My Comments: Here is Murphy's Laws Part Four. This is the 4th of six such lists that I'm sharing with everyone. As mentioned earlier, they're in no particular order, so please don't assume I'm just lazy. -Jone's Motto: Friends come and go but enemies accumulate. -Churchill's commentary on man: Man will occasionally stumble over the …
Category: Retirement Planning
Ideas to help preserve and grow your money
Murphy’s Laws – Part Three
My Comments: Here is Murphy's Laws Part Three. This is the third of six such lists that I'm sharing with everyone. As a reminder, they're not in alphabetical order, so please don't assume I'm just lazy. -Help a man when he is in trouble, and he will remember you when he is in trouble again. …
7 Best Vanguard Funds for Retirement
My Comments: This was written and published almost a year ago. I think the ideas expressed are still valid. I’ve amended the numbers shown for each fund named to reflect current 2021 numbers from Vanguard (3/3121). This is not a recommendation or suggestion you act on any of this with your money. But it does …
I’m a financial planner, and there are 5 pieces of money advice no one ever wants to hear from me
My Comments: YES, I am a financial planner and have been for several decades, and NO, I didn’t write this article. But these 5 pieces of money advice are good ones. It helps if you’re still many years away from retirement, but there are valuable thoughts here. For those of you like me whose time …
4 must-knows before claiming Social Security
My Comments: Assuming you qualify for benefits, the day/month when you file your claim becomes locked in for the rest of your life. You need to choose it wisely. Among the four must-knows referenced in the title is the term FRA. That stands for your Full Retirement Age. It’s the point in time when you …
Continue reading 4 must-knows before claiming Social Security
On Eve of Retirement, Savings for Medical Costs Can Fall Short
My Comments: While this was written five years ago, the message is increasingly relevant. Despite Medicare for those of us over age 65, it’s recognized that medical care in this country is far more expensive, all things being equal, than it is in the rest of the world. Couple that with increasing longevity and chances …
Continue reading On Eve of Retirement, Savings for Medical Costs Can Fall Short
Is This Financial Tool the Best Idea Since Sliced Bread?
One of the best analogies I’ve seen used to describe what follows here is that it’s sometimes called the “Swiss Army Knife of Retirement Planning”. This resonates with me as I’ve had a real Swiss Army Knife for dozens of years. It has multiple uses which is why it’s often in my pocket. What follows …
Continue reading Is This Financial Tool the Best Idea Since Sliced Bread?
Adding Annuities to a Diversified Investment Portfolio
My Comments: The following about annuities was written by Joseph M. Maas, a financial professional located in Seattle, WA. He has multiple credentials attesting to his financial expertise and is associated with an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm. His title to the white paper he's written differs slightly from mine. As someone who has attempted …
Continue reading Adding Annuities to a Diversified Investment Portfolio
What Is a Mega Backdoor Roth?
My Comments: I truly wish I’d opened a Roth IRA years ago and properly funded it. No, I don’t enjoy paying income taxes though I fully understand the need for them. My biggest gripe is wealthy people and corporate elites avoiding paying income taxes at all. That said, if you’re planning to retire at some …
Thanks to Kobach, Trump and conservative think tank, we know extent of voter fraud
My Comments: My mind tends to wander into oblivion when I read about Republican claims of widespread voter fraud. Then it gets upset when I read about state legislators across these United States taking pains to increase the difficulty normal citizens must overcome to cast legitimate ballots in elections. Despite widespread calls for factual and …
Continue reading Thanks to Kobach, Trump and conservative think tank, we know extent of voter fraud
Helping Define Your Financial Future 