FINANCIaL
FIELd NOTES
Fiduciary vs. Suitability and Why it Matters
In 2016, the DOL released the Fiduciary Rule, which for the first time brought to light two different types of financial advisors; Fiduciaries and Non-Fiduciaries. Before this, investors had very little knowledge of the differences. Studies have shown that nearly 50% of Americans believe ALL financial advisors are required to act in the best interest of their clients. However, this is sadly not true.
The REAL Cost of Poorly Timing the Market
I hate the term “learning experience” when it comes to investing mistakes. The cost is too high. This term was thrown around a lot this past summer and fall as the market rebounded from the March lows and started to make all-time highs again.
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