Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff . . . Well Maybe Sometimes
In the world we live in today, we are constantly reminded not to sweat the small stuff. We are told to not let the little things get in the way of living our lives and pursuing our dreams! That is so true and why we shouldn’t worry about the gossip being spread around at work, […]
Mint.com – The Evolution of Personal Financial Software on the Web
Most successful investors start out as diligent savers. Saving is the tried and true path to reach your financial goals. For young people, the goal may be a car, a trip or an education. As we get older our goals expand to include buying a home, starting a family, paying for a child’s education and […]
Investing is for Optimists
“we are becoming healthier, cleaner, smarter, kinder, happier, and more peaceful”
Tales from the Tax Prep Front Lines
Tax preparation gives interesting insight about personal financial situations. Here are some examples. Last year an elderly lady brought her tax documents to the AARP Volunteer Tax Service for preparation. Her 1099s, etc. were not well organized, but appeared to be adequate. She, herself, was a little disorganized, and not entirely comfortable with what she […]
Free Tax Preparation: Tales of a Fee-Only Advisor
We’re only two weeks into the tax season and already the stories of woe surface. As usual, our politicians have added complexity to the tax code and we have a new set of filing requirements: new forms, tax rates, credits, challenges, etc. For the fourth year I am volunteering as a Tax Aide with AARP […]
The Results Are In – Active vs. Passive
Most investors track the direction of the financial market by checking where the S&P 500 or Dow Jones Industrial Average finishes on a daily basis in their local paper. Some days they were pleased with what they saw and others not, but as a whole 2010 left most investors optimistic about the direction of their […]
Fixed Income Risk in Your Portfolio
With interest rates near historical lows, some investors may be anxious about a possible rate climb and its potential impact on their fixed income investments.
Following a Fiduciary Standard of Care
Meeting new people or reconnecting with acquaintances often leads to the question of where I’m working these days. I reply, “I work for Rockbridge Investment Management, which is a ‘Registered Investment Advisor’ (RIA).” With that response I usually get a nod and a change of subjects.
Control the Controllable, Ignore the Rest
Like most things in life, the simple approach to doing something almost always tends to be the best. This theory holds true when it comes to investing and is one of the cornerstones behind our investment philosophy. “Gross return in the financial markets, minus the cost of financial intermediation, equals the net return actually delivered […]
