Author Archives: David John Marotta

This 2015 article details one of the most brilliant breakthroughs in all of food science and how it relates to almost every aspect of life.

Defaulting to a target date fund can cost you dearly.

While it is always true that a recession will come eventually, shifting to bonds whenever one is predicted has serious consequences.

This 2007 post reminds that because of inflation the value of cash trends down, encourages you to protect your portfolio against a falling dollar, and reveals an inconsistency with CPI calculations and actual inflation.

We made two slight changes to the 2026 gone-fishing portfolio, one of which reduces expense ratios.

This gone-fishing portfolio is our default portfolio which can be used at any custodian.

We recommend this gone-fishing portfolio for investors with brand loyalty to Vanguard.

This 2008 article has wisdom for our current downturn, “As a response to the recent market correction, you can enrich your life in three healthy ways: Cut back your spending, increase your savings, and give more generously to charities of your choice.”

The average worker will have a dozen employers and work at each job for less than four years. Your career is now your responsibility, and so is your retirement plan. Allow this 2010 article to be your lifetime Human Resources Department guide to being financially prepared.

This 2008 article reminds us that anyone who spends more than 4% of their rebate will actually lose ground saving toward their retirement.

The first quarter of 2026, as experienced through the lens of the media, was a volatile quarter full of war, inflation, job loss, and dropping stock values, especially of the biggest technology stocks. The same quarter, as experienced through the lens of historical stock returns, was relatively calm.

A terrible reason to invest in something is because you have less information about its value.

A Pledged Asset Line of Credit (PAL) is a line of credit that allows you to borrow against the non-retirement assets in your portfolio without having to liquidate your investments.

In retrospect, it is clear that it was a good time to rebalance your portfolio, selling some of the bonds that you were so glad you had and buying more of the very stocks you were so worried about.

For long-term portfolio design, valuation matters more than yield.

Financial shocks are experienced throughout life. They do not end when one retires. Sudden, unexpected, large expenses are a part of life and should be taken into account during retirement planning.

In this article, we have designed a standard guide to creating your savings waterfall.

Financial planning can be romantic. As this 2011 article reminds us, “nothing is more romantic than planning how to realize your shared hopes and dreams for the future.”

Think of your capital loss carry forward as an asset you have banked which provides a defensive buffer for your taxes.

Fidelity is now our primary recommendation for an HSA custodian, so we’ve started a series on how to accomplish tasks at Fidelity.

The class will be held virtually on Zoom from noon to 1:30 PM EST on the four Thursdays between February 12 and March 5, 2026. We hope to see you in class!

A 2007 article that stands the test of time. This is the year you should keep your financial resolutions. Getting help from an objective advisor can provide both a powerful catalyst for action and real peace of mind.

Depending on your delivery preferences, you may receive these trading notifications physically in the mail, in plaintext in your email, or in summary in your email and in full online only after you login to Schwab.

Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is one of the best stories for talking about economics. This 2003 – 2012 series uses the classic tale to illustrate different financial personalities, principles, and philosophies.

This 2011 article reminds us that there will never be another you in the history of the universe. Sometimes that is just the reminder we need.

The worst financial problems stem from trying to live a champagne and caviar lifestyle on a beer and chips budget.

We aren’t worried either way. By default, we recommend that shareholders skip voting in this election.

As advertisers have found it harder and harder to reach consumers, they are continually seeking ways to gain your attention.

Credit card debt is terrible, but credit card companies make it easy to incur credit card debt.

When you get out of the markets, you have made a huge gamble with your retirement money, and now the stakes are high.

Don’t let your political emotions cause you to be fearful about the economy. Those misplaced fears may impoverish your financial well-being.

If you ever wondered how the stock market works, this 2006 article is for you. It is both the personal story of David Marotta’s maternal grandfather, Donald Mortlock, and an explanation of how the market of the stock market is made.

These notices are best viewed as reminders that your account is being managed with care and compliance in mind.

This 2006 article shares the personal story of David Marotta’s maternal grandmother who lived to age 99 1/2.

In this video, David used examples from our tax planning service to demonstrate what a Roth conversion plan might look like and how systematic Roth conversions can create a higher after-tax net worth in the future.

Our gone-fishing portfolios stay the same for 2025.

It is always a good time to be reminded that an immediate fixed annuity is not an investment; it is an insurance product. This 2015 article by David John Marotta is a methodical unraveling of annuities and a description of the far superior alternatives.

This gone-fishing portfolio is our default portfolio which can be used at any custodian.

We recommend this gone-fishing portfolio for investors with brand loyalty to Vanguard.

Using the analogy of a peach orchard farmer compared to a doomsday weather watcher, David Marotta reminds us in this 2004 article that “For the speculator, speed is everything. Not so, for the investor.”

Without rebalancing, the all-stock Marotta 2024 Gone-Fishing Portfolio had a 1-year return of 11.21% and the all-stock Marotta Vanguard 2024 Gone-Fishing Portfolio had a 1-year return of 10.72%.

An overwhelming number of failed marriages cite financial troubles as a major factor in their breakup. See if this 2006 article can help make finances a place of union rather than separation.

By adopting these practices, you ensure that both you and your advisory team can work efficiently, securely, and in alignment with regulatory requirements.

Three generations explain this family saying which teaches one method of mitigating risk.

Punishing people for inflation is neither fair nor good economic policy.

Everyone needs some fun in their life, and sometimes fun costs a little money. This 2004 article shares six guidelines for dealing with purchases that might be considered frivolous.

For most families, the largest purchase they make will be their house. This 2011 post reminds us that the house you and your family live in is not an investment, but real estate can be.

Whenever the IRS challenges you, the burden of producing evidence that your claims are true rests entirely with you.

The selection of what products we purchase or avoid for clients is based solely on what we believe gives our clients the best chance to meet their goals.

The addition of stable investments can help dampen the risk and increase the chances of meeting your spending goals.