Steadfast Finances

 Administration, Financial Crisis         1 comment

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I haven’t posted a Best Reads article in some time due to the monster snowstorm that knocked out power and web access subsequently throwing a monkey wrench in my schedule, as well as the chaos revolving around the holiday season, so it’s time to highlight a few posts from around …

 Administration         No comments

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Thanks to the feeling of Spring in the air combined with the time change, my day was really thrown off balance.  Just couldn’t seem to get in the groove all day with wanting to be outside, and the excitement around the Duke vs UNC basketball game.
UNC pulled out an almost certain win to become ACC …

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

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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 …

 20s Something Advice, Consumer Education         3 comments

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For anyone who has grandparents, or perhaps technophobe boomer parents (like mine), you’ve probably received more than a few phone calls for technical service.
Whether it’s asking for something as simple as a Google web search or rewiring a jumbled mess of cables behind their TV, it can be a bit …

 401k, CDs, Retirement, Roth IRA         No comments

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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

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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

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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 …

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

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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

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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 …

 Annuities, Investing 101, Retirement, Variable Annuities         2 comments

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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 …

 Index Funds, Investing 101, Retirement         No comments

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This topic almost makes me want to run and hide after putting up a headline like that, but alas, it’s true — women are saving less than men when it comes to their retirement accounts.
According to recent data from WISER (The Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement), women are saving …