Finance Blog
Bonds and the Bonds Market: A Basic Primer
Written by Dan Solin on July 20, 2010
1 comment
Bonds confuse most investors. The securities industry likes it that way. The more you believe investing is just too complex to figure out on your own, the likelier it is that you will need the services of a “financial consultant.” Going down that road is…
The Volatility Index-Much Ado about Nothing
Written by Dan Solin on July 13, 2010
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You have no doubt been reading a lot about the volatility index lately. Before I tell you why I believe it is irrelevant, let me first tell you what it is. The Chicago Board Options Exchange established a volatility index (VIX). The VIX is not…
Annuities: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Written by Dan Solin on June 29, 2010
2 comments
There’s a lot of misinformation about annuities. That’s not surprising, since the term “annuity” is applied to a variety of dissimilar investments. These investments are also quite complex, which seems to suit the insurance industry. Complexity makes it more difficult for investors to separate good…
Five Simple Rules For Protecting Your Retirement Savings
Written by Dan Solin on June 22, 2010
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It’s great that you’re saving for retirement. You’re probably taking advantage of a 401(k) plan, a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or some combination of these retirement plans. However, you can undo all the good by making a single bad decision with these accounts, costing…
Running Out Of Retirement Money? Make Your Money Outlive You
Written by Dan Solin on June 15, 2010
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What’s your biggest fear as a retiree? Outliving your money. The securities industry is great at fearmongering. It wants you to believe you need it to avoid this fate. The harsh reality is that using brokers and advisers who tell you they can “beat the…
Creating Your Own Best Retirement Plan
Written by Dan