Radical Finances

Tennis Shot

It’s okay, you were never taught

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I run a discussion group in Portland called the Portland Integrative Finance Community. It’s been tremendously satisfying for me, but the feedback I’ve gotten from attendees so far has been remarkable. Many people have mentioned how positive it was to … Read More … Read More

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Net

What is your financial net worth?

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I don’t necessarily think of one’s finances as a game (unlike, say, Tony Robbins), but more like a process, a challenge, a long task. Perhaps a kind of art. That said, I also think it’s useful and important to know … Read More … Read More

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Ask graffiti

Have you lowered your bills recently?

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This week, I managed to lower my phone bill by over 25%. It was easy, and didn’t even require a call into the (dreaded) customer service. But there’s nothing special about me and my situation, and you can do the … Read More … Read More

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Superman

Enter the retirement mutant hybrid: the Roth 401(k)

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When people think of employer-based retirement accounts like 401(k) plans, people often think that that implies pre-tax contributions. It’s only your own self-directed retirement accounts (IRAs) that have the post-tax (Roth) option. I used to be one of those people. But … Read More … Read More

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Match heads

Seriously, take the employer match

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What if I told I could get you an immediate 100% return on an investment? Would you believe me? According to the American Benefits Council, 80 percent of full-time workers have access to a defined contribution plan such as a 401(k) … Read More … Read More

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Homemade Enigma machine

Financial cage match: ETFs versus mutual funds

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I want everyone to be an investing expert. Thankfully, I also believe that simplicity in investing is best. Create a Roth IRA, put money into low-cost index funds, and repeat this every month. When I say “low-cost index funds”, I’m … Read More … Read More

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Bullseye

A photo finish is a good thing when budgeting

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If you’re like me, you may procrastinate, but you don’t like it. You don’t enjoy waiting until the last minute to get things done. And in general, it feels better to have some leeway, rather than cutting things close. However, … Read More … Read More

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Falling sand grains

Does savings count as a bill or an expense?

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I talk a lot about making plans for spending money, because you want to spend your money intentionally and not just let it happen. Moreover, the objective is not to spend as little as possible, but just the right amount … Read More … Read More

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Lightning in the desert

Would I have done college differently if I had wanted to avoid debt?

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I’m annoyed when I think about debt. It’s a thing that I want to get away from, like a snoring person in the room, or a screaming baby on the plane. I want it gone. When I was in high school, … Read More … Read More

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Spiral windows

Is it a good idea to get your student loans forgiven?

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Like approximately everyone, I graduated college with student loans. If there was a way to get my loans “forgiven”, no one told me. At the time, all I knew was that I had to either pay what I owed, pay interest … Read More … Read More

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