Estate planning may seem daunting, but it really doesn’t have to be. The hardest part is often just overcoming the mental hurdle to start. Planning for the future is a smart and caring thing to do. Formulating your estate planning basics brings peace of mind and reduces any anxieties you may have about what lies […]
Estate Planning Basics: Get Started Today Read More »
Well folks, after writing over 2,300 personal finance articles since 2009, my job here at Financial Samurai is done! According to the 2022 Federal Reserve Consumer Finance Survey, the average American household’s net worth, adjusted for inflation, was $1.06 million. That’s right. The average American household, some of which consists of individuals, is a millionaire!
The Average American Household Is A Millionaire, Go USA! Read More »
Housing affordability is at or near an all-time low and the Fed is partly to blame due to its aggressive rate hikes in such a short time frame. The Federal government is also partly to blame due to excess stimulus spending during the pandemic. However, this is not a post about who is to blame
The Housing Affordability Problem Is Creating A Nation Of Renters Read More »
Now that the Supreme Court has outlawed affirmative action in college admissions, it’s time to look at the next layer of affirmative action: getting a job based on identity versus merit. This is the diversity hire dilemma some of you or your children might one day face. It is part of the DEI, or Diversity,
The Diversity Hire Dilemma: How To Get Paid Based On Identity, Not Merit Read More »
Are you ready for another recession? A recession tends to happen every 5-7 years and lasts on average for 11 months, so you might as well prepare for a future one. There may be more regional bank failures lurking. If so, mass layoffs will spread across multiple industries, not just tech and finance. And the
A Recession Preparation Checklist To Survive Bad Times Read More »
Once I hit 45 in mid-2022, I decided to enter a decumulation phase. Instead of continuing to save and invest aggressively, I decided to spend more aggressively. One way to decumulate is to spend more money on food. Dying with an excess of money is suboptimal. If we do, it will have meant that we
Spending More Money On Food: An Experiment In Decumulation Read More »
If you’re thinking about holding individual municipal bonds as a safe and liquid source of funds, think twice. Owning highly-rated municipal bonds is low risk. However, selling individual municipal bonds can be incredibly expensive and cumbersome. Unlike stocks, which now have $0 trading fees and ample liquidity, municipal bonds have a much less liquid market.
Selling Municipal Bonds Is Incredibly Expensive And Cumbersome Read More »
Are you thinking about borrowing from a 401k or IRA to buy a house? More people are thinking about it given real estate is a fantastic asset class to build wealth long term. Over time, your house’s principal value goes up and the real cost of the mortgage goes down. In an inflationary environment, the
How Does Borrowing From A 401k Or IRA To Buy A House Work? Read More »
Do you want to borrow from a 401(k)? It’s probably not a good idea because your 401(k) is meant for your retirement and not for current consumption. Once you start borrowing from your 401(k) you might start making it a bad habit. Some people think of borrowing from a 401(k) to buy a home in
How To Borrow From A 401(k) And Should You Read More »
Thanks to several commenters in my going back to work post, I’m getting more enthusiastic about sending my kids to community college! As a result, it may no longer be necessary for us to try and accumulate $1.5 million for two children to attend a four-year private college starting in the year 2036. It may also
Community College May Be The Way: How I Plan To Spend $1.5 Million Read More »
