Radical Finances

Half car

More lying with numbers: What it really means to be half-wrong about interest rates

It is possible to lie with numbers, or at least mislead. We’ve seen this before when talking about how many hours you have available to work in a given week. It’s not the numbers that are doing the lying, of … Read MoreRead More

Library cubicles

How to lie with numbers: How many hours can you work?

One might argue that numbers are apolitical. I mean, how do you spin the number 4? How do you argue about it? Whether to close the top loop or keep it open? There’s not much there. Unfortunately, numbers can be … Read MoreRead More

"Do Not Paint" sign

Should you get a loan to pay off your debt?

Paying off debt is hard. It can feel like you’re not even making progress. Sometimes this is actually true. If you make minimum payments on your credit cards, you’re basically never going to pay anything off. And if you’ve got … Read MoreRead More

Boot laces

Why I may have life insurance even if I never purchase it

What’s the purpose of life insurance? It’s to help replace your income to your beneficiaries in case of your death. With regard to the giant payout that a term life policy generates, if invested properly, not only can it be … Read MoreRead More

Ski slope

Why I’m thinking about getting life insurance (before I need it)

Life insurance is the teeth-flossing of financial products. It’s something you know you need to deal with, but you really don’t want to. Luckily, unlike flossing, there are those who don’t really need it. The question about life insurance is … Read MoreRead More

15 ball

Why to use the 15% rule for saving for retirement

WARNING: This post contains math. Last time, when I talked about saving for retirement, I mentioned that I put away at least 15% of my income away in retirement. It occurred to me that some readers may feel like I’ve … Read MoreRead More

Pinwheels

Here’s when we really want to be celebrating National Save For Retirement Week

I logged in to my Vanguard account earlier this week, and found this admonition: I must confess, I didn’t know about this celebration week. For this I can only apologize, although to be fair there are plenty of celebration days, … Read MoreRead More

Fishing partners

Why can’t we talk about money with our partners?

I’ve talked about why it’s so hard to share financial struggles with your friends and peer group. But surely you can talk to a partner right? This is a person with which you want to travel through life. And yet, this … Read MoreRead More

Old car in field

Why can’t we talk about money with our friends?

Do you have someone you can talk about money with? Notice that before you can answer that question, we actually need to specify what kind of conversation we’re having. “Talking about money” can mean not only the nuts and bolts … Read MoreRead More

Sailboats

How to open a Roth IRA with Vanguard

I’ve made no secret about a number of things: Retirement planning is something we need to do, and right now. The best way for everyone to plan for retirement is through investing. A Roth IRA is an investment vehicle that … Read MoreRead More