Blog

Blog

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

You can’t pay off your debt until you do this first

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If you’re trying to pay off debt without making sure that you’ve done all the necessary work first, you’ll never make any progress. Debt looms large in our financial thoughts. For example, in a list of 50 hashtags in the … Read More … Read More

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When a financial advisor won’t talk to you, I will.

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Financial advisors typically won’t work with those who may not have a lot of assets. In contrast, a financial coach can work with anymore. If a client needs a financial advisor, I will do my best to refer them on. … Read More … Read More

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Why I no longer do pro bono coaching

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While in a perfect world I would offer my services pro bono, charging for money coaching will more likely ensure your own success. I recently had someone reach out to me and, in effect, ask me to justify my rates. … Read More … Read More

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Why you could benefit from a spending reset

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It’s easy to spend based on emotions or with a lack of intention, so a spending reset can help you reconnect with what’s important to you. I’ve done some fun experiments with money over the years. I’m thinking most specifically … Read More … Read More

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Why it’s time to stop your scarcity mindset

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The scarcity mindset is related not only to personal dissatisfaction but also to societal wealth inequality, so it’s time to put an end to it. As time goes on, I become less interested in the things that save you $5 … Read More … Read More

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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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