Lifecycle funds are popular investment options. They are choices in almost every retirement and 529 plan I see these days. And this is to say nothing of the many investors who purchase these funds outside of college and retirement plans. But are lifecycle funds good choices? In most cases, no. In one case, yes. Before […]
Why You Must Check Your Credit Record before Applying for Credit
Many of us don’t think about checking our credit records until after we’ve applied for credit — and possibly been denied. I understand that process of course – but it can be costly. If you go that route you may not get the best credit terms – or you might even get rejected. Of course […]
How to Pay the IRS with a Credit Card for Free
You know that Uncle Sam is expecting your tax payment shortly. And if you want to make that payment by using your credit card, you can actually do so free of charge and avoid IRS trouble. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to scoop up some airline miles for yourself too. Have I […]
You Need A Budget YNAB Review – A Certified Financial Planner (R) Professional’s Opinion
I finally broke down and decided to review YNAB, better known to some as You Need A Budget, the premier personal budget software package. And even though I’m a professional financial advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, what you do financially dwarfs the importance of my work. That’s right. Even if you had Warren Buffet […]
What Is a Mutual Fund Prospectus? How to Read and Understand It.
What is a mutual fund prospectus? It’s a document that gives you an inside look at your mutual fund, and it’s about as inviting to read as a telephone book. That’s exactly the way Wall Street likes it. As long as you don’t take the five minutes it usually requires to go through the document, […]
Why You Should Graduate From College Early – How It’s Done
If you are wondering if you should graduate from college early, I have to start off by congratulating you for even considering the question. Just thinking about this issue proves that you are a forward-thinking person. Believe me, for most of your friends, long-term thinking doesn’t extend beyond the weekend and deciding which party to […]