A Family Discussion That May Just Keep the Peace
Ben Franklin once said, “….but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. This quote has been repeated for over 200 years, and it has a certain ring of truth to it. While we may not know what tax rates will be in the future, we likely have some […]
Ways To Teach Your Kids About Money
You know, Jill and I have worked pretty hard over the years to teach our kids the real the meaning of Christmas, it has not been easy . . . but we try. But we also have commited some time to teach them about being smart with their money – including the need to budget […]
The Buy-and-Hold Works . . . Until it Doesn’t
With Maeve home from school and Phoebe and Sophie on break for Thanksgiving weekend a few weeks back, it was just great to have all the Cutters together. With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror, Christmas is now in our sights. Over Thanksgiving weekend, we put up the tree, decorated the house, and everyone was in […]
What to Do if Your Employer Freezes Your Pension
In the Cutter house, Christmas is a big deal. Even as teenagers, the girls get so excited to decorate the house with Christmas knick-knacks, and put up the tree. And, of course, it’s a month of anticipation about what they’ll find under the tree on Christmas morning. It even seems like the bickering and arguing […]
How Much to Invest for Retirement – or Christmas
I love Christmas, I really do. The signs of Christmas seem to be popping up all over the place. The commercials on every channel, twenty-four hour Hallmark movies, the Christmas displays downtown, the crisp in the air . . . and the release of the Christmas Club funds. Friends of ours, Jim and Becky, reminded […]
Investment Strategies from the Uber-Wealthy
Anyone who knows me or reads this weekly column knows that I’m not an avid gambler. I really never have been. Whether we’re talking about a night at the casino or a questionable investment, I believe in taking only measured and calculated risks with money. But will I occasionally slap down two bucks for a […]
The FAFSA: The Most Important Financial Aid Form for College
I love Christmas, but doesn’t it seem to you like Christmas starts earlier and earlier every year? Here it is November and I’m seeing Christmas decorations and ads for gift ideas everywhere. Of course, my girls absolutely love this time of year. The music, the pretty lights, and yes – the shopping. Maeve was home […]
A Roth IRA for Kids . . . You Bet!
Last weekend, we had family movie night at the Cutter household. With teenage girls in the house, it’s not often that we’re all home together on a Saturday night, so I gave up control of the remote to Phoebe and Sophie for the evening. Well . . . for most of the evening, until the […]
Retirement and the Role of Generic Toilet Paper
With Maeve home from college last weekend, the girls’ thoughts turned to the approach of Halloween. With just a few weeks left, costumes for Halloween were top priority. Sure, they may not trick-or-treat any longer but what teenager can resist a good costume party? So once they’d landed on their disguise of choice, it was […]
Long Term Care Planning: Putting it Off is Not a Plan
When Jen and I teach folks about how to prepare for retirement, we consistently focus on financial readiness. Being prepared financially is critical to a sound retirement system, one that can provide security, peace of mind and independence. We often find that one area overlooked in financial preparation, which can threaten this independence, is the […]