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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No Cash? No Problem. The New Way to Transfer Money to Friends & Businesses
A few years ago my brother owed me money for some wine. I said to him, “Hey man, just send it to me by Paypal.” He said, “Paypal? I only have Venmo. What is your Venmo info?” I responded, “Venmo? I only have Paypal. Who doesn’t have Paypal?”
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What Credit Card Debt Can Tell You About Yourself
You can tell a lot about a person by their finances. Usually, I look at ones assets and make some pretty good assumptions about how they save. However, a lot can be learned simply by someone’s credit card debts. It serves as a glimpse into that person’s financial soul.
READ MORE...A Breakdown of Bonds: Positives & Negatives
Most of us have heard about bonds. Furthermore, most understand bonds are an investment vehicle much like stocks. However, I find many truly don’t understand how a bond operates. For instance, did you know the rarely talked about bond market is substantially larger than the stock market? It’s true; it’s about 30 trillion dollars larger! The global bond market is approximately $108 trillion compared to the approximately $79 trillion of the global stock market.
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