While I am not personally a fan of Target Dated Funds, they do have a place for people just starting out investing or people who are too busy or lack the interest to follow the market on a regular basis. They are definitely better than doing nothing at all. Target Dated Funds are designed andContinue reading “Target Dated Funds”
Category Archives: Interest Rates
Make Your Money Work For You!
The most important thing that you can do for yourself and especially for your children is to get your money to work for you. The way to do that is through the magic of compound interest. Compounding interest is one of the most powerful forces in existence but it takes time. The earlier that youContinue reading “Make Your Money Work For You!”
Low Fee Index Funds are the Champs!
During an interview on Bloomberg radio recently , the person being interviewed (whose name I didn’t get) made a statement that I have written about before in a previous post. He very clearly said that if a person is patient and willing to wait 10-15 years then the Vanguard S&P Index Fund ETF (VOO) andContinue reading “Low Fee Index Funds are the Champs!”
People Unable to Cover $1000 Expense!
According to Bankrate’s 2024 annual emergency savings report only 44% of U.S. adults would be able to pay an emergency expense of $1000 or more from their savings. That is not fantastic and shows that a high percentage of people are simply living paycheck to paycheck. This number hasn’t really moved in several years. HowContinue reading “People Unable to Cover $1000 Expense!”
Keep Fees Low and Returns will be High!
The great investor Warren Buffet won a famous bet against a Hedge Fund manager that over a ten year period he would have better returns using low cost mutual funds versus a basket of higher cost hedge funds. The founder of Vanguard, Jack Bogel, built one of the most successful companies, ever, on the ideaContinue reading “Keep Fees Low and Returns will be High!”
What Rate of Return Should You Plan On?
As you sit down and start working through long term savings calculators, what should you use as a long-term rate of return? Every percentage point makes a pretty big difference over a thirty to forty year time period. The short answer up front is you should use 8% if you have a portfolio primarily madeContinue reading “What Rate of Return Should You Plan On?”
You Must Understand The Rule of 72!
Every investor and borrow absolutely must know and understand the Rule of 72. The Rule of 72 is a simple math shortcut that can be used to quickly figure out the amount of time it will take for money to double at a fixed rate of interest. The way it works is easy. All youContinue reading “You Must Understand The Rule of 72!”
The Table that Opened My Eyes to Investing!
When I was 22 and about to graduate from college I attended a seminar about where to place investment money. A table was shown early in the presentation that I can say literally changed my life. It has been the defining philosophy of my approach to money. The table was made up of five columns. The first column wasContinue reading “The Table that Opened My Eyes to Investing!”
44% of People Can’t Cover an Unexpected $1000 Expense!
According to Bankrate’s 2024 annual emergency savings report only 44% of U.S. adults would be able to pay an emergency expense of $1000 or more from their savings. That is not fantastic and shows that a high percentage of people are simply living paycheck to paycheck. This number hasn’t really moved in several years. HowContinue reading “44% of People Can’t Cover an Unexpected $1000 Expense!”
Never Try to Time the Market
Yesterday, 13 February, was a good example of why small investors should never try to time the market. You simply are not on the same footing of the big money players on Wall Street that can have big impacts on the market. Yesterday, the S&P 500 dropped approximately 100 points at its low of theContinue reading “Never Try to Time the Market”
Patient and Disciplined Saving 