The Biggest Market Failure of All

    Picking the wrong parents is our nation’s biggest market failure. This “rigged” market could lead our country down a path filled with unprecedented turmoil and social chaos. The top 20% of our population has a vise-like grip on our economy (and the wealth it generates) at an unprecedented level. This group is defined…

It’s Monday Again…..When Is My Retirement?

Good Morning! Here are this week’s retirement links. Have a great day!   401(k) Managed Account Push Rife With Conflicts Of Interest – InvestmentNews Bill Sweet’s Year End Checklist – The Big Picture Three Keys To Happiness – HumbleDollar Even A $1 Million Retirement Nest Egg Isn’t Enough Anymore – CNBC Unions Could Be ‘Next…

There Are No Awards for Martyrs, Just Tombstones

Dina here … A little more than two months before my due date, panic set in.  Though I had much experience as an aunt and babysitter, and in spite of my life-long fantasies of motherhood, the moment was quickly approaching where my life would change forever. Change, even joyous change, can be terrifying.  In my case,…

The Most Ridiculous Statement in Finance

Markets don’t exist in a vacuum. “One hit wonders” love to make things simple. “The market fell/gained today because _____” is the most ridiculous statement in finance. Confusing a closed-ended science experiment with the reactions of billions of market variables is a death sentence for investors. Steven Johnson’s interesting book, The Invention of Air, illustrates this…

Rage Against The Fee Machine

Investment fees slash and burn retirement portfolios returns like napalm dropped on a jungle. In the words of Kyle Reese, describing the relentless Terminator from the classic 1984 film: “You still don’t get it, do you? He’ll find her! That’s what he does! That’s ALL he does! You can’t stop him! He’ll wade through you……

It’s Monday Again…..When Is My Retirement?

Good Morning! Here are this week’s retirement links. Have a great day! Some Women Attain an Enviable Status: 401(k) Millionaire – The New York Times Three Tips for Evidence-Based Retirement Plans – Enterprising Investor Top 6 Things No One Tells You About Retiring – The Motley Fool It’s Not About the Money – Of Dollars…

Something I Am Thinking About This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving should make all of us count our blessings. We are all so lucky, despite the trivial problems that temporarily complicate our lives. For five years, I worked in one of the most impoverished and violent schools in New York City. I will never forget some of the things I experienced and saw there. I…

Where’s the Justice?

“‘If TIAA was in the non-ERISA arena, they wouldn’t even be getting in any trouble. They’re getting subpoenaed for things that are common practice and worse in all 50 states in the non-ERISA market,’ said Tony Isola, head of the 403(b) division at Ritholtz Wealth Management. ‘Where’s the justice there?’”*  Rampant, abusive, and LEGAL sales…

6 Ways Human Nature Can Benefit Your Finances

  Dina here … My last post,  “6 Ways to Foil a Financial Predator” may have left some feeling like an easy mark.  But what if we could take our six natural human responses to persuasion and make them work in our favor?  Well, we can.  Here are some ideas on how to proactively take charge and shoot…

It’s Monday Again…..When Is My Retirement?

Good Morning! Here are this week’s retirement links. Have a great day and a Happy Thanksgiving! Data Suggests Women Are Better Behaved Investors – Betterment One Unexpected Problem With Retirement Savings: Knowing How To Spend It – MarketWatch Here’s A More Tax- Efficient Way To Give To Charities – Wall Street Journal How To Get…