In no particular order, here’s a few interesting things I heard and read recently that I wanted to share: Use Your Tax Return to Map Out a Better Financial Future (Liz Weston, NerdWallet) This past week, I reviewed my 2017 tax return and played around with an online tax calculator to see what the 2018 tax…
Between Me and Stupid, Disability Awareness Month, and Into the Fire
In no particular order, here’s a few interesting things I heard and read recently that I wanted to share: Between Me and Stupid (Medium, by Carl Richards) As I have mentioned previously, I listen a dozen podcasts weekly…and hundreds annually. Carl Richards is one that I listen to (called “Behavior Gap Radio”), and many people know…
Q1 – 2018: Brandon’s Quarterly Market Commentary
Well, it was bound to happen: a negative quarter. We’ve all been told that markets just don’t go up, up, up! And after January roared higher, markets pulled back in February/March and most indexes finished flat to slightly lower by end of the quarter. The end results weren’t necessarily bad, but it never feels good to experience a…
RMD Timing, Credit Card Points, and Couples Monthly Allowance
In no particular order, here’s a few interesting things I heard and read recently that I wanted to share: It pays to take RMDs early in the year (Financial Planning, by Ed Slott) I just love coming across something that seems counter-intuitive. Typically investors are given advice to take their RMDs as late in the game…
Get The Best Car Loan, Reasons to Not Do a Roth, and The 1% Rule
In no particular order, here’s a few interesting things I heard and read recently that I wanted to share: 5 ways to get best car loan deal, especially as interest rates rise (USA Today, by Susan Tompor) I remember being 23 years old and negotiating my first car purchase: I didn’t really know what I was…
Helping Your Aging Parent, 10 Habits of Happy People, and A Roth IRA Arbitrage Situation
In no particular order, here’s a few interesting things I heard and read recently that I wanted to share: Is Your Aging Parent Trusting The Wrong Financial Advisor? (Forbes, by Carolyn Rosenblatt) As part of my continuing education in the financial industry, we are often educated on the topic of elder abuse. In other words, advisors…
Market Correction – Now What? Some Rules For Life, Advisor Background Check
In no particular order, here’s a few interesting things I heard and read recently that I wanted to share: The stock market is officially in a correction… here’s what usually happens next (CNBC, by Evelyn Cheng) Recently we have seen a decent uptick in stock market volatility, and you may hear we are in “correction”…
A No-Lose Lottery, Things Worth Spending Money On, and The Super Bowl Indicator
In no particular order, here’s a few interesting things I heard and read recently that I wanted to share: Is America Ready for a “No-Lose Lottery” (Freakonomics Radio, by Stephen Dubner) Sometimes when I listen to a podcast, I am so blown away by an idea that I can’t get it out of my mind. This…
Mutual Fund Fee Developments, How To Improve Your Relationship With Money, and Get Out of Your Mediocrity Rut
In no particular order, here’s a few interesting things I heard and read recently that I wanted to share: The Great Fund Fee Divide (Barron’s, by Reshma Kapadia) You want to know what I love about this article – EVERYTHING. Well, it may be boring to some people, but if you want to know more about…
Q4 – 2017: Brandon’s Quarterly Market Commentary
As 2017 wrapped up, December showed continued gains in the US markets and finished higher for the quarter as well as for the year. Much of the headlines in Q4 were dominated by the new tax legislation (which ultimately passed), President Trump’s political strife, and the booming interest in cryptocurrencies. Most important to our business,…