We tracked the price of a first class stamp over the last 130 years, noting the changes, to show the steady erosion in buying power during that time.
No need to worry. You have many great options when managing an overfunded 529 college savings plan.
Some years, we fall behind and I try to make a year-end contribution to get us caught back up again.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 ends two very profitable Social Security optimization techniques that allowed some savvy beneficiaries to take up to $50,000.00 in additional lifetime income.
This year, almost every U.S. asset class is in the red except for growth stocks. When the market is throwing punches, you need a tactical defense.
These premium surcharges are typically unavoidable except for some planning a Roth Conversion.
An alternate look at the formula using the case study of Kate the Social worker who wants an MBA from Georgetown University.
When Ryan Broyles scored a $3.6 million dollar contract after being drafted in the first round he did something quite rare – he sought as much advice as he could find.
Your future path is sure to take many unexpected twists and turns, but you should run the numbers. Your future self will thank you.
Advisors have helped to shift fund management toward stewardship, but many fund companies still have room for improvement.
Despite the appearance of stability, preferred stocks can become especially volatile when markets are reeling.
“Every pension plan in the nation is paying too much [for private equity], and it’s being hidden.”
This year’s golden nugget goes to Buffett’s definition of risk.
The Principles for Responsible Investment is leveraging its network in noteworthy ways.
“America’s leader in financial planning” is ill-serving its own employees.
There are three rules that we follow when looking for an investment strategy and the low volatility strategy fails two.
Investing in America began with the bankruptcy of the hottest stock in England.
A board of directors is supposed to be accountable to the shareholders but sometimes they need a reminder.
With three years remaining on a ten year $1 million bet, Buffett is sitting pretty to win it.
The legal defense of Harold Hamm hinged on the belief that his wealth was the result of happenstance.
“I’m 58 and I’ve been married and divorced twice. …I realize this is complicated, but you gotta love the 70’s!”
In theory, the directors of a corporation are hired to provide independent oversight and protect shareholder interests. In practice, they’ve developed a reputation as country club chums with the executive managers.
With careful planning, grandparents can ensure their gifts are not impeding a grandchild’s ability to access financial aid.
Investors have every right to question whether a fund company can cast an impartial vote.
When this poor planning affects the investments in our 401(k) plans and the communities that we live in, we pay more and we get less.
With three young energetic boys, the growing costs of college education weigh heavily on my mind. Here are the age-based benchmarks we use to ensure that our 529 college savings is on track to meet our goals.
This video discusses Neighborhood Assistance Programs, and how donating to a local charity can both help people in your area and help you with your Virginia tax bill.
Our firm decided to become a 3(38) investment manager because playing this role offers our clients administrative relief. By taking on the role of a 3(38) adviser, we accept responsibility for selecting a prudent investment strategy.
A typical college degree is worth up to a million bucks over a career, but that’s not true for every degree.
Church Hill Activities and Tutoring is one example of the many charities that are granted tax credits to share with donors.
If you’re getting divorced or remarried, “for better or for worse” and “for richer or for poorer” can have real meaning for Social Security benefits. Most retirees are uninformed about how Social Security benefits are calculated, and often overlook how their change in marital status affects this critical retirement asset.
The majority of stocks are no longer held directly and shareholders are not legal owners but are called beneficial owners. We explore what these changes mean for the average investor.
Beginning in September 2014, SSA will resume mailing paper statements to workers every five years.
Most survivors are uninformed about how Social Security benefits are calculated and often overlook a careful analysis of this critical retirement asset.
In order to inflame the public’s ire about market corruption, the author of “Flash Boys” carefully sidesteps a number of important facts.
The good people at You Need A Budget (YNAB) have made their budgeting solution free for college students; including part-time students.
This may be considered a get rich slowly article but it has more to do with learning to manage your resources and emotions around money.
Investing in mutual funds and ETFs offers an efficient solution for investors to engage in corporate governance issues. When you purchase a fund, you authorize fund managers to vote proxies on your behalf.
With less than two minutes a day and a smartphone, Budgeting Lite will help you become more mindful about your spending and regain a sense of control over your finances.
For five of the last six years, the simple index fund has outperformed the so-called expert hedge funds, and Buffett’s competition is starting to feel the heat. Here are three important take aways from this big bet.
The conflicting information of the Federal Reserve report has to do with the so-called tapering of asset purchases.
I’ve learned to develop a thick skin when sharing ideas with the masses but if these commenters represent some general barometer of financial sanity, we appear to be losing the battle.
Imagine these two strategies competing in a track race. It’s as if one runner were told to wait until the other finished her first lap before beginning.
Advice for those who own individual stocks when a response to a tender offer is needed. The research for this article turned out to be much more interesting than I first anticipated.
A quick chart of Age-Based Benchmarks for 529 College Savings.
Much of the assistance Americans provide to those in need is doing more harm than good.
Social Security Case Study: The names have been made up, but the problems are real.
Many people lack the time and expertise to develop an intelligent retirement asset allocation plan.
We have created several asset allocation tools to aid those seeking an intelligently diversified portfolio.
Both economists and reasonable citizens understand that reforming our Social Security system is inevitable.