Hi Reader, Important retirement planning changes are coming in 2025. To help you prepare and take action, I've summarized the most applicable changes in today's email. I've also compiled a 2-page PDF cheatsheet (updated for 2025!) with every important retirement & tax planning number you'll likely need. 👉 Grab it here. Before we dive in, did you catch this week's podcast? Fixing the Housing Market, Trump's Tariffs, and More! How do we fix the housing affordability problem in the U.S.? Will...
14 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Today, I’m sharing 7 of my favorite investing & economic charts from the past month. These charts cover topics such as: Market Valuations Inflation & Interest Rates Investor Sentiment...and More! Before we dive in, did you catch this week's podcast? 5 Steps to Overcome Retirement Spending Challenges Learn why it’s so difficult to transition from saving to spending, what you can do to combat common spending challenges, and how to achieve "true wealth" in retirement. Listen Now → 7...
21 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, It’s often said that the market hates uncertainty. One advantage of the quick election result is removing a giant unknown that could have weighed on the market. Thus far, investors have enjoyed a nice rally in response, possibly due to the expectations of Trump's policy proposals, though nobody can say for sure. In any case, if you have any reservations about the next few years or decades from an investing standpoint, I have a thought experiment I'd like to share with you today....
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, If you will allow me some freedom, I want to take a brief detour from my usual topics of financial planning and investing to discuss a controversial subject: politics 😳 But first, did you catch this week's podcast episode? You Are (Probably) Planning for the Wrong Things in Retirement Why are most people planning for the wrong things in retirement? What should they be planning for that they’re not? And why are retirees more depressed than everyone else? Listen Now → Moving Forward...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Today, I’m sharing seven of my favorite investing & economic charts from the past month. These charts cover topics such as: History of bull markets U.S. economic growth Consumer wages (and satisfaction) ...and more! Let's dive in. 👇 Favorite Charts (October 2024) #1 - This Has Been One of the Fastest Bull Markets in History The S&P’s 63% gain through the first two years makes this the third fastest start to a bull market since the 1940s. Interestingly, the two bull markets that...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, The media loves election season. Unfortunately, this means we’re exposed to countless theories about how the market will react. I’ll save you the suspense (for which there’s plenty of support for this statement below): While the election may be important for other reasons, who ultimately wins probably won’t matter as much to our economy and portfolios as the media would like you to believe. Let me illustrate the truth of this statement by revisiting the last two (highly...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Managing withdrawals and understanding the tax implications is critical to retirement success. That’s why I'm sharing a new tax planning guide with you today. This (free!) guide covers: Which withdrawal/income sources are subject to certain types of taxation (e.g., federal, state, NIIT, etc.) Which withdrawal/income sources may have additional penalties Important planning nuances to be aware of regarding specific withdrawal sources Whether certain withdrawal/income sources increase...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, We have officially entered the final quarter of the year. As we gear up for the final months of 2024, I'm sharing key updates and commentary on: The State of Consumers The State of Companies The State of Investing I'm also sharing two reasons investors should remain optimistic. Let's dive in! 👇 Small Cap Value (Part 3): How to Find the “Best” Fund Learn when (and why) it can make sense to pay MORE for an investment, how to evaluate different funds, and what small-cap value funds to...
3 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, Today, I’m sharing five of my favorite investing & economic charts from the past month. These charts cover topics such as: Future interest rate cuts The looming recession Investing in cash...and more! Before we dive in, did you catch the most recent podcast? Small Cap Value (Part 2): How to Reduce Risk + Improve Returns Learn how small-cap value stocks can reduce risk and improve returns, what criteria an investment needs to meet to be included in a portfolio, and why value...
3 months ago • 3 min read