Last week we talked about the three types of accounts we can use for our Long-Term Portfolio and I said it’s important to have balances in all three types. The Already-Taxed or Roth account is the most difficult to contribute to so I want to talk this week about how we can get money into […]
There are three tax structures under which you can invest: Taxable Tax-Deferred Already-Taxed or Roth. We want to use all three of these when investing our Long-Term Portfolio and I’ll tell you why in a moment. But first, I want to talk through how each of them works. 1. Taxable First, a Taxable portfolio is […]
Once you have a plan in place to sell your Company Stock over time, be sure that money has some place to go. We don’t ever want our money to be without a job and the cash you get from your Company Stock is no exception. How to Calculate Your Savings Target You should always […]
Previously, we have focused on the stock you own that has already vested sometime in the past. We talked about understanding the risk that creates as well as knowing the tax effect of selling those shares. Today, we are talking about newly vested shares – whether they are RSUs, stock options, ESPP or another type […]
Do You Have Too Much Company Stock? Diversification is the key to any successful portfolio. However, recently, individual tech stocks have been all over the news and I’ve been getting asked, “How much company stock should I have?” or “Do I have too much?” Today, I wanted to answer these questions and clear up some […]
I’m often asked, “Where should I invest my cash if I plan to buy a [house, boat, car, etc.] in two years?” My answer is always, “Put it in your savings account so you know it will be there when you need it.” Sure, you could get a bit more interest in a CD or […]
Many times, people have come to me with concerns about cash buildup in their savings accounts. That’s not a bad problem to have, but it’s still a problem. Some people are concerned about spending their extra cash, while others are concerned that they’re not investing it. In either case, this situation can easily be avoided […]
In today’s busy world, you might often feel like you’re drowning in responsibilities to your family, coworkers, clients, and even your neighbors. There’s always someone or something saying you ought to be doing something. It’s a huge weight on your shoulders, and money is no exception. If your income is higher than your parents, you […]
A friend recently told me that all he wants to know about his finances is how much money he needs before retiring. He doesn’t care about understanding his spending—or even looking at it! He knows his spending is high today, but he believes he can reduce it at any time, and the best time seems […]
Running on autopilot can be dangerous. If a pilot’s course is off by 1 degree traveling from San Francisco to New York, they will end up 40 miles out in the Pacific Ocean. Likewise, if you don’t recalibrate your financial autopilot settings, you’ll miss your destination of financial security. A particular setting that I find […]