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Contribute to Roth IRA or 401(k)

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…

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Live wealthy in any economy

FORGET ABOUT THE ECONOMY; LIVE A ROCKIN’ LIFE

You Can Live Wealthy in Any Economy Whenever I get plagued with an attack of ‘I don’t have enough’ or life’s not treating me well, I fall back on a few simple wealth building tools. We talk a lot about building wealth and how to live wealthy here, but it’s important to remember that life’s a marathon, not a sprint. Further, you can live wealthy regardless of the size of your bank account. Don’t even think about the news, or the dour talking heads on your TV. You are the master of your own des…

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New Sharing Economy

Robert Reich Bashes the ‘New Sharing Economy’

What is the New Sharing Economy-And Why Should You Care? After reading Robert Reich’s article in the San Francisco Chronicle, “In New Economy, Workers Get Stuck with the Scraps” I felt compelled to dig deeper into “the new sharing economy”. This component of the new economy consists of the solo-preneurs who use their own resources to deliver services and products, without the security and umbrella of the corporate structure. Who are Some of the Players in the New Sharing Economy? Uber-Individ…

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behavioral finance money management tips

3 Behavioral Finance Tips – Stop Stealing From Yourself

Use Behavioral Finance to Build Wealth When you spend money on things that you don’t need, you are stealing from yourself. This may seem like obvious advice to some, but if we take a quick look at the consumer-driven society we live in, it is clear that this is exactly what all the stores want us to do: we have opportunities to open credit cards at every major clothing store (which doesn’t help you make the most of your credit cards!); we are pressured to buy the newest electronics whenever a…

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money is only a tool

Retirement, Money + Investing Reads

Retirement Statistics + Educational Money Reads Don’t forget that money is a means to an end, not an end itself. One of life’s biggest challenges is balancing competing demands. With work, family, leisure are all vying for our attention, it’s tough to figure out how to find time and money to save for the future. As we know, money doesn’t necessarily equal happiness, yet it does solve money problems. One of my tricks to keep things in perspective is to consider what I’m doing today that will m…

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compounding leads to a comfortable retirement

What Factors Impact Whether I’ll Retire Comfortably?

How to Retire Comfortably FF at Feeling Financial asks: What factors play the biggest role in whether or not I’ll retire comfortably? Is it the funds I pick, how much I save, or how often I rebalance? Recently, when talking about budgeting with my Mom, she mentioned that she and my Dad never budgeted. That really surprised me. They were and still are very financially savvy. My dad came from an impoverished background and my mom’s upbringing was modest. My dad started working at age 10 to help…

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how to get what you really want

5 Tips to Get What You Really Want

For those of us old enough to remember Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – you know, the one before Johnny Depp – Veruca Salt might pop into your head during this post*. She had an incredibly whiney voice and constantly asked for items, demanding “I want it now!” whenever her poor father tried to delay her gratification. We may not be as irritating as this character, but maybe of us become overwhelmed with our “now” wants, which causes us to occasionally lose sight of our “most” wants. B…

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How to become a successful investor.

3 Tips to Become a Successful Investor

Investing and Financial Success I had the pleasure of being recruited at an important financial conference to give my best finance and tips to become a successful investor. It was not only fun to talk about what works in wealth building, but also great to do it ‘on camera’. I love to share the ways to become a successful investor and the more you get the steps and strategies to build wealth, the fewer financial stresses you experience. Smart small and you’ll be amazed at how a few money chang…

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Pay Off Debt or Save for Retirement

Pay Off Debt or Save for Retirement – What to Do First?

Michael from Studentloansherpa.com asks: For people with existing debt, such as credit cards and student loans, is it best to pay off debt or save for retirement? I realize that the interest rate is obviously a big factor here, so at what debt interest rate does putting money towards retirement instead of debt make the most sense? Michael, I wish it was that simple, if your interest rate is x percent, pay off debt; if your interest rate is y percent, then save for retirement. Like many invest…

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ramit sethi - how to get a raise

Money Help From Ramit Sethi; How to Get a Raise

Money Tip-Simple Strategy to Get a Raise Although I met Sethi at a Financial Blogger’s Conference several years ago, read his book I Will Teach You to be Rich, and subscribed to his newsletter, I had some difficulty understanding his tremendous popularity. Yes, he’s smart, charismatic, and creative, but what was the allure? I opened a news blast, read the entire copy, clicked the link, and read that entire copy. Sethi offered a five minute life changing tip. The first email blast title: The h…

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