The Obama budget proposal is officially released last week. The proposed tax related changes are further explained in a Green Book. $3 Million Cap On Retirement Accounts First on the proposed $3 million cap on retirement accounts (p. 175 in the Green Book PDF), it’s not exactly $3 million, but actually an amount enough to […]
Latest Blog Posts
Traditional and Roth IRA: Recharacterize vs Convert
When it comes to Traditional and Roth IRAs, convert and recharacterize means different things even though they both involve changing something. Make sure you use the right word.
Obama Budget Proposal: Chained CPI and Cap on Retirement Accounts
The news media, Internet discussion boards and Twitter are full of protests about two things in President Obama’s budget proposal, leaked to the press before its official release: chained CPI for Social Security and cap on retirement accounts. First of all, these are only proposals. The President does not make law. The proposals get fed […]
Pay For Advice Or For Using a Screwdriver?
The advice from knowledge and experience is the most valuable part. You can handle the administrative tasks easily yourself.
iPhone or Android With Data Plan For Low Usage
I don’t know why unlimited calling, texting and data for smartphones is so popular these days. Or is it just advertising that makes it appear to be popular? Radio guru Clark Howard likes Straight Talk at $45/month for unlimited everything. He also mentioned a T-Mobile plan for $30/month with unlimited web and text plus 100 […]
Keep a Local Bank Account As Backup When You Use an Online Bank
When you use an online bank without a physical branch near you such as Ally Bank or USAA for your main checking account, sometimes it’s helpful to keep a local bank account as a backup for what you need done in person at a branch. I use a Citi Checking account for this purpose. I […]
If Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness What Exactly Does It Buy?
I didn’t post last week because I was here: My wife and I visited that same place about 15 years ago. I remember we had a great time. I remember the surreal bamboo forest we walked in when it was raining. I remember the quiet black sand beach that had only the two of us. […]
Financial Planning When You Don’t Know the Future
On my way to work I see a sign for a psychic. It’s been there forever. I wonder how a psychic stays in business. Low overhead, I guess. When I hike during the weekend, I listen to The Clark Howard Show on podcast. Clark Howard is a personal finance guru on radio and television, based […]
Invest In Long Term Bonds Now?
Back in June 2012, a reader asked in a comment on my post What to Do When Interest Rate Is So Low: What would you think about this Vanguard Bond Fund for the next couple of years of low interest rate – VWESX [Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund]? I said I wouldn’t be comfortable with it […]
My Experience With Selling Cash-Secured Put Options
I should give an update for my experiment with selling cash-secured put options. Back in June 2012, when the percentage of my portfolio invested in stocks was close to reach a trigger point for rebalancing, I wrote this post: Sell Cash-Secured Puts: Get Paid for Your Rebalancing Commitment. The gist was that by announcing to […]