What If You – Won’t – Have a Fat 401(k)?
February 5, 2014
In the financial world it’s generally assumed that you – and just about everyone else – will have a fat 401(k) plan by the time you retire. That plan will be the bedrock of your entire retirement strategy. But let’s play devil’s advocate here for a minute: What if you won’t have a fat 401(k) plan? […]
Why You Should Buy the Least Expensive House You Can Afford
February 4, 2014
The housing market has changed a lot in just the past few years. The old philosophy of buying the most expensive house you can afford has become obsolete. There are far more advantages to buying the least expensive house you can afford. Consider some of the following . . . . Lower Down Payment and […]
The Amazing Benefits of Rental Real Estate
February 3, 2014
The stock market closed out 2013 with a new high. There’s certainly a lot of buzz around the market right now, but often that’s one of the best times to start seriously investigating alternative investments. As the saying goes, what goes up, must come down. That doesn’t mean that the stock market is headed for […]
Which Spouse Should Be the Stay-at-Home Parent?
January 31, 2014
In most cases where there is a decision to be made about which spouse should be the stay-at-home parent, the choice favors the wife/mother. Instinctively, this seems to be the best choice, particularly when it comes to parenting. But there may be some objective factors that should be closely examined before making a snap decision. […]
3 Ways to Pay Veterinary Bills Without Going Broke
January 30, 2014
Medical costs for people aren’t the only healthcare costs rising. Veterinary care for our pets is rising too. Not only can large veterinary bills strain a household budget, but they can also force us into making tough choices. Do we go ahead with a life-saving surgery for our beloved pet, or do we decide that […]
What to Do if You’re a Saver and Your Spouse Isn’t
January 29, 2014
Married couples can face financial stressors on various fronts. Maybe this isn’t even a stress – but a preference – but what do you do if you’re a saver and your spouse isn’t? It’s actually a serious dilemma though, even if many would not consider it to be an actual problem. Some people have a deep […]
Why You Might Need to Set Smaller Goals in 2014
January 27, 2014
This is the season of resolutions, as in New Year’s resolutions. But resolution is mostly just a fancy word for goals that we trot out at the beginning of each year as a way of raising our commitments to achieve them. If you’re like most people however, you have more than a little bit of […]
Life Events That Can End in Debt – And How to Avoid the Consequences
January 16, 2014
So many contingencies can be addressed with solid financial planning – having an emergency fund, creating a college fund to put children through school while minimizing student loan debt, building a retirement plan, and even having life insurance to care for your loved ones upon your death. But sometimes things happen that come from outside […]
Buyer’s Title Insurance and Why You Should Have It
December 24, 2013
Very few people are familiar with title insurance, and even fewer with its optional component – buyer’s title insurance. There are all kinds of insurance policies, but this one never rears its head until you are either buying or refinancing a home or another type of real estate. Title insurance is one of those quiet […]
How to Build Tax Diversification into Your Retirement Investments
December 23, 2013
You probably understand the importance of investment diversification – spreading your portfolio across various mutually exclusive asset classes. But when you are investing for your retirement, it’s also important that you build tax diversification into your portfolio as well. This balance is much more important than most retirement investors realize. You can build tax diversification into […]
