Target Funds aka Target Retirement Funds or Target Date Funds are slowly becoming the most popular retirement fund, and soon most 401(k)’s will be full of them. Pensions no longer dominate retirement talk and target funds are the latest hot item to hit the market. If you’re signed up through your employers 401(k) plan then…
What’s the State of Social Security? It’s Worse Than You Think President Obama and Congress this year took big steps to stave off the “fiscal cliff” that everyone was talking about. But there is a looming fiscal cliff coming that will directly the lower and middle class in less than 20 years: Social Security. Back…
Have you ever heard to expect a 10-12% return if you correctly invest in the stock market? I’ve heard that, many times. Sure, others are out there promising massive returns on penny stocks and other immediately gratifying—but highly illusive—investment options. As we move forward it’s key to understand the difference between average returns and annualized…
A couple of years ago I was in imminent need of a CPA. Up until then I had used Turbo Tax and even after running into some hiccups, because of some online stock trading I had done, I stuck with them. I had boug ht a home in March and planned to file my tax…
I got my first credit card in my early 20’s. It was a secured credit card through my bank. You see, I didn’t know what I needed to know about getting a credit card. I knew “paper or plastic” and how to spend that credit card, and I also wanted to build some credit. A…
Some people are thrifty. Some are frugal. Both can be great at saving, and even at paying off debt. All wise choices. But saving is not the same as investing. Saving will pile up your money, while investing can make your money grow itself. But if you hold some debt, should you invest or pay…
A friend of mine recently mentioned that he’s saved over 6 figures in retirement funds. No, he wasn’t born into money. He wasn’t given a handout. He’s not part of the 1%. He’s not a lawyer or a doctor either. What he did is something any of us can do. He started saving early, even…
The founding principle behind All Things Finance is this: as a financial advisor JW recognized the financial illiteracy that is rampant in this country. Therefore the need for financial education is immediate. Not just for the novice, but even for someone who regards themselves as a seasoned investor. We like to grow—and want to. If…
Being an entrepreneur takes guts! An entrepreneur should know that it’s no easy task, but the reward if successful is incomparable. They say that over 50% of new businesses fail within 5 years. Did they not work hard enough? Did they have the wrong tools? What was their handicap? “The only place success comes before…
I made my first stock trade back in the autumn of 2007. I had read a few books on investing for beginners by Warren Buffet and also the book The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing. I knew just enough to be dangerous. And dangerous I was. I made some fantastic trades with 300 to 400% returns,…