Without public accountability, people are rightly suspicious that even the legitimate operations of government are corrupt.
Today’s Carnival covers a wide range of topics such as planning for your finances before college, what to do financially after college, how to think like the wealthy, and how to think about finances when one spouse doesn’t head to the office every day.
“The divergent claims about gold can be puzzling. How can a commodity that predominantly is either stored in a vault or gets formed into jewelry have so many stories spun around it?”
Money plays such a personal role in our lives that most people learn early on to keep their financial affairs a secret. These shadows promote many different varieties of financial pathologies and distress.
“Don’t air condition the outside” and “Turn the lights off when you leave a room” are often quoted as proverbs of energy savings, but the real savings is in several other appliances.
Fearful of monetary or societal failure, many hope that owning gold will bring them peace of mind.
Investing $512 in the S&P 500 at the end of 1979 grew with reinvested dividends for a total return of $19,323.19.
On average gold keeps up with inflation, albeit with wild gyrations.
From $255.95 gold rose to $1,795.00 between 4/2/2001 and 11/8/2011.
From $850 gold dropped to $255.95 between 1/21/1980 and 4/2/2001.
Gold advocates cherry pick gold’s returns from trough to peak.
Stocks have an average annualized appreciation over inflation of 6.86%, whereas gold is just 0.33% over inflation.
Inflation is one of the most important factors in nearly every aspect of financial planning and wealth management.
Most people do not trace the effect of the unintended consequences of government programs. Even good things come with a price, and you always have to decide: is that price worth paying?
Bangladesh is “still a desperately poor country, and we shouldn’t minimize what a job with a steady paycheck means to a poor woman.”
Most annual shareholder meetings are nothing more than a required dog-and-pony show. Genworth Financial’s annual shareholder meeting held on May 15, 2013, was no exception. Several improvements could be made to make these meetings more inviting.
Some struggles are inevitable, but others are decided by who you marry. This kitten married well.
Compliance isn’t just a technical burden. It is a threat of legal liability. The bill allows state tax audits by any state against any online vendor.
And yet we wonder why small businesses disregard so many government regulations.
The coercive power of government is more dangerous than the free market. Special interests use it to circumvent both the law and economics.
Even if you think you have good credit, periodically check the facts on your credit report anyway. Your credit report will outline your full credit history. And it can help you verify you have not been the victim of identity theft.
Follow a philosophy so that there is always a smart place to get money
A good deal of misinformation is published about a so-called Social Security earnings penalty. Many are led to believe that if they earn money while collecting Social Security, they’ll lose some of this benefit forever.
This kitten knows his area of genius. Be more like this kitten.
It is not a new tax. It is simply a tax that nearly everyone currently reading this column is successfully evading without prosecution.
I opened my freezer and found, to my horror, my ice cream had turned to mush. Why? My refrigerator and freezer were broken. The expense for a new refrigerator was around $700. How could I have seen that expense coming?
Matthew Illian says young adults should read one personal finance book a year to expand their financial literacy. See what books we would recommend.
Five red flags any one of which should make you stop and reconsider.
Does it really matter if you cast your votes in shareholder elections? Probably not if you are a small investor. But if so few are participating, can we blame corporations for forgetting whom they serve?
This kitten is frugal. Be more like this kitten.
Financial advice for college graduates is easy. Graduates street smart enough to take the advice is rare.
Do infant industries need tariffs to protect them from their own inefficiency and stupidity?
Today’s carnival is all about retirement: saving for it, where to open accounts, how much to withdraw once you do retire, and more. Read on for more details!
As the wife of a 2013 college graduate and a 2012 college graduate myself, I can boldly say this was the most helpful advice given to me.
You’re looking for an enduring relationship based on mutual respect and trust, so plan on investing at least as much effort as you’d put into choosing an automobile, especially a used one.
My first experience with these shareholder meetings was a major turnoff. In March 2009, I purchased a limited number of shares of Genworth (GNW) stock for reasons I do not proudly share among value investors.
This kitten knows how much she spends. Be more like this kitten.
The optimum asset allocation to physical gold and silver is 0%. Instead, we recommend you use resource stocks as an inflation hedge.
Perhaps we would be economically better off with global trade, but do we have an obligation to maintain a higher moral standard?
Is economic freedom related to other kinds of freedoms? Does economic freedom affect personal choice?
Have you ever wondered why the CPI, GDP and employment numbers run counter to your personal and business experiences? The problem lies in biased and often-manipulated government reporting.
“Why Buffett thinks investing in gold is stupid”
Approaching 65? Or perhaps you need to review your current Medicare choice. Consider these three reasons to avoid Medicare Advantage.
This kitten buys the coat not the coal. Be more like this kitten.
On April 25, David John Marotta discusses details of IRS form 1040 and other tax documents, how you can use your tax return to glean information about your financial habits, and ways to optimize your accounts.
President’s proposal comes with silver linings for shrewd advisors
$3 million today has the same buying power as $500,000 in 1970.
As well as general online security, which includes a unique user name and password, and a system which locks you out if you guess the combination more than twice, Schwab has several optional verification methods.
David John Marotta was interviewed on radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show discussing Margaret Thatcher and her economics.
If you like stable governments, low crime rates, socializing, great food, wine, culture and the dependability of developed countries, this list is for you