April 2019

Nobody Gets Out Alive

Change is the only thing that doesn’t change. Our bodies are constantly regenerating. New cells are born, others die. Stomach cells recycle every five days. Our skin every two weeks. Every ten years, our entire skeletons are completely rebuilt. Life on our planet is anything but permanent There have been five mass extinctions in Earth’s…

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

The NFL draft is a crapshoot. Your retirement plan doesn’t have to be. Start planning the right way by reading this week’s terrific links. There are very few 401(k) millionaires. A Wealth of Common Sense What exactly is a 457(b) plan? Yahoo Finance Should you be allowed to put 401(k) funds into your social security…

Everything That’s Wrong With Congress In 14 Minutes

Many Americans despise Congress. Self-serving, out of touch, conflicted, and condescending are some of the tamer adjectives thrown their way. Dina and I decided a long time ago average investors are getting screwed. Unfortunately, the government is part of the problem, not the solution. The majority of Republicans and many Democrats receive their marching orders…

Buying Cotton Candy to Eat the Stick

Investors try to do the right things but often the wrong reasons.  Mixing our monkey brains with money creates strange concoctions akin to buying cotton candy in order to eat the stick; flying on planes for the snacks; or visiting the dentist for the magazine selection.  Basically, we get distracted. There are no shortages of…

A Prussian Educational System and Financial Literacy Don’t Mix.

Our public education system is outdated and archaic. It’s not shocking personal finance isn’t a standard part of a national curriculum to prepare students for the 21st century. Instead, we still operate in a factory model, designed to mould workers into drones working on an assembly line. Public education hasn’t strayed much from 1852 when…

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

Easter and Passover are times of great reflection about the past and future. While you can’t change the past, you can influence the future. Start by reading this week’s terrific retirement links.   Use your tax refund to help fund your retirement. The U.S. News and World Report Avoid these retirement killers. CNBC How to…

Would You Pick This Investment To Fund Your Mom’s Retirement?

Overdogs aren’t popular. Think – New England Patriots, Facebook, and Darth Vader. Large insurers in the Non-Erisa K-12 403(b) retirement market dominate this space with armies of salespeople, lobbyists, regulatory capture, and deep pockets. In some industries, overdogs provide outstanding products  – others not so much. The 403(b) market falls into the latter category. Dina,…

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

42% of Americans aren’t saving for retirement at all! 1/3 have less than $5,000 put away. If you’re consistently reading our retirement tips you’re probably not in one of these groups. Pay it forward and share this week’s terrific links with someone who really needs your help. Annuity companies are using The Rolling Stones to…

Should You Buy an Annuity from Keith Richards?

Looking for that 19th Nervous Breakdown?  Here it comes, brought to you courtesy of the Alliance for Lifetime Income. According to Tobias Salinger of FinancialPlanning Magazine, “Backed by 24 of the largest issuers and asset managers, the new Alliance for Lifetime Income will be the sole sponsor of the Stones’ 2019 “No Filter” U.S. tour,…