[Updated on October 17, 2014 with a new example.] I said in The Case Against Roth 401(k) I think for most people the majority, if not 100%, of the contribution should go to a Traditional 401(k). I gave these reasons: Fill in lower tax brackets in retirement Avoid high state income tax Leave the option open […]
Why Investors Don’t Realize CDs Are a Better Deal Than Bonds
The best CDs are a better deal than bond funds but investors don’t realize it. They overvalue simplicity, overpay for liquidity. and they underestimate how easy it is to buy CDs even in IRAs.
Sell Your RSUs As Soon As They Vest
I heard in a casual conversation that some of my co-workers are holding their RSU shares after the shares are vested. They thought there are some tax advantages in holding the RSU shares. There is no tax advantage whatsoever in holding the RSUs after they vest. RSU stands for Restricted Stock Unit. It’s a form […]
401k Loan Double Taxation Myth
I don’t know who started it. Suze Orman certainly helped spread it. She says that you shouldn’t borrow from your 401k (or 403b) plan because you will be double-taxed. I did a Google search and I found 5 priceless money-saving tips by Suze Orman: “Also, never ever borrow against your 401k plan because you will […]
$10,000 Lesson On Variable Universal Life (VUL)
Variable Universal Life insurance or in short VUL is sold by insurance agents as a smart investment to unsuspecting people. The pitch usually goes like this: You invest in VUL. The money in the policy grows tax deferred. You get to choose what you invest in, stocks, bonds, international, you name it. It’s like a […]
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) Is A Fantastic Deal
If you work for a publicly traded company which offers an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), you’ve got yourself a fantastic deal. An ESPP typically works this way: You contribute to the ESPP from 1% to 10% of your salary. The contribution is taken out from your paycheck. This is calculated on pre-tax salary but […]