Control Costs: They Matter!
You get what you pay for, right? Actually, when it comes to investing, it’s what you don’t pay for that really counts. Vanguard’s latest ad’s have all revolved around “at-cost” investing for this very reason. Check out the link below where Vanguard explains “at-cost” investing and how it can help investors reach financial success over time. Vanguard’s At-Cost […]
Gambling with Retirement? It’s Time You Take Control!
Over the years there has been a shift of burden in retirement savings from the employer to the employee. The era of company pension plans is fading, leaving Americans on their own to save for retirement; primarily through company-sponsored 401(k) plans. Frontline recently aired The Retirement Gamble, where it highlights some of the downfalls of […]
Are You A Casually Competent Investor?
Steven Grey and Advisor Propsectives recently published a stellar article titled “The Myth of the Casually Competent Investor”. Not only was he spot on with his analysis, he gave some great analogies about how everyone considers themselves qualified to beat the market. A small snippet of the article shows two great examples of how silly […]
Market Madness
During this time of the year office brackets and friendly wagers are seen everywhere, luring in even the faintest of sports fans. This epidemic, also known as March Madness, has gotten ahold of everybody and is the craze of the nation for almost a full month! So besides edge of your seat excitement filled games, […]
Market Commentary- April 2013
Market Commentary Stocks wrapped up a stellar first quarter with the S&P 500 finishing at an all-time high, besting its last high in October 2007. For the quarter, large-cap stocks (represented by the S&P 500) were up 10.6%. Small-cap stocks also did quite well, returning 12.4% in the first quarter. International markets had a positive […]
The Questions You Should Be Asking
The NY Times blog author Carl Richards hits the nail on the head when he highlights how emotions are once again taking over media and investor behavior as the stock market presses higher and higher. The question being asked is “Should we buy or should we sell?” as many rush into the market at its recent […]
It’s a New Year: Get Your Retirement Back On Track
In a recent WSJ article, Seven Resolutions to Get Your Nest Egg in Shape, the author points out that many Americans are behind on their preparations for retirement. Below are some eye-opening stats: – 67% of workers say they are behind schedule in planning and saving for retirement! – Less that 60% of […]
Fund your Retirement, not Wall Street!
A recent article in The Economist talks about the reasons to stick with low cost ETF’s and proper asset allocation for the long term success. “The best way for investors to play the odds is to choose low-cost ETFs or trackers and diversify geographically and across asset classes. It is not an exciting strategy. It will […]
The Fiscal Cliff: Why Selling Now Is Not Always The Best Strategy
The daily fiscal cliff news coverage is causing irrational investor behavior regarding unrealized long-term capital gains (LTCG). Without congressional action the LTCG rate is set to increase from 15% in 2012 to 20% in 2013. In addition, high earners are subject to a 3.8% Medicare surtax applied to all capital gains. (income greater than $250,000 […]
Controlling Costs – A Financial Recipe for Success
I have seen people drive miles out of their way for the cheapest gas, shop at multiple grocery stores for the best prices, and even wake up at uncanny hours to receive the best deals on holiday presents! As consumers we are always looking for a good deal, and price is one of the largest […]