Reader PR writes in: “Harry, what are your thoughts on secondary market annuities? I’m looking for some higher returns for my savings. Some of the SMA’s I’m looking at right now are returning 4 or 5%. It seems like they are a pretty safe investment, but maybe I’m missing something.” I’ll be honest, when I first […]
Archives for November 2012
Employee Benefits: Do You Have the Option to Purchase Additional Vacation Days
A lot of people are talking about employee benefits right now. They are deciding which medical plan to choose(the answer should be HSA!), reviewing their investment choices and maybe even increasing their 401k contribution. But I’m here to talk about a different type of benefit today: vacation days. You might not think of purchasing vacation […]
Why I Prefer to Make My Own Black Friday Deals
Thanksgiving has got to be one of my favorite holidays. Not only is it centered around giving thanks and spending time with family, but it’s a whole holiday that’s dedicated to food. I plan on spending it with my mom’s side of the family, my dad’s side and my girlfriend’s family, and for those people […]
Should You Stay or Should You Go?
The following article is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. They say the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. When you’re looking for a different way of life, moving to the Gulf is particularly tempting. The culture is different, […]
Annual Enrollment Time: How Much Can an HSA Save You?
Here’s my original HSA article from last year: Health Savings Accounts Explained. Ok it’s annual enrollment time again for those of us in traditional workplaces and I’m here to tell you exactly how much a HSA can benefit you. Most large companies are starting to offer HSA’s to their employees for one main reason: it […]
Investing, Gold, & The Current Market
The following article is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please ready my guest posting policy and then contact me. When you set about forming a personal finance strategy, there is certainly no shortage of advice available. Whether it’s tips for how to make money more effectively, advice on setting up a retirement […]
Why The Average Investor Should Choose Index Funds Over Picking Individual Stocks
When it comes to picking stocks for a portfolio, the average investor is at a big disadvantage. Now I’m not talking about investing in mutual funds, which can have big ol’ expense ratios baked into them. I’m talking about good ‘old fashioned stock picking’, where you research companies, pick out which ones you like and […]
Do You Invest in Expensive Kitchen Knives? A Review of my Shun Chef’s Knife
If you’ve ever been around someone who loves to cook, you’re probably already familiar with the names Shun or Wusthof. They are two of the top knife-manufacturers in the world and most professional chefs carry one or the other. These knives may be top of the line, but so is their price tag. Most knives […]
Is a Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payment a Good Idea?
“What if we told you that you could be mortgage free years sooner? That’s what The BiWeekly Advantage Plan® offers homeowners like you!” That was the opening line of an e-mail I received last week from Citi Mortgage. I’d heard of a bi-weekly payment plan before but never been offered one by my mortgage provider. […]