FINANCIaL
FIELd NOTES
The Worst Market Timer
With the market near all-time highs, investors are often weary of investing, wanting to wait until there is a sell-off. It is a very rational thought, especially when the economy is hurting like it is now. When it comes to investing cash, the question you should ask is “When will I need it?” not “Is this a good time?”
Three Fascinating Books I Read This Year
Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and Clorox wipes were all in short supply this year. One thing that was not – time. And with that time, I was able to read quite a bit more than I normally do. I wanted to share a three books that I found particularly interesting.
Your HELOC Is Not Your Emergency Fund
A few months ago, I did a series on how much to have in your emergency fund and where to park the cash. Following one of the posts, I was asked if it’s okay to consider your home equity line of credit (HELOC) as your emergency fund. The logic is fairly simple.
Delaying Social Security Is the Best Annuity
I hear from many people that they plan to take Social Security as soon as possible at age 62, or at the very latest, full retirement age, which ranges from age 65 to 67. As I’ve written about before, two reasons you might consider taking it early is because (1) You don’t believe Social Security will be around and (2) you might die early. On the first issue, I believe Social Security is too foundational to the American retirement
Are Stocks What You Should Worry About?
With a 10+ year bull market behind us, Coronavirus concerns, and a change in Washington, I hear many concerns about how all this is going to impact the stock market. I think the question being asked is “Is now a good time to sell?
Why Free Financing Isn’t Free
A few weeks ago, I was driving home from work, listening to the radio, and I heard an ad from a national furniture store that went something like this: “This Friday, 25% off storewide OR free financing for 5 years.” I thought to myself, “That isn’t free at all.”