Financial Planning
« Previous EntriesAFM Reader Question: Roth IRA for Emergency Fund?
Friday, May 25th, 2012I received the following email the other day: I read a blog post a few weeks ago at Mint.com about using your Roth IRA as an Emergency Fund. Here’s the blog post: Does Using a Roth IRA as an Emergency Fund a Good Idea? I’ve been following your blog for several years now (you even [...]
Quote of the Day – Annuities
Friday, September 23rd, 2011I would like to get into the habit of posting a quote of the day every day but for now I’ll post them when I come across them. Today’s (rather long) quote comes to us from the pages of The Ultimate Financial Plan: Balancing Your Money and Life* by Tim Maurer and Jim Stovall in [...]
PLEASE Make Your High School Kids Watch This Financial Planning Video Series!
Wednesday, July 13th, 2011I just found this on YouTube this morning and have been working my way through the videos. This is very well done except that it’s hard to hear the questions from the audience. Regardless, if you want to give your kids something that will have a positive impact on their lives, have them watch this [...]
My Advice to Those Just Starting Out: Keep Good Records
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011I spent the entire weekend organizing our files. I don’t know about you but going through files is like taking a walk down memory lane. There were the documents from our first mortgage (1999), medical files from my wife’s three pregnancies, pay stubbs going all the way back to 1998, 401(k) statements going all the [...]
A Baker’s Dozen of New Year’s Resolutions for Investors
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010Larry Swedroe sent me this email yesterday and I thought it was worth sharing. Each new year brings with it the opportunity to get a “fresh start.” Among the traditional New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight, get in shape and quit smoking. The following are my suggestions for resolutions for investors. 1. If you [...]
The Basics: Setting and Reaching Financial Goals
Friday, August 6th, 2010One of the most important areas of personal finance is setting and reaching financial goals. Why are financial goals important? Without them, it’s likely you won’t save and invest your money wisely. Having goals tends to help us focus on what’s important. Without them, we tend to allow life to just happen to us. What [...]
Should I Liquidate My 401(k) In Order to Pay Off My Credit Cards?
Monday, March 8th, 2010I was talking with a friend of mine the other day. He asked me whether or not he should liquidate his 401(k) in order to pay off his credit cards. Here are some of the details: • credit card debt around $15,000. Interest rates of 19% and higher. • 401(k) balance of $16,000 from a [...]
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