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25 Jul 2014 Why We Hate Budgets

Posted at 11:05h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Few terms evoke greater discomfort than the word budget. Our defenses go up immediately at its mere suggestion. We confess we should budget, or we admit our fear of what budgets reveal of our spending choices and amounts, or we just don't want to face the guilt they invariably cause. Sound familiar?

18 Jul 2014 Should Young Couples Buy or Rent Their First Home?

Posted at 13:58h in Blogs, The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

During lunch yesterday my son Sam, who is getting married soon, asked if it would better for the new couple to rent or buy their first home? He had given considerable thought to the subject in recent months. As a renter since college, he felt...

13 Jun 2014 Did You Know There Are Two Kinds Of Investment Risk?

Posted at 16:11h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Risk in investing is generally understood to mean the possibility of losing money. But there is a more important distinction to consider. For instance, when you work with a broker or a money manager you complete a risk tolerance questionnaire. It basically asks you what is the maximum point of risk (loss of your money) you can stand before you spend sleepless nights and stomach-sick days?

06 Jun 2014 How Much Of Your Portfolio Will You Spend In Retirement?

Posted at 12:10h in The Friday Brief by Geoff Hall, CFP®, RICP®

When confronting the question of retirement spending, the most commonly used strategy is known as the 4% Rule. It is based on the premise that you can withdraw 4% from a well-diversified, balanced (60% equity/40% bond) portfolio and feel comfortable that your money will last as long as you...