Awareness

Year in review 2020: Top 10 posts

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 MoreRead More

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

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 MoreRead More

Why you want to build a financial team

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 MoreRead More

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

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 MoreRead More

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

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 MoreRead More

Are you a “temporarily embarrassed millionaire”?

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 MoreRead More

Don’t fear the warranty

You are probably never going to take advantage what the manufacturers offer, so don’t be afraid to void your warranties. My turntable has become a treasured item in my home, and especially during the pandemic, playing records has definitely been … Read MoreRead More

How to pay off a $10,000 debt

Paying off debt requires drive, focus, patience, and accountability. In this post I show how you can pay off a large debt. In a recent YouTube video, I talked about a hypothetical $10,000 debt. Now, for many people, this sort … Read MoreRead More

Why a terrible savings account rate is actually just fine

Falling interest rates may seem like a concern, but it helps to illustrate what savings accounts are really for. I’ve also long talked about how you can use an online savings bank to get much higher interest rates than with … Read MoreRead More

Are people fundamentally good or bad?

A false choice on judging people’s virtue is nonetheless responsible for whether we err on the side of helping too many or too few people. Oversimplifications are comforting. For some, the importance of saying, “this is right, and this is … Read MoreRead More