Blog

Blog

Musings on personal finance and more. Not written with AI since 2012.

If you were automatically enrolled in an IRA, would you opt-out?

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A look at the state-run auto-IRA plans and whether they are a net benefit for employees who don’t have (or utilize) other retirement options. Not everyone has access to a workplace-retirement account like a 401(k). A few years ago, I … Read More … Read More

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Year in review 2020: Top 10 posts

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A look back at the best posts of 2020 on this site, including both my favorites and the ones readers viewed most. It has been a year of changes, to say the least. I went full-time as a money coach, … Read More … Read More

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Glide paths, or why even simple money decisions aren’t always so simple

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Target date funds use differing ways to adjust investments over time, showing that even simple money decisions have unexpected complexity. I’m not here to suggest specific investments for your money. Not only is it a legal thing, but to me … Read More … Read More

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Why you want to build a financial team

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A fortuitous experience with an insurance agent reminds me that we shouldn’t do all the financial work ourselves, that we need a financial team. I signed up for health insurance on the Marketplace. Healthcare.gov. Obamacare. Whatever you want to call … Read More … Read More

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Why holiday shopping is more complex this year

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Black Friday deals have a greater urgency this year because of the pandemic, but it doesn’t mean that you should do your holiday shopping indiscriminately. I can’t lie; I’ve always had challenges with this time of year. It’s not the … Read More … Read More

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7 things I’m grateful for toward the end of 2020

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A brief pause at Thanksgiving to talk about some things I can be grateful for in the closing weeks of 2020. 2020 hasn’t been great. Between the pandemic and the U.S.’s abominable response (not just the government, but also the … Read More … Read More

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Why you may want to ignore the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals

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The creator of the “4% rule” for safe retirement portfolio withdrawals doesn’t even believe in 4% anymore. That’s good news, as the actual safer percentage appears to be higher. So you’ve spent decades of your life building up a sizable … Read More … Read More

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Don’t stop, no matter how (painfully) long it takes

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In light of the 2020 election, it’s worth remembering that some dreams take years to come true. Or even decades. History says, Don’t hopeOn this side of the grave,But then, once in a lifetimeThe longed-for tidal waveOf justice can rise … Read More … Read More

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Why a new fee on mortgage refinancing shouldn’t affect you

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Refinancing a mortgage is getting pricier due to the Adverse Market Refinance Fee, but refinancing doesn’t offer the benefits you think. There’s a new fee in town. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has instituted a 0.5% fee on refinancing of … Read More … Read More

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Are you a “temporarily embarrassed millionaire”?

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I dissect the famous quote about how Americans don’t support social welfare policies because they see themselves as “temporarily embarrassed millionaires”, and how that mindset can be dangerous. I’ve been reading a fascinating book by the British radio show host … Read More … Read More