The IRS very clearly says, “Yes, you can set up a SEP for your self-employed business even if you participate in your employer’s retirement plan at a second job.”
I have enjoyed rereading the journal of my maternal grandfather, Donald Mortlock. He started writing it on his 75th birthday.
Rebalancing from stocks into bonds reduces your returns on average since bonds have a lower average return. But, as this 2015 article reminds us, there are decades of very choppy markets where even rebalancing an allocation of stocks and bonds can boost returns.
It is possible to be prepared for financial emergencies by living 10% more frugally and saving for the inevitable eventuality.
This 2007 post offers us a bit of timeless advice. Funding a Health Savings Account can be as much about your present medical bills as it is about your end of life care.
Questions regarding spending are often best solved by determining the safe withdrawal rate.
93 years ago there was only one mutual fund. Today, there are thousands. This 2003 article tells the story of how this staple of the financial services world got its start.
Our first article posted online is a wonder to behold. This 1998 beauty is written by George Marotta, founder of Marotta Money Management. In the article, he reminds us that, “Anyone of us could design a better system, but 500 congress people cannot resist the pressure groups who want to twist the code to benefit their particular constituencies.” Decades old, this post still rings true today.
Even the most brilliantly crafted investment plan has to be given time to work.
There are at least four different capital gains tax rates. This 2017 article has how to minimize your tax owed at each one.
Only recently has Main Street been so fully invested. This 2007 article chronicles how it all got started.
The capital gains tax is economically senseless. This 2014 post has fourteen of the loopholes the government’s gain tax unintentionally incentivizes.
This 2016 article reminds us that “there is a very simple place to start the process of changing our destiny: Each day notice the things that make you happy and try experiencing more of them.”
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.
This 2008 article is an uplifting, timeless sermon.
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.
Starting in 2025, this amendment permits those between the ages of 60 and 63 (as measured on December 31) to contribute up to 150% of the catch-up amount rather than the usual 100%.
In “A Christmas Carol,” Ebenezer Scrooge calls Christmas a “humbug” because of the foolish way people celebrate it. This 2008 article reminds us that it is sometimes wise to simplify Christmas.
This article should give you something fun to discuss this year.
The IRS is clear, “If both spouses are 55 or older and not enrolled in Medicare, each spouse’s contribution limit is increased by the additional contribution. Each spouse must make the additional contribution to his or her own HSA.”
You deserve an advisor who will help you with these five and more.
Don’t let your political emotions impoverish your financial well-being.
Wealth management is in your control and there are actions you can take regardless of who wins today.
There is an artistry to a bond allocation, and while historical analysis can only be suggestive, it does tell a strong narrative.
This 2017 article reminds us, “Stock market returns have little to do with which party holds the White House.”
Election results should not change a well crafted investment strategy.
Voting early is as easy as voting in-person. You can vote whenever is convenient for you including right now.
On a smart phone, you can prevent the phone from ringing unless the person calling you is listed in your phone.
A short quote from this 2004 inspiration, “Time is so much more than money. If you have time, you can acquire more money. But money can’t buy you more time. Time is a great equalizer. You can’t go into time debt. Every day the rich and the poor alike are given twenty-four hours to spend.”
This 2015 article reminds us of the benefits of umbrella insurance. We recommend $2 to $5 million of umbrella coverage for typical families with assets over $300,000.
This 2014 article is a good reminder of how interest rates work in our country.
With a savings waterfall, you immediately know which buckets to fill when there is excess and which should remain dry if there isn’t enough for all your goals.
Sometimes the costs are actually benefits when it comes to Roth conversions.
While the appreciation allocation helps you achieve your financial goals, introducing a stability allocation into your portfolio can prevent your portfolio from running out of money.
Here are three lies you must stop telling yourself in order to build a solid financial foundation.
If you are close to either side of 60, this 2020 article will outline the ideal scenario to help you make your own financial assessment.
The best way to ensure that you save and invest is to automate the process.
You swipe your debit card at the card reader and the clerk quickly asks, “Debit or Credit?” Which should you choose? This 2013 article tells us.
In honor of the Independence Day of the United States, this 2013 article reminds us to prepare for our own Independence Day.
As David Marotta writes in this 2012 post, “If I had to pick one learned skill that has served me the best in my career, it would be learning to grab my mind by the scruff of the neck and drag it back to the task at hand.” This piece reminds us that hard work can sometimes be your best doctor.
Many adult children are returning to live at home somewhat involuntarily. What can parents do to help? This 2011 article offers some wisdom.
George Marotta reminds us in this 2002 article, “Each person can best help society by developing his or her talents to the fullest. In the process, some will earn very large incomes, but that’s OK.”
When a 529 plan is set up, there are two important people associated with the account. The first is the account owner. The second is the beneficiary. Both can be changed.
Roth IRAs have one weakness, but the remedy is to have opened and funded your Roth more than 5 years ago. So do it today!
With many of us saddled in student loan debt well into our late thirties, our retirement cannot wait for us to be debt free. This 2016 rewrite of a 2007 article teaches you how to get started with savings while repaying your loans.
In 2003, David stopped to rescue a snapping turtle from 250 West. Even now, the financial planning lessons from that turtle are still sage advice.
It is common for investors to be surprised by movements in their portfolios. This 2019 article reminds us though that even volatile movements can be quite normal.
Here are several tips on how to live richly on your own.
This 2009 article reminds us, “When we are worried about our expenditures, we tend to look at the dollar amounts more than the frequency of our purchases.” However, to combat mindless spending, we should look to trim recurring expenses first.
This article offers an overview of what we know about 529 reimbursement timing.