What is a commodity ETF? They are ETF investments that buy …you guessed it….commodities. So…what is a commodity? That’s simply a tangible good that is the same (within it’s grade) no matter where you buy it. Gold is gold. Corn is corn. Wheat is wheat. Lumber is lumber. It’s all the same and there are […]
Archives for October 2011
Indexed Annuities – Investment Trap for Seniors
If you’re nervous about your investments these days, you’re not alone. But since you’ve got to invest your money somewhere, you might be tempted to buy indexed annuities. If you do get the itch to buy one of these “investments,” walk away and walk away quickly. Before I tell you why, let me explain the […]
Family Financial Planning Made Simple
Family financial planning is a topic that is very sensitive with me. Growing up, my parents didn’t do the kind of financial fire drills they should have. As a result, when calamity struck, we weren’t prepared. And as a result of that, our family was destroyed. If people rely on you, I believe there is […]
What Is the Maximum Social Security Benefit?
If you’re planning your retirement income, you might be wondering what the maximum Social Security benefit is. When preparing for retirement, most people are closely focused on the performance and projections for their retirement investment accounts. But equally important is having an approximate estimate of benefits from Social Security—another crucial leg of the retirement planning […]
What is Per Stirpes and Why You Must Know
“Per Stirpes” is a very important term to you if you own retirement accounts. So what is “Per Stirpes”? IRA custodians never explain it but the term “Per Stirpes” come from Latin and it means “per branch”. These two words can mean success or failure when it comes to your retirement account beneficiary designations and […]
Is Financial Faith a Good Plan?
What is financial faith? Does faith take the place of creating a financial plan? This question is not a rhetorical one. It’s one my wife and I have asked each other for years. Because of my experience as a kid, I never wanted to leave financial security to chance. I planned and projected. Saved and […]