Remember the saying, “Everything comes to those who wait?” Investment gurus lectured us about patience and compounding. They blared, “Save $100/month, invest at 6% and you will be a millionaire when you retire.” Current interest rates make that impossible. 25 years ago, if you bought US treasuries, the compound interest doubled your money in 12 years. Using today’s interest rates, […]
» Read moreI ran into the house crying. My grandmother grabbed some ice and pressed it to my face. I was a first-grader and had never been on a farm before. I knocked down a wasp’s nest with a broom. I got nailed, and it hurt! My grandfather looked at the welt. He smiled, and calmly said, “Now you know why I […]
» Read moreNeed help? Find an expert. Tim Plaehn is a member of our panel of experts and regular contributor. He is the editor of Dividend Hunter specializing in finding solid, dividend-paying stocks. Knowing Tim was once a financial advisor, I leaned on him when I wrote, “How To Find A Financial Advisor To Meet YOUR Needs.” Interest rates are so low, […]
» Read moreDo you have a 401(k)? How much are you paying in fees? Is your money invested safely? Is it company-sponsored, or self-directed? A TD Ameritrade survey found that 27% of investors knew how much they were paying in 401(k) fees and astonishingly, 37% of respondents were unaware. I believe in maximizing your 401(k) contributions, particularly when there is an employer […]
» Read moreI was sitting in the exam room and the doctor walked in. Knowing I write this blog, he said, “Finally someone I can talk to. What the heck is going on?” With our current economic situation, the market tanking and the Coronavirus monopolizing the amped up media, a lot of concerned subscribers are asking that question. When you combine financial […]
» Read moreEnergy stocks are not keeping up with the S&P 500. What’s going on? MarketWatch provides a 10-year chart for XLE, an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) specializing in the energy sector. Over ten years the price dropped from $57.52 to $54.16. Macrotrends shows us the S&P has almost tripled during that same time: What happened to the energy sector? With the […]
» Read moreIn a yield-starved investment world, should investors be buying Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT)? Can they bring solid, safe returns? Many investors love them, while some shy away. How volatile are they? How do you evaluate them? A subscriber recently asked a good question. He purchased a subscription from one of our trusted affiliates, The Dividend Hunter. He looked at […]
» Read moreMy instrument check ride was already scheduled when I got a call from Larry, my flight instructor. He told me to come out to the airport immediately, today would be one of the best learning experiences he could offer. It was a cloudy, soppy, rainy day; nothing going on, so I drove to the airport. Larry said today we would […]
» Read moreThe bond market is absolutely nuts – devoid of any common sense. Back in the days when professors used chalkboards, and actually taught classes, I studied Business Economics. We learned how capital and labor come together to produce goods and services, create jobs and profits. If capital was needed, you could borrow and pay interest. Interest is the rent you […]
» Read moreThere is a three-headed investment bandit lurking in the weeds looking to steal your wealth. Savvy investors must deal with them – all at the same time. First up is the safety bandit. If you invest in stocks and bonds, they can default or go down in value, robbing wealth from your nest egg. Second is the income bandit. Retirees […]
» Read more