Author: troyashbacher

By Dr. Jim Dahle, WCI Founder Regular readers know the vast majority of my portfolio is invested in traditional low-cost, broadly diversified index mutual funds and their exchange traded fund (ETF) equivalents. I’m talking about funds like the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (25% of my retirement portfolio and 100% of my HSA portfolio) and the Vanguard Total International Stock Market Index Fund (15% of my retirement portfolio and 50% of my 529 portfolio). I have small portions of my portfolio dedicated to things like bonds, small value stocks, and real estate, but you won’t see any individual stock…

Today’s deal from Target is 30% off Brightroom storage tubs and bins.  The prices for Brightroom items are very reasonable so this makes things really affordable.  You can get new tubs for organizing holiday stuff, or cupboards and closets- there are a bunch of sizes to choose from.  They also have rolling carts, zippered bags and the really cute caddys that are perfect for art supplies or makeup or whatever.  There are some garage storage shelves and a rolling table too.  These are nice to just organize but I think that rolling cart especially could be a gift idea.  I…

For retirees and beneficiaries, understanding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) is not just a tax-planning necessity — it’s a financial imperative.Changes under the SECURE 2.0 Act have (among other things) shifted the starting age, introduced new rules for inherited accounts, and changed rules for Roth 401(k)s.Then there are common RMD mistakes, like missing the deadline for your first RMD or miscalculating the withdrawal from an inherited IRA, which can trigger a penalty. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the…

Key Takeaways President Donald Trump on Sunday once again raised the possibility of a tariff dividend check to Americans.In a message on Truth Social, Trump suggested that a check could be worth “at least” $2,000 per person, though “high income” earners would not be eligible. The president says he still wants to send you a check. President Donald Trump in a Sunday morning message on Truth Social said a “dividend of at least $2000 a person” would be paid to “everyone.” Further details regarding timing and eligibility were not immediately available, and the White House did not respond to emailed…

If you’re a die-hard football fan like me, you’re all too familiar with the risks and rewards of playing in the red zone.When your favorite NFL team gets the ball inside the opposing team’s 20-yard line, the margin for error is reduced. The skills, strategies and control your team demonstrates under these stressful conditions can be critical to the game’s outcome.You see where I’m going with this? From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice…

Over the last few years, I’ve heard from a handful of advisory firms taking a technology approach different from most.These firms, often founded or led by youngish-yet-veteran advisors, and usually tech-savvy and with engineering connections, start out unsatisfied with off-the-shelf solutions to their technology needs. They, in turn, or from the outset, build some or much of what they need themselves. Most do not reinvent the wheel and build everything in-house; instead, they focus on core components.I’ve recently spent some time with the founders and some advisors from Compound Planning. Alex Farman-Farmaian, one of its co-founders and co-CEOs, said the firm’s…

Until recently, lenders that sell mortgages to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprises that guarantee about half of U.S. mortgage debt, could review credit scores only from FICO to help determine whether an applicant qualifies for a loan. But now those lenders also have the option of using VantageScore, a competing score owned by the three major credit-reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).FICO and VantageScore evaluate many of the same criteria to create scores, including an applicant’s record of on-time loan and credit card payments, but their formulas differ.The version of VantageScore that mortgage lenders may now review,…

“Should I just maintain the status quo or marry the love of my life?”

The 40-30-20-10 Budget Rule Explained – Penny Pinchin’ Mom Facebook Pinterest Twitter

Key Takeaways Newark Liberty International Airport, located just 10 miles from Jersey City, serves over 30 airlines and offers nonstop flights to more than 180 domestic and international destinations.Jersey City offers easy access to Amtrak, PATH trains, ferries, and buses.Retirees enjoy walkable neighborhoods and a robust downtown with waterfront parks, international dining, museums, galleries, and shops. Residents in Hudson County are just a short commute away from the perks of big-city living, but with 13% lower housing costs than in New York County. Jersey City makes an excellent home base for retirees hoping to trade their 9-to-5s for frequent flyer miles. …