23 trillion
On Friday, October 25, 2019, the U.S. national debt surpassed $23 trillion, per the Treasury Department and the Peterson Foundation. Why it matters: The national debt met the $22 trillion mark just nine months ago and has soared $3 trillion since Trump took office, when it rested at $19.95 trillion. The White House projected in …
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Income Allocation vs Asset Allocation
Asset Allocation appeared as concept in the world of investment management in 1986. Three people, Gary P. Brinson, L. Randolph Hood, and Gilbert L. Beebower published groundbreaking research that demonstrated an arguably better way to manage money. Here’s the gist of what they said: “…by replacing active choices with simple asset classes worked just as …
Relief for 40 million Americans without 401(k) plans
My Comments: Accumulating funds to be used in retirement is not easy. An incentive provided by the IRS is to allow you to set aside money today and pay income taxes on it later. Meanwhile, the theory goes, a larger amount grows to become even larger, and you find yourself in a lower tax bracket …
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Helping You Prepare Your Financial Future 