Buy and hold has come under a lot of fire lately as investors and advisors question whether there's a better way. It's good to question and re-analyze over time. But it's not good to have a knee-jerk reaction to the last year's stock market roller coaster that can do permanent damage to your … [Read more...]
New credit card law provisions
The key provisions of the credit card law that Obama signed last Friday, May 22 are below. But first, my two cents ... I've heard a lot of talk about how these changes might make it more difficult to get credit and could result in higher fees in general and annual fees in particular for people … [Read more...]
Social Security Myth Debunked
Question: Help! I'm 62 and my income is declining. Should I take social security now to lock in my benefits? Quick answer: this is not a good reason to take social security early. Social security uses your highest 35 years in calculating your benefit. They index the years before age 60 for … [Read more...]
May 2009 Newsletter
The May 2009 newsletter is now available. It has information on the tax benefits of charitable giving, investing in a low-interest-rate environment, the extension of the federal money market guarantee, and divorce financial planning. Click here to read the May 2009 newsletter. … [Read more...]
April 2009 Newsletter
The April 2009 newsletter is now available online. It includes an update on market conditions, plus information on the Cobra subsidy, writing off worthless securities on your taxes, an estate planning pitfall to avoid, a conversation for parents about saving for retirement vs. college, and a how-to … [Read more...]
To Will or Not to Will
Catchy title, isn't it? To Will or Not to Will. I would love to take credit for it, but it all goes to the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the State Bar of Texas. When you do as a resident of Texas, if you don't have a will, the state of Texas has one for you. It's possible that the state's … [Read more...]
Retirement V. College
So many parents struggle with the dilemma of whether they should prioritize saving for kids' college or their own retirement. Some parents believe that children benefit the most from being responsible for their own college funding through personal work, savings, scholarships, and borrowing to get … [Read more...]
Detail on COBRA subsidy
If you've lost your job since September 1 of last year, you'll want to read this post. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the Act) provides COBRA premium assistance, which offers a temporary 65% reduction in COBRA premiums for eligible beneficiaries. This new provision will affect former … [Read more...]
March Monthly Newsletter
The March monthly newsletter is now out. It includes information on current economic conditions, how to create your own Equity Indexed Annuity, figuring out if your insurance company is secure, Roth IRA conversions, and the Making Work Pay tax credit. To view it, click here. … [Read more...]
Interview with Channel 11’s Joel Thomas
See my interview with Channel 11's Joel Thomas on the day of the Your Money Bus tour. We talked about the importance of saving and planning for how you want to live now and in the future. Coverage of the Your Money Bus tour was included as part of their Surviving 09 … [Read more...]