Confidence Boost from Retirement Planning Tools

I am a 100% self-directed investor, including using a self-managed brokerage account inside my 401(k) plan. Nevertheless, I periodically look for affirmation from objective third-party sources that our retirement investment plan is on the right path to success. I received some positive affirmation this past week, boosting my confidence in our plan. Read more

Further Adjustments to Our Retirement Risk Profile

Our core retirement portfolio holdings have delivered some nice gains over the last six months. Unfortunately, world events are creating a greater risk of another significant market decline. Even if the economy itself remains relatively stable, increasing oil and other commodity prices may create such fear that investors will hit the “PANIC SELL” button in large numbers. I can’t allow a collective market freak-out to cause us to lose all of our recent gains. Read more

Boomer Nest Eggs – A Retirement Myth

A recent opinion piece in the LA Times does an excellent job of separating fact from fiction in analyzing the notion that greedy baby boomers are poised to bankrupt the country. Supposedly, we are mostly wealthy boomers making it grossly unfair for us to receive Social Security and Medicare benefits when we retire. Not so fast, says the op-ed writer. Read more

New Mutual Funds for Fighting Inflation

The Fed would have us believe that inflation is under control and will remain that way. World food prices have a different idea and even Mr. Bernanke acknowledges that inflation is now impacting emerging markets in a big way. So it stands to reason that mutual fund companies would introduce more products to address the inflation concern. Read more

Investing Reasons to Claim Social Security Retirement Benefits Early

Most financial experts preach against taking Social Security retirement benefits at age 62 because of the permanent damage it does to the benefit amount received by the retiree and that retiree’s surviving spouse. But there may be an investment-based reason to claim an early benefit. Read more

Retirement Plan Reality Check

You have not heard much from me this week. Yet, it has been a significant and sad week in our pre-retirement world. Read more

So Many Boomers, So Little Savings

A recent Harris Poll survey of baby boomers (ages 46-64) and “matures” (ages 65 and up) reveals that the problem of boomers being financially unprepared for retirement is getting worse. While it seems that boomers expect to have retirement lifestyles that equal or exceed those of their parents’ generation, the reality is that for lots of us it will be worse, a lot worse.

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Is Now the Right Time to Buy Dow Stocks?

The AARP Bulletin recently published an article making the case that now may be the time to buy stocks featured in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. For the most part, these are considered large cap stocks. The case for buying is supported in part by the cyclical performance of the different equity markets in the past. Read more