#TBT Don’t Eat Yourself Out of Financial Security
with No Comments

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

The Haunting of Bob Cratchit: A Book from David Marotta
with No Comments

Did you know David wrote a Christmas novel? This 2020 book by David John Marotta and Brendon Marotta makes you rethink what is happening in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Social Security Fact Report: Insolvent in 2035
with No Comments

Every day, we voters and the government have the chance to free our children from this burden.

Be the One Who Can Write That Check
with No Comments

It is perfectly fine for you to underspend your assets. You don’t need my permission, but you have my blessing anyway.

A Very Conservative Gone-Fishing Portfolio of Vanguard Mutual Funds
with No Comments

I share this story here in case others in a similar situation may benefit from seeing this example.

Your Social Security Benefit Lags Inflation
with No Comments

There are at least two reasons why your Social Security benefits are failing to keep up with inflation.

Lessons for 2022 from My 1983 First Mortgage at 11.5%
with No Comments

We haven’t seen high interest rates in many years, but high interest rates do not remove the potential benefits of having a mortgage.

The Art and Science of a Bond Allocation (529 Plan Example)
with No Comments

Adding more Stability to an asset allocation isn’t an easy issue. It takes science to know how much bonds you need. It takes artistry to gradually adjust your asset allocation over time. 

More Self-Control Leads to Wiser Spending, Not Less Spending
with No Comments

In this article, I am defending the use of self-control in your financial habits.

#TBT Tax By Inflation
with No Comments

Inflation has at least four grievous effects on our economy. This 2014 article explains them.

#TBT Five Reasons to Have Some Cash Equivalents
with No Comments

Staying fully invested is an important part of your financial plan. Yet still, there are at least five reasons to hold cash.

#TBT Sage Advice After Stock Market Drop
with No Comments

Old financial news read with 20-20 hindsight helps remind us that this is what markets do.

Review: eBay Mastercard Credit Card
with No Comments

Although this card is an easy way to pay 3% less for an eBay purchase, I won’t be adding it to my wallet since that is its only use.

#TBT Be Wary Of Sponsored Content
with No Comments

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

Are Recessions a Real Thing?
with No Comments

Regardless of which it is and whether we are in a recession, it is always a good time to have a balanced portfolio.

Radio: Dangers of Seeking Utopia
with No Comments

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, David John Marotta appeared on Radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show with Rob Schilling to talk about dangers of seeking utopia and the sinfulness of humanity.

Avoid the Publishers Clearing House Scam
with No Comments

Protecting you from elder fraud is just one of the many services we can offer as a part of comprehensive financial planning.

#TBT The Value of Systematic Roth Conversions
with No Comments

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.

Protect Yourself By Silencing Unknown Callers
with No Comments

This process works as the people in your contacts list are probably not scammers.

A Closer Look at Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM)
with No Comments

FRDM is interesting, but using our country specific funds plus a low cost Vanguard Emerging Market fund allows us to emphasize freedom for as low a cost as possible.

Big Mac Index Shows Official CPI Under Reports Inflation (2022)
with No Comments

I decided to see if McDonald’s famous burger was still appreciating faster than the CPI. It has been.

#TBT Before You Get Out Of The Stock Market, Read This
with No Comments

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

Current Inflation vs. Expected Inflation (June 2022)
with No Comments

Currently, 12-month inflation is 8.58% and the crowdsourced expected inflation is 2.88%. Here’s what to do.

#TBT The Lower The Market Falls The More Important It Is To Stay Invested
with No Comments

A recovery after a significant downturn in the markets is often marked by steep growth. If you sell and flatline, you will likely miss the market’s natural recovery and thus your own personal future recovery becomes very difficult.

Exemptions to Fiduciary Rule Jeopardize 401(k) Plans
with No Comments

Being a fiduciary means more, regardless of what the Department of Labor might write in their press releases.

Bond Markets: Worst Quarter in 40 Years & Not That Bad (April 2022)
with No Comments

We think holding your next seven years of spending in relatively safe bonds is always a good idea. But holding too much in bonds may not keep up with inflation and is not ideal for your long-term investment strategy.

