Midyear Checkup: A Time to Adapt
Where am I now? Where do I want to go from here? At the start of each year, many of us make it a habit to ask ourselves the two above questions. The answers help us map out a strategy,...
What is the FDIC and what are its insurance limits?
Q: What is the FDIC and what are its insurance limits? A: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) was created in 1933 in response to many bank failures during the Great Depression. Its goal is to preserve and promote confidence...
Staying Out of Your Neighbor’s Business
Humans can be a competitive lot. The way we posture and position ourselves to stand out in a group seems to happen instinctively. After all, in the past we competed for resources and survival. Our lives depended on it. Today,...
Level: Can A Budgeting App Change the Way We Bank?
“Level is dedicated to rewriting the financial rulebook to create a secure future for the next generation.” That’s budgeting app Level Money’s stated mission, which can be found on their website’s “About Us” page. But even as lofty as that...
Changes in Bond Yields
The recent increase in bond yields and the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will begin raising its target rate later this year have elevated investor concerns. Many investors are wondering if this is the beginning of a continued increase in...
With Short-Term Goals, Go for a Bird in the Hand
A friend of mine recently sold his house. It will be a few years before he’ll buy another one. Because the house was worth a lot more than what he and his wife owed the bank on their mortgage, they...
An Investment Lifeboat Drill Now Can Help Weather Future Disaster
Calm water makes a lifeboat drill much easier. We aren’t fighting the waves or the fear we feel during an emergency. Still, if the worst happens, and the drill becomes reality, at least we’ve rehearsed. We’ll know exactly what we...
The Stunning Odds That Can Doom Your Returns
Few investors understand the stunning odds that are likely dooming their returns. The system is rigged against investors and in favor of those who “manage” their money. Active mutual fund families, brokers and insurance companies are the big winners in...
At an Impasse but Finding a New Path
“I can’t believe you see it that way!” Just last week, I said this to my wife in the middle of a discussion (O.K., a fight) about money. We were experiencing something many of you have probably also faced. We...
Lessons Worth Learning
“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker T. Washington Occasionally, I will...
