by Randy Chalmers on November 10, 2023.
Have you ever felt that investing can have you feeling excited, worried, angry, sad, and some other emotion all at once? You’re not alone, nor are you abnormal! Behavioral finance is an area of study that examines the impact of emotion, cognitive biases, and other psychological factors on financial decision-making and hence on financial markets....
by Dave Conley on August 25, 2023.
What is in a simple Estate Plan? If you’re like most people, with a few kids and a house, you only need a will. You can use an online service like www.freewill.com or www.mamabearlegalforms.com. The most common option is to meet with a local lawyer to help you discuss and setup the three documents needed...
by Dave Conley on August 11, 2023.
Estate planning is just a fancy legal-ish word for what you want to happen to your money and stuff when you die or become disabled.
by Randy Chalmers on August 4, 2023.
Life will throw curveballs at you when least expected. As you’re faced with emergencies, your 401(k) might seem like a quick fix or even your only option. It is necessary to consider the downsides before you act. I’ll explain why tapping into your retirement savings early might not be the wisest move and suggests other...
by Dave Conley on July 3, 2023.
What is American Exceptionalism? There is no other country in the world that represents the blend of classical philosophy, Christianity, and even Enlightenment ideas in the way America did in the founding of the republic from 1776 to 1789. It was an exceptional (meaning uncommon) mixture of liberty, limited government, natural rights, and religious liberty...
by Dave Conley on June 16, 2023.
Below is a recent (June 1, 2023) Economic Outlook diagnosis from the folks at Capital Group. A few highlights and a link to the entire article (10 minute read). Link to short report, Economic outlook: Mild recession, strong recovery.
by Dave Conley on June 16, 2023.
If you have wondered: When should I start my Social Security ? Age 62... 67 or wait until 70 . What is the difference in benefits at the different ages ? I have heard that it is best to start as early as possible in case you don't live very long. If I start early how much can I earn before being penalized by Social Security ? Can I collect based on my spouse (or ex-spouse) earnings history?
by Dave Conley on June 6, 2023.
What determines the amount of your Social Security benefit? How to determine what your benefits? The mistake over 40% of all retirees make when starting their Social Security.
by Randy Chalmers on June 2, 2023.
I know I’m not alone in this, and occasionally you and your family are sitting around talking (and dreaming) about what you would do if you won the lottery. As the purchases get discussed, the topic arises of how you would take the money, in a lump sum, or as an annual payment over the...
by Dave Conley on May 26, 2023.
Every few years we have this discussion about whether or not we are going to raise the debt ceiling. Let’s just be honest, the debt ceiling will be raised. Since 1960, it’s been raised 78 times (more than once a year). The chart below shows the times the debt ceiling has been raised since 1970....