Is a 7% Future Long Term Return Achievable?
Wise asset classes allocations boost long term returns. A 7% long term return is possible.
What to Do With a Pay Raise
Wages Finally Up-How to Supersize the Pay Raise After the 2008-2009 recession, it seemed like jobs and wages would never turn around. If you were lucky enough to have a job, then you were doing the work of two employees and afraid to ask for a raise. Working harder for the same money. And you wondered if this is the “new normal”. As this is not my first rodeo {I’ve been watching the economic markets for decades}, I knew eventually the deplorable job market would turn around. Wages are finally…
The Saving Secret Worth $366,000
The I Hate to Save-Kick in the Butt Latest news just in from Sun Trust Bank Survey: “Many higher income households are living paycheck-to-paycheck” We are notoriously bad at imagining our future. In fact I remember playing with my Great Aunt as an 8 year old and thinking, “I’m never going to be this old, ever”. Then I remember thinking about how old I’d be when the new millennium came, and the same thought reoccurred, “I’ll never be that old”. This inability to image the future is a bit probl…
Top Money Sites for Millennials {To Get You Out of Mom’s Basement}
Are you a millennial hoping to get a decent job, find a partner, make some money, buy a house, and
How to Handle a Tax Audit; the IRS Says I Owe $25,000
The Dreaded IRS Tax Audit Letter The thick IRS letter arrived and I assumed it enclosed the tax forms I ordered. I was wrong. The letter contained a list of 5 sources of income that were not included on my 2010 tax return. Total bill due the IRS including penalties and interest, $25,000.00. Panic set in. Ironically, 2010 was the year I was exceptionally familiar with the tax law as I served as a VITA volunteer tax preparer for the IRS. What was going on?
Is Cash Investing Obsolete?
Cash Investing? A typical portfolio includes stock financial assets, bond type assets, and pinch of cash in its asset allocation. In
How to Cut Investing Fees + Increase Returns
Cut Investing Fees and Save Thousands I was pleased to receive this question important from Larry Russell an accomplished investor, software developer, financial planner and editor of The Skilled Investor Blog; “What should investors do once they understand that the financial industry takes over 1/3 of their gross investment returns every year, while it adds only a small fraction of that in value?” Not only is Larry asking this question, but so are many of my readers. If You’re Smart-You Can …
Should I Buy Foreclosed Real Estate?
A reader from the website, Fromthisseat.com writes in; “Is purchasing foreclosed real estate a smart investment with so many renters and so few home buyers in the market?” Real Estate Market Prequel In the aftermath of the 2008-2009 recession, there was an abundance of foreclosed properties just begging to be bought by the enterprising investor. The thinking was, buy a real estate at a discount, make a few repairs and either rent it out or sell it for a profit. At that time, it seemed like a …
Why I Used to Invest in Individual Stocks + Now I Don’t
Recommended Investing and Money Articles and Links Many years ago, I was terrified of the stock market. I thought it would steal all of your money. With depression-era parents, the anecdotal information about the stock market crash of 1929 seemed frightening. I believed that you could lose all of your money if you invested in the stock market. I started investing in my 20’s with a traditional stock broker and various versions of bonds and bond funds (and 1 stock recommended by my cousin).
Should I Contribute to a Roth IRA or a 401(k), if I Can’t Fund Both?
6 Step Plan to Decide Where to Invest for Retirement Monica from MonicaOnMoney.com asks; Should I contribute to a Roth IRA or a 401(k), if I can’t fund both? (Thanks for answering, I love this idea for your blog) This is a common question for those just starting out. A 20-something, in her first job is automatically enrolled in her workplace 401(k) program. That’s a good thing, since it gets her money working and growing for the future! But, wait a minute, is the company 401(k) the best choic…