#TBT Don’t Do Something. Just Stand There!
with No Comments

You learn a lot by the discipline of reading old news.

Happiness Is The Result Of A Life Lived With Purpose
with No Comments

Regardless of what you do with the money earned, continuing to work is a worthwhile journey.

June Marotta: The Practical Teaching of Economics
with No Comments

Equating an entire school system into an economic game is one way which has worked for Keys.

Seven Reasons to Avoid Bitcoin
with No Comments

Bitcoin satisfies some of the characteristics of a currency, but there are at least seven areas of concern.

#TBT How Long Should I Keep Financial and Tax Records?
with No Comments

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

#TBT How to Deduct U.S. Debt Obligations on State Tax Returns
with No Comments

Some states do not tax their residents on income from a mutual fund that was earned on U.S. government obligations.

Marotta Family Saying: Make Half a Mistake

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

Radio: How The United States Ruined Its Own Fiscal Health
with No Comments

On Tuesday, March 8, 2022, David John Marotta appeared on Radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show with Rob Schilling to talk about “How The United States Ruined Its Own Fiscal Health.”

High Inflation, Low Fiscal Health, and What Comes Next for the U.S.
with No Comments

At 4.0% inflation, cash will lose 82.88% of its value over 45 years. Such loss of value can ruin a retirement plan more so than any market returns. Your long term investments need to appreciate well over inflation. The best method to do that is to stay mostly invested in stocks.

An Overview of Marotta’s 2022 Gone-Fishing Portfolios
with No Comments

A gone-fishing portfolio is a portfolio of just a few stocks which should weather the ups and downs of the market fairly well while only rebalancing twice a year.

Marotta’s 2022 Gone-Fishing Portfolio Calculator
with No Comments

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

Marotta’s 2022 Vanguard Gone-Fishing Portfolio Calculator
with No Comments

We recommend this gone-fishing portfolio for accounts hosted at Vanguard.

Bitcoin, Tulips, Beanie Babies, and Speculation
with No Comments

I expect that eventually Bitcoin will either develop a real, useful value for investors or the bubble will burst.

Updates to Schwab Institutional Intelligent Portfolios Limited Fund Selection
with No Comments

Now that the Franklin Templeton funds have been added to the Institutional Intelligent Portfolios platform, we are updating our allocations to use the cheaper funds as their primary targets.

How to Self-Insure for Long-Term Care Health Expenses (2022)
with No Comments

Saving for long-term care, if done early enough, is not too expensive and helps to protect yourself from this potential financial shock.

Study Helps Track Long-Term Care Cost Options
with No Comments

We are very thankful that Genworth has released this information freely for everyone to use.

Few Spaces Left in Marotta’s Online Class (Thursdays in March 2022)
with No Comments

The class will be held virtually on Zoom each Thursday from noon to 1:00 PM EST between March 10 and March 31, 2022.

Radio: A Review of Freedom in the United States (2022)
with No Comments

On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, David John Marotta appeared on Radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show with Rob Schilling to talk about “The Failure of Government.”

June Marotta’s Lesson Plan for Social Responsibility and Economics
with No Comments

Like any good free market system, it is infinitely flexible, adapting to the needs and resources of the environment.

Enroll in Marotta’s Online Live Class (OLLI 2022)
with No Comments

The class will be held March 10 through March 31, 2022 each Thursday from noon to 1:30 PM on Zoom.

Even The Premium is Risky in Long-Term Care Insurance
with No Comments

Add this to the list of reasons to avoid long-term care insurance and strive to self-insure.

#BestOf2021 The Value of Systematic Roth Conversions
with No Comments

Why do people do Roth conversions? Should I? This timeless article and video answers all your questions.

Swap to Franklin Funds Saved Clients Over $100,000
with No Comments

The estimated advantage of Franklin funds during 2021 was 0.40% or $118,955.

#BestOf2021 Should I Pay Off My Mortgage?
with No Comments

Many financial writers get the answer to this question wrong.

1 2 3 4 5 6 40

Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter!