There are different schools of thought on ways to accelerate paying of your mortgage. Most people are familiar with the 15-year mortgage versus the 30-year mortgage. The idea is a […]
Target Funds & 401(k) Plans
04/28/2011 by
A number of years ago, employers began to include Target Date Funds as choices in their 401(k) plans.
The idea behind these investments, sometimes called “Lifecycle Funds,” is to help you to easily allocate your retirement plan contributions. Essentially, you would select a Target Date Fund that was “dated” close to the year you planned to retire, and, often, not include any of the other investment choices available in your company’s plan. For example, if you want to retire in 2015, you might select “Target Date Fund – 2015.” If you thought you would begin to enjoy your Golden Years in 2020, then you might choose “Target Date Fund – 2020.
Taxes…Taxes…Taxes
04/12/2011 by
What else comes to mind when you think of April? Taxes…Taxes…Taxes! I’ve attached a video that may hit close to home for some of you having just recently gathered up and prepared your own taxes. If you found your self saying, “I need to do something about these taxes”, this is a good place to start. Doug is a friend of mine and has been a financial planner for over 30 years and we’ve incorporated some of his Missed Fortune strategies in our own planning as well as in plans for qualified clients. Please stop by the office to discuss some Missed Fortune concepts if you feel proactive tax planning may benefit your situation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlfXYzdt4Bk
Portfolio Construction: The Mideast Wants Free Markets
03/15/2011 by
A client called and asked somewhat nervously if, with all the turmoil going on in Northern Africa, were we invested in Egypt and Libya? The implication was that if we were invested in one of these two countries, should we sell? Or, if we were not invested in one of these countries, should we buy?
401(k) Accounts & the DOL
03/08/2011 by
Last weekend’s Wall Street Journal had a front page article called Retiring Boomers Find 401(k) Plans Fall Short. The article begins by noting that “The 401(k) generation is beginning to retire, and it isn’t a pretty sight. The retirement savings plans that many baby boomers thought would see them through old age are falling short in many cases.”
This article peaked my interest since 401(k)’s are the retirement saving vehicles of our time. The old traditional defined benefit plans that promised a certain benefit every month after retirement until death are dinosaurs. The burden has shifted to employees to fund their own retirement through these and similar plans.
Need Financial Help?
03/01/2011 by
[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.faicoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Need-Financial-Help.pdf” title=”Need Financial Help”]
Investment Answers with Gordon Murray
02/17/2011 by
“Well, I’ve never heard of that.” I’ve heard this statement through the years and have always thought it to be a mix of arrogance and ignorance. “Well…what else, my friend, in this massive universe have you not heard of?” It’s interesting how many times the late Mr. Murray must have heard this question from interviewers about his best selling book in the month before passing away.
Leading Economic Indicator
02/09/2011 by
January was a great month for the stock market! The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 2.7% and the S&P 500 Index was up 2.4%. It was the best January for the markets in 14 years.
Wow! Does that mean we’re going to have a Great Year? The “January Barometer” says so. But is this widely followed stock market indicator just another myth? The “January Barometer” works this way: If January is an “UP” month, it could mean a good year for the stock market. But if January is a “DOWN” month, well, that means that it would probably be a pretty dismal year for investors.
It would be nice if it worked, but unfortunately, the theory just does not hold up to scientific scrutiny.
What Is The Value Of Human Life?
02/01/2011 by
You may not want to put a price tag on it. But if we really had to, most of us would agree that the value of a human life would […]
Retirement & Municipal Bonds
01/11/2011 by
As you know, we are not big fans of Municipal Bonds. You will not find a single Municipal Bond among the 10,000 – 14,000 holdings in any of the Academically Managed accounts that many of you own through me. But often, retirees and those preparing for retirement are heavily invested in municipal bonds and bond funds. Unfortunately, in many cases, their advisors may not have disclosed to them the significant risks that such a strategy bears.
The Rule of 72 Can Be Revealing To You
01/01/2011 by
Have you ever noticed that the published 3 year, 5 year and 10 year annualized returns on your mutual funds and investments often show 10%+? I’ve always found this interesting […]
It’s A Wonderful Life
12/01/2010 by
This classic gem directed by Frank Capra, one of my favorite movies and a sure watch every holiday season. This is a story of an angel working to get his […]
Do You Have An Investment Philosophy?
11/01/2010 by
This is a very simple question whose answer has far reaching implications to your life savings and retirement peace of mind. I have asked this question to hundreds of people […]
Common Investor Mistake – Part Two
09/13/2010 by
This week, Paul Nichols, the president of Financial Abundance talks about one of the most common investor mistakes that he’s noticed in recent times. That is, riding a losing stock […]
Financial Literacy Part One
09/08/2010 by
Paul Nichols, the president of Financial Abundance, talks about why he enjoys being the “Investor Coach”. When it comes to investing. Who do teaches the rules? Who makes the rules? […]
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