Top 10 Financial Tip Blogs of 2018
Another year of financial blogging in the books. Hooray! Writing never was something I considered myself very good at in my younger days. (I can’t tell you what my 16 year-old self would say if he knew I wrote 52 articles in a year!) But, when you find a passion, even the most daunting task becomes easier and more enjoyable. In case you missed them, these were the most popular blogs of 2018. Both my younger self and I hope you enjoy the recap.
READ MORE...10 End of Year Planning Tips
With yearend upon us, life can get quite hectic. We’ve got vacations, holidays, and quality family time to juggle. While planning for all these, let’s make sure you don’t lose sight of some very important end of year financial planning tips.
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Donor Advised Funds: A Great Tax Planning Tool for the Charitably Inclined
With the end of the year quickly approaching, and as most people are starting to look for end of year tax strategies, I figured now is an opportune time to get this information out.
READ MORE...So You’re Married! Now That You’ve Said, “I do”, How Will You Handle Your Joint Finances?
When I got married , the question everyone asked was, “does it feel different?” At first, I’d shrug, laugh it off, and answer with a quick “not really.” Much later as I pondered the question, I realized things were different. I didn’t love my wife more or less the day after we exchanged vows. (I loved her 1,000 times more, if she is reading this J). Yet, the big shift was in how we viewed our finances.
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So You Have a 401(k), Now What? [12 Steps to Ensure Success]
At a very high level, most 401(k) plans work the same. You elect to pull money directly from your paycheck each month into a plan. These dollars are then invested into various vehicles of your choosing. Typically, these plans have some sort of tax benefit to help entice retirement savers. Once you retire, you then draw on these funds to help subsidize your income.
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Those that Don’t Know History are Destined to Repeat it!
It’s a cliché but common aphorism: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (Thanks, Philosophy 101 and George Santayana.) Looking at the stock market through the lens of history, it sure is an interesting case study into the human psyche. The market is an amazing tool for financial freedom and security when handled correctly. But, if handled incorrectly, it can be the source of angst and frustration.
READ MORE...The Single Most Important Question to Ask Yourself Before Retiring!
The other night I had dinner at my favorite sushi place (Sagami’s in Collinswood, NJ) with a good friend. He’s over 50, and we discussed the topic of retirement. He described vacillating between getting an RV (and a dog) to travel the country versus continuing to work. After a few minutes of the pros and cons, I asked him one of my favorite contemplating-retirement questions. “Do you think you are retiring TO something or FROM something?”
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Trick or Creep: What’s lurking behind your lavish lifestyle?
Many of us experience this phenomena and don’t even realize it. Basically, lifestyle creep pertains to how our style of living increases as we advance financially (most often through our careers). Once, you drove a 15 year old “beater” car. Now, you drive a BMW. You used to only vacation where you could pack the car and drive. Now, you fly your family of five to Europe every year.
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