This is the third post in a series. The first compared a Roth IRA against a Roth 401(k). The second compared the traditional and Roth sides of a 401(k). This one compares the traditional and Roth sides of an IRA.…
This post is continuing in a series that began with Roth IRA vs Roth 401(k). Admittedly that was a complicated post discussing a workplace plan vs a non-workplace plan. This post will be much more manageable. It is designed for…
Yes both of these accounts carry the name ‘Roth’ and both carry the same promise. You pay your tax on the way in meaning you are funding these accounts with after tax dollars. When you make a qualified withdrawal later,…
It is Friday night and I am working to get this post published. Tomorrow is the start of all the big college football games. I am excited to watch my Georgia Bulldogs. They are mine…… not because I graduated from…
Most retirement advice is about one thing: how much to save. Save more. Contribute more. Get the match. All of that is sound and good advice and things I talk about on this site. But it addresses only half of…
Last week I published a post on how to read an earnings release. It focused on United Airlines (Ticker UAL) and Johnson & Johnson (Ticker JNJ). This week the market provided a few more earnings releases that helped solidify some…
A couple of my daughter Thalia’s friends asked me recently how to open a Roth IRA. They had just turned 18, they had some summer job money, and they wanted to know where to actually put it. I had not…
Four times a year, every public company you own puts out an earnings release. Most casual investors do not really dig into the detail when this happens. They quickly see if the company beat expectations and look to see how…
I strongly believe in utilizing investment property to supplement your income and diversify your wealth. If you do not want to be dependent on Social Security income in retirement, investment property is a great way to lessen that dependency. It…
When I was younger, “millionaire” was the finish line. It was the lofty goal. It was the word people used to mean you had made it. It showed up in game show titles, in song lyrics, in the quiet way…
I have gotten to the office early my entire working life. First one in, every job I have ever held, because I get a lot done before the world wakes up and I have never needed much sleep. I am…
Before anything else, let’s acknowledge something: if this post applies to you, that is a win. It means you’ve worked your way to a place where there’s money left over — money that isn’t already spoken for by a bill…
In How Many Stocks Should You Actually Own?, we covered how to build a portfolio of individual stocks. Now comes the question that experienced investors often say is harder than buying — when should you sell? Selling is one of…
Paying off debt is one of the most common financial challenges I have helped people work through, and one of the most misunderstood. I have been in some type of a finance role my entire life. Along the way I…
In a recent post, How to Research a Stock Before You Buy It, I walked through the framework — what to look for, what matters, and why. This post is meant to accompany that one with a real stock research…
In How to Research a Stock Before You Buy It, we covered the basics of figuring out whether a company is worth owning. Once you start putting that knowledge to work, the next question is — how many stocks should…
In my last post, ETFs and Index Funds vs Individual Stocks, we talked about when it makes sense to start adding individual stocks to your portfolio. If you have decided you are ready to take that step, the natural next…
If you have read What Is an ETF? and Index Funds vs ETFs, you understand how to get into the stock market with one simple investment that instantly diversifies your money across companies and/or technologies. The next question almost every…
If you have learned what an ETF is, you have probably come across the term: index funds. In What Is an ETF?, we discussed the confusion of where to put your money once you have started saving it. Stocks, bonds,…
If you have started saving money — or are starting to think about it — or are sitting on money you have been afraid to invest — the next question is simple: What do you actually do with that money?…
As retirement is likely not on your mind when receiving your first paycheck, it is easy to think that saving some of that first paycheck doesn’t really matter. This is why it is so important to start saving with your…
Introduction Most people think building wealth is out of reach—and because of that, most people don’t think about it at all. That mindset is a big reason why so many people live paycheck to paycheck. This beginner’s guide to building…
If you have ever made a budget, used it for a few weeks, and then completely ignored it, you are not alone. Budgets are a lot like New Year’s resolutions. They start with great intentions but fizzle out quickly. Most…
Introduction: Budgeting Made Simple At BUDGETING 101, I speak to how important it is to budget your expenses on the path to building savings. I personally budget my life across 30 items (personal savings, college fund, auto repairs, food, entertainment,…
I recently came across a survey from 2020 titled Mind Over Money, conducted by Capital One and The Decision Lab. It provided helpful insights on financial stress relief for those struggling with monetary concerns and looking for advice on how…
If you’re starting your real estate investing journey, you’ll quickly come across the term Cap Rate. This is short for Capitalization Rate. While not a perfect science for evaluating properties, Cap Rate is a great starting point to assess a…
Introduction There are a wide variety of opinions on how much you should spend on a car. While there are formulas to help guide you—and I’ll share a few in this post—the truth is, beyond the math, it comes down…
At first, it felt too early in the life of this site to write about retirement savings—but today, it suddenly felt like the obvious topic. Why? Because saving and building net worth makes more sense when there’s an end goal…
Introduction: Is Your Budget Leaking Money? If you couldn’t tell from Budgeting 101, I strongly believe the key to building wealth starts with a budget. Unless you’re making more money than you know what to do with, you need a…
I’ll say this many times: I’m not here to give you stock advice. I’ll share what I personally do, what I’ve done, and even the trades I’ve made—but my goal is to educate you. I want you to understand key…