Insights

Vanguard has a study out giving information on "How America Saves." It only has data for the Vanguard plans but that is a fairly large sample, albeit obviously influenced by Vanguard products and policies. Data is for 2013 and was published in 2014. Here some tidbits...

According to a recent survey, 85% of 401(k) plan participants are confused about their investment options. Because of that, participants guess, go strictly off recent performance, put a little in every option, ask another nonprofessional like a coworker or spouse, or...

You may know that I despise credit cards because of how much debt (read: bondage) they suck people into. However, for those that are disciplined, they can be a financially good deal. How about a card that pays you hundreds of dollars a year in cash? See the Nerd...

I am not a fan of the idea that market participants act rationally. An analysis of long-term market behavior does not bear that out at all. That idea was concocted in an academic setting far away from the day to day activity of the markets. Yes, new information is...

First of all, what the heck is a fiduciary? A fiduciary is a person in a special position of trust on whom others rely. This person must always act solely in the best interest of the person relying on him and is expected to act prudently, in accordance with what a...

Michael Lewis, an author whose past work I have appreciated has a new book out called Flash Boys that the news show 60 Minutes highlighted Sunday. The show called the segment,"The Stock Market is Rigged" because that is the assertion Michael Lewis makes. Is he right?...

The markets have recently shown pretty much the same apathy toward Russia's recent aggression in Crimea that most war-weary U.S. citizens have. For most, it's pretty far away and didn't the Crimeans vote to reattach themselves to Russia, anyway? Well, maybe with the...

A Few Things I’ve Learned The more experience you have, the more you understand and care about other people. It is easier to avoid temptation than to resist it. Love is to will and act for the highest good of another (Thomas Aquinas). Feelings come and go. It helps to...

The Department of Labor (DOL) has been dramatically increasing its number of auditors the last two years, hiring 1,000 new auditors. If your company has a retirement plan like a 401(k) or 403(b), the odds of it being audited are rising significantly. One highly...

If you have any input into your company retirement plan, a term you need to become familiar with is the term fiduciary. According to fi360, a fiduciary is "a person in a special position of trust on whom others rely." As such, fiduciaries are required to: 1) Act in...