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Is running out of retirement money a fate worse than death?
Imagine this – the year is 2040. You are 80 years old, in reasonably good health, and you have just spent your last penny of retirement savings. You have no other sources of income. For the rest of your life, you will rely on government handouts and the charity of others. Sit with that image […]
5 Reasons to Work Another Year Before Retiring
There’s no shortage of advice about how to save enough to retire early, but in some cases, you may want to consider the opposite. By deciding to work another year, you can realize a host of benefits that can permanently increase your retirement income, reduce your outstanding debts and make life less stressful. Let’s take […]
Viaticals and Life Settlements
UPDATED 2019: This article, originally published in 2008, continues to be one of our most popular posts, as people continue to seek information about viaticals and life settlements. Please keep in mind that it is possible some of the facts offered have changed throughout the years, but our sentiments about this topic have not. I […]
Investing is Not the Same Thing as Saving
A mistake far too many people make is to invest money they should be saving and save money that they should be investing. In our continuation of the discussion of Snider Advisors’ Guiding Principles, we will examine the principle that investing is not the same thing as saving. While saving and investing are certainly interrelated, […]
Stock Market Slot Machine
I strongly recommend an excellent article to you, from the Psy-Fi blog, a regular on my daily reading list. The title of the article is B.F Skinner’s Stock Market Slot Machines: Win Big, Win Rarely, Win Never. I often refer to B.F Skinner, intermittent variable reinforcement, and how the stock market creates superstitions much like those […]
5 Investing Tools for First-Time Investors
Where do less-seasoned investors go to get the information they need about the stock market? What are the best investing tools available to new investors? Whether you’re completely new to investing or you’re simply switching strategies and looking for some guidance, every investor needs help tracking the market and making good financial decisions. This is […]
5 Habits of Savvy Investors-Part 1
Have you ever wondered how great investors think or what they’re doing that the rest of the world isn’t doing? What makes them tick? In this multi-part series, 5 Habits of Savvy Investors, we’ will uncover the investment secrets of some of the most successful investors of the last century. Different Strokes for Different Folks Most […]
Can You Have Too Much Home Equity?
This article on home equity was originally published in 2008, and continues to be one of our most popular posts. Please keep in mind that it is possible some of the facts offered have changed throughout the years, but our sentiments about this topic have not. To learn more about this subject, check out Are […]
7 Red Flags of a Shady Financial Advisor
News headlines of the past tell a cautionary tale of how critical it is to be careful in choosing your financial advisor. In this article series, we will explore 7 red flags you can use to identify the types of financial advisors you should avoid at all costs. We will also provide guide steps to […]
Filial Responsibility Laws: Your Parents Your Responsibility
UPDATED 2019: This article on Filial Responsibility Laws, which was originally published in 2012, continues to be one of our most popular posts. Please keep in mind that it is possible some of the facts offered have changed throughout the years. When John Pitta’s mother couldn’t pay her nursing home bill, he was sued for almost $93,000. […]
Should You Take Social Security Early?
More than a third of insured workers claimed social security benefits as soon as they became eligible in 2013, according to the Boston College Center for Retirement Research. The big question is whether this decision appropriately reflected the individuals’ circumstances or whether they made a costly mistake. If you’re approaching retirement, it’s important to carefully weigh […]
What Are the Components of Asset Allocation?
It’s easy to see that many financial assets are highly correlated — especially large assets. If there is a new sign of an economic slowdown, investors expect the entire S&P 500 index to move lower in response. Similarly, if interest rates rise, investors expected all fixed income investments to fall. The individual stock or bond […]
Regulation T: What It Is and How It Impacts Margin Accounts
Margin accounts let investors borrow money from their broker to purchase stock. This leverage enables them to realize higher returns, but the same leverage increases risk. If the equity in an account falls below a certain threshold, brokers may issue a margin call or liquidate stock positions to protect their lent money with little or no notice. […]
Texas Tomorrow: Understanding the Texas Tuition Promise Fund
Many times when we meet with clients, the topic of how to pay for their children’s college is on the forefront. There are really two main choices when deciding on a college education fund in Texas, a traditional qualified 529 savings plan or the Texas Tuition Promise Fund. Texas has a traditional qualified 529 savings plan which is managed by a […]
Transfers, IRA Rollovers, and 60-Day Rollovers
A while back, one of our clients called to inquire about our thoughts on the article, IRA Rollovers Ruling Stuns Advisers and Savers. After reading it, I can certainly understand how the terminology in the article can be very confusing for the average person, so let’s clarify a few of things regarding this. What is the […]
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