A Wake-Up Call Without the Trauma
Imagine a hypothetical guy who lives a responsible financial life. He’s focused on meeting his obligations, even though he doesn’t have a big cushion when it comes to his take-home pay. Things are tight. He’s not quite living paycheck-to-paycheck, but...
Should You Really Be Buying That? How to Decide If a Purchase Is Really Worth It
“It was totally worth it.” In this case, “it” referred to a Vitamix blender that a friend recently had purchased. He wasn’t the first. Indeed, I don’t know anyone who has purchased a Vitamix blender and didn’t share my friend’s...
What qualifications are required for a municipal bond to meet our buying parameters?
Quick Take on Fixed Income November, 2015 Question: What qualifications are required for a municipal bond to meet our buying parameters? Answer: While there have been few defaults in the municipal market, it’s important to note that not all muni...
Guide to Retirement Planning – October, 2015
This document covers several key issues as you plan for retirement and is divided into four sections: Section 1: Determining How Much to Save and Spend Section 2: Portfolio Management Section 3: Risk Management Section 4: Maximizing Social Security Benefits...
Setting Aside Shame and Blame in Financial Decisions
I’m a huge advocate of the “no shame, no blame” rule when it comes to money. But I think there’s some confusion about how the rule works. It’s not that you won’t feel guilt. It’s also not about avoiding responsibility....
The Secret to Investing in Volatile Times
The financial media loves volatile markets. When the market drops, investors understandably become anxious. They have questions like: What is causing the decline? How low will the market fall? Should I sit on the sidelines until things “settle down”? Are...
Taxing The Yale Model
The success of the Yale Endowment has been highly publicized, leading many endowments, foundations and more recently, even high net worth individuals, to consider adopting the so-called Yale Model. The Yale Model includes a focus on alternative investments and attempts...
Avoid Worrying About a Future That May Never Happen
I love spending time in the mountains. So a few weeks ago, I jumped at the opportunity to join a friend, my son and seven of his friends on a trip into the Uinta Mountains. This range sits about an...
How do equity and fixed income markets differ?
Quick Take on Fixed Income September, 2015 Q: How do equity and fixed income markets differ? A: Most people are familiar with the equity markets and how they work. After all, anyone can turn on the television and see traders...
Avoid the Investment Noise
“Today’s investors find it inconceivable that life might be better without so much information. Investors find it hard to believe that ignoring the vast majority of investment noise might actually improve investment performance. The idea sounds too risky because it...
