Author Archives: David John Marotta

From such changes, the millionaire mindset is built and millions are gained.

If you do compete and want to share your results with us, fill out our Contact form and let us know about your strategy. We may even write an article about you.

On Thursday, December 19, 2019, the S&P 500 Price Index closed above 3,200 for the first time in history. What should we expect going forward?

The thrift of taking care of your things is a wealthy mindset that pays off every year you don’t need to buy a replacement.

We believe that this mix of funds should provide a timeless allocation for the HSAs of University of Virginia employees.

The first lesson in learning how to spend is learning how to not.

Most professions do not know the exact day they were conceived. However, on December 12, 1969, financial planning was created and today in 2019, the profession turns 50 years old.

I agree with my grandfather that we should not be inclined to spend the rest of our lives in a rocking chair.

It looks like the calculator is simply wrong. It uses a 3% tax rate instead of the 6% tax rate they cite for the Elizabeth Warren’s Tax Plan.

Our first step is not “closing our eyes and imaging it.” We need our eyes wide open analyzing each idea for its own individual costs and benefits.

On Friday, November 16, 2019, the Dow closed above 28,000 for the first time in history. What should we expect going forward?

Most of our regular use of items is habitual. Developing a mindset that uses less requires changing our habits.

One common socialist assumption is that government collectivism is so essential for success that there is no such thing as self-sufficiency.

Continuing to work for five more years could increase your retirement standard of living by as much as 50%.

This pitch is made by Bill Shaw of Stansberry Research, the same group that brought you the perennial “Reclusive Millionaire Warns” spam article. Don’t be gullible.

Keeping a careful accounting of your investment’s cost basis isn’t glamorous, but it can help you save time and money when it comes time to sell.

Check your own funds. You are likely paying too much for your mutual funds.

There are at least seven major mistakes in this advice by Wells Fargo Asset Management.

Edward Bellamy’s novel “Looking Backward” moved hearts and minds, ultimately moving nations and history.

The markets are inherently volatile, but they have also been inherently profitable. Setting your expectations accurately can help you stay invested long enough to overlook disappointing results and experience the long-term growth you are seeking.

One of the most common socialist assumptions is that it is possible to perfect society.

Your asset allocation matters to maintaining a balance in retirement of having money for the next 5 to 7 years and keeping up with inflation for time periods of 8 years or longer.

Understanding the most powerful sales techniques doesn’t change the fact that they tend to work.

How to measure the rebalancing bonus and the benefits of staying invested after a market drop.

Be on your guard to avoid wasting money following the advice of an article written to maximize revenue.

Here are some of the best practices to protect your identity.

A low forward P/E suggests higher expected appreciation.

These are four possible consequences of Regulation Best Interest.

Although this is the least common financial shock studied, it is one of the most difficult because at its core it is a problem money cannot solve.

The SEC is allowing financial professionals to hide in a lower legal requirement, not meet a fiduciary standard, and call it “Best Interest.”

It requires discipline to ignore dire warnings.

Financial shocks can come in all shapes and sizes. This strategy of budgeting should increase your chance for success over the long haul.

Anything which is not contributing toward your financial independence should be considered part of your lifestyle spending.

Keeping $100,000 might cost you $500,000 in lost opportunity costs over 20 years.

Social Security just turned 84 years old today (August 14, 2019). It has stayed alive on the false sentiment of sunk costs.

On June 5th, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released their final draft of Reg BI, or “Best Interest” as it is called.

Whatever technique you use to smooth your income, providing for the possibility of having a sudden reduction in income can help your family self-ensure against this potential financial shock.

Setting aside some of the payment to cover future inflation is a prudent retirement planning practice.

This is the financial shock of a trip to hospital. It is upsetting, expensive, and unexpected.

The appeal to the Nordic countries from socialists is a false one. Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway are examples of market economies, not socialism.

Generally speaking, Value stocks outperform Growth stocks. Investing based upon this finding is called “Value Investing.”

This is the financial shock of a major home repair. It is expensive and surprising.

During 2019, the U.S. Stock Market generally rose during the four quarters from the lows set by the Almost Bear Market of 2018.

This is the financial shock of a major car repair. It is the most common financial shock with 30% of households reporting such an event within the last 12 months.

Our intention in including this particular slide is to show the range of quarterly returns. Here is some wisdom on how to use this slide when comparing your own returns for the quarter.

When crafting your own buy list, this 2007 article reminds us that rather than just finding one index fund to fulfill your asset class, you should consider blending multiple sector level index funds to decrease volatility or increase return.

It is easy for an inverted yield curve to spook investors.

It is possible to be prepared for financial emergencies by living 10% more frugally and saving for the inevitable eventuality.

A low cost timeless portfolio for your HSA with HealthSavings Administrators.

There is a science to portfolio construction. Selecting a random group of companies is just as bad as selecting a random group of funds.