Steadfast Finances

 Index Funds, Investing 101, Retirement, Roth IRA         5 comments

Share
Nearly every day, I hear or read about the phrase “dollar cost averaging“.  Rarely, will an actual definition or chart accompany this phrase.
Wikipedia defines it as:
Dollar cost averaging is the practice of investing a fixed dollar amount at regular intervals (such as monthly) in a particular investment or portfolio, regardless …

 Investing 101, Retirement, Roth IRA         3 comments

Share
Most people think of April 15th only concerns the tax filing procrastinators, but for the early retirement minded, it also means the final day to contribute to your Roth IRA/Traditional IRA.
I realize that you’re likely bombarded with the April 15 tax filing deadline each year, and that’s generally all main …

 Financial Planning, Personal Finance Tips, Retirement, Saving Money, Vulture Investing         27 comments

Share
I’m one of those weird people that believe when things go horribly wrong, the opportunity to make your situation better for the long term quietly presents itself.
I realize it’s not a popular thesis to propose when we’re losing thousands of jobs everyday and 8% of the American public isn’t paying their …

 Dividend Investing, Financial Planning, Index Funds, Investing 101, Retirement         13 comments

Share
If you think the stock market doesn’t behave in consistent (possibly predictable) boom and bust economic cycles, this graphic might change your mind.
Going as far back as 1886, this chart indicates that bull markets and bear markets routinely plague our economy.  Aptly named Supercycles, they come and go in a somewhat predictable pattern.  …

 401k, CDs, Retirement, Roth IRA         No comments

Share
If the thought of buying more low priced index funds or actively managed mutual funds leaves a bitter taste in your mouth after the stock market crash of 2008, did you know that Vanguard allows you to buy Certificates of Deposits (CDs) in your Vanguard IRA?
Most people I know are …

 401k, Financial Planning, Investing 101, Retirement         15 comments

Share
Yesterday, I had one of the most unpleasant conversations I’ve ever had on the subject of money.
I had to tell a close friend of my family that, in all likelihood, he has not saved enough money for his retirement.
This is a man I’ve known since I was a kid.  The …

 Financial Planning, Investing 101, Retirement         4 comments

Share
A friend and reader of this blog posed an interesting scenario to me this week.  One that I, or almost anyone else for that matter, would be rather shocked to see waiting for them in their email inbox prior to their ritualistic 8 AM cup of java.
Matt – What would …

 Buy on the Dips, Dividend Investing, Index Funds, Long-Term Stocks, Retirement         5 comments

Share
Since Wall Street has thrown us such an unexpected curve ball and subsequently slammed the S&P 500 down ~35% (2008 YTD), most of us are justifiably thinking about readjusting our portfolios, reviewing our asset allocations, or even reducing our 401k / IRA contributions until this financial crisis is resolved.
For my …

 Auto Sales, Bargain Hunting, Energy crisis, Financial Crisis, Green Living, Index Funds, Retirement         2 comments

Share
The S&P 500 is below 1000.  Do you know where your investments are?
For edification purposes only, if you haven’t received your quarterly statements through the good ol’ fashioned snail mail just yet, take a quick peek into your online retirement account.
Feeling Hulk-ish yet?  Good!  Me too!
If you’re not into watching …

 401k, Financial Crisis, Index Funds, Retirement, Roth IRA         1 comment

Share
It would appear that the majority of Americans with retirement accounts have really been sweating it out during this latest round of Wall Street negativity.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Fidelity’s website saw web traffic increase 25% higher than it’s all time high last week amid the flood of …

 Buy on the Dips, Index Funds, Investing 101, Retirement, Roth IRA         1 comment

Share
The S&P 500 is a rock!  After all that transpired on Wall Street this week, the S&P 500 only changed 3 points in 1 weeks time.
Just 3 tiny little points on the upside.
With all the drama, the bankruptcies, the bailouts, and of course, the realistic possibility the U.S. economy could …

 Annuities, Investing 101, Retirement, Variable Annuities         2 comments

Share

Every now and then, I see an article that slams an entire industry or writes off an entire line of products without examining the potential benefits from every possible angle.
Earlier this week, MSN Money’s Personal Finance section published an article basically dismissing variable annuities as a whole.
I couldn’t agree more …