Question for you: When it comes to investing, are you confident or clueless? If you’re clueless, I’m going to help by giving you a peek at my own portfolio and showing you – quite specifically – where to begin investing. If you’re a … [Read more...]
Is Whole Life Insurance a Good Investment?
July 11, 2012 by
Okay guys, it’s time to get all sexy and talk about life insurance. I know, I know. Keep your shirts on. Until recently I had only written this brief primer life insurance because it doesn’t apply to a lot of people under 30. But as some of us … [Read more...]
Should You Pay Off Student Loans Early?
June 26, 2012 by
If you’ve graduated from college or graduate school in the last decade, I don’t need to tell you that college tuition is rising at an unsustainable level or that we are graduating with monstrous student loan debts—to the point that Americans’ … [Read more...]
401k Asset Allocation: Two Methods for Headache-Free Diversification
June 5, 2012 by
Want to do one thing to ensure the money you’re saving today in your 401k or IRA will be around tomorrow? Diversify. Too many Americans have watched their retirement dreams disappear because they invested solely in the company stock of their … [Read more...]
Roth 401ks vs. Traditional 401ks
May 15, 2012 by
Last week, we asked: 401k or IRA? So the obvious follow-up is: Roth or traditional? If you read that and say, “huh?” Don’t feel bad. Despite hundreds of articles I’ve read on the topic, I have yet to find one that explains the differences … [Read more...]
401(k) or IRA?
May 8, 2012 by
Decoding retirement savings is as thrilling as an all-day cram session for a standardized test. I get that. But just like that grad school exam, your future depends on it. A few weeks ago, I sent my focus group a quick survey on 401k plans. I knew … [Read more...]
Green Investing: How Your Investments Can Help The Earth
April 23, 2012 by
Earth Day is an annual reminder of things we can do as individuals to help preserve our habitat and the resources that sustain us. When we think about living green, recycling, buying locally, or trading in the SUV for a Prius usually come to … [Read more...]
Should You Invest In Real Estate?
March 13, 2012 by
Editor's Note: Yesterday Sarah gave us some ways to help you figure out if you're ready to buy a home. But what if you're pondering buying real estate not as a home, but an investment? Real estate investing involves more risk and legwork than … [Read more...]
The Roth IRA: A Saver’s Best Friend
March 1, 2012 by
Ready to start investing on your own? Then a Roth IRA is the first place to look. Jump To: Roth IRA Contribution Limits Roth IRA Income Limits Before I took a job at SmartMoney Magazine, terms like 401(k), Traditional IRA, and Roth IRA … [Read more...]
Q&A: I’ve Maxed Out My 401(k); Where Should I Invest Next?
February 24, 2012 by
Occasionally I publish answers to select readers’ money questions. I welcome your opinion in the comments. Send questions to [email protected] I can’t get to them all but will do my best! Q: I’ve been employed for six months. I'm 30 … [Read more...]
