Better Money DecisionsJul 11
“Even the intelligent investor is likely to need considerable willpower to keep from following the crowd. ~ Benjamin Graham, father of value investing “I’m just gonna shake, shake shake, shake, shake. Shake it off. Shake it off.” ~ Taylor Swift, international pop star and philosopher So far, 2016 has tested investors’ willpower. Ultimately, patience paid…
Better Money DecisionsJun 28
Before deciding between term and universal coverage, consumers need to determine whether or not life insurance is actually needed. If so, term provides coverage for a set period of time at a lower cost. Universal offers long term coverage with a built in savings plan. Deciding on the wrong life insurance plan might leave a…
Better Money DecisionsJun 27
Student loan debt has shot up in recent years, in particular at private colleges. But is it affecting longer range financial planning like retirement plans? READ MORE HERE
Better Money DecisionsJun 23
Yesterday, right before I gave a talk on Social Security to a group of investors, I glanced at the headline on CNN Money which read, “Social Security trust fund projected to run dry by 2034.” We all know it’s an election year and that the news media is fond of hyperbole in an attempt to catch…
Better Money DecisionsJun 21
The financial-media headline writers want you to know: Brexit is a scary, scary thing that could cause instant and irreversible damage. But there’s a problem: The headline writers don’t understand international investing. Before we examine whether or not the headline writers are correct about Brexit, let’s pause and examine the world’s developed equity markets for a moment….
Better Money DecisionsMay 13
American investors understand that it requires discipline to stay in the markets during good times and bad. But in practice, what exactly does that mean? When markets go through mood swings – or, in investing jargon, become volatile – people show corresponding emotional reactions. Often, those reactions mean panicking and putting everything into cash or gold….
Better Money DecisionsMay 5
Peddlers of market-advice newsletters know what sells: A good story about so-called hot stocks. Here are just a few recent headlines from stories in the media, touting single-stock purchases. 8 Bargain Dividend Stocks to Buy Now 4 Income Stocks to Buy Now 3 Momentum Stocks To Buy Now Best Cheap Stocks to Buy Now Under…
Better Money DecisionsMar 1
There’s a saying that I’ve heard before, but it just came through my earbuds again this morning, via John Lee Dumas and his Entrepreneur On Fire podcast. “The magic happens outside your comfort zone.” That phrase is generally used in a life-coaching sense, but it has applications for investors, as well. Let’s start with the idea of “home-country…
Better Money DecisionsJan 20
Humans are emotional creatures. That’s as true with our money as with anything else, although there’s a whole industry out there that tries to make you think your money decisions are purely logical. Unless you have a very deliberate process for making your financial decisions, they are driven by emotions. When markets go down, like they…
Better Money DecisionsJan 13
Most people tend to think of personal finance as purely logical – something that involves only your cold, calculating, analytical left brain. However – cognitive and behavioral research reveals a number of common biases that affect investing. In other words, your financial situation is pretty much entirely due to your emotions and behaviors – and…
Better Money DecisionsJan 8
Facebook has become an excellent gauge of the zeitgeist of any given moment. (Yeah, I know: Zeitgeist. What can I say? I lived in Innsbruck, Austria for a year and studied German for five years in high school and college. Don’t ask me to speak it today. The best I can do is throw around…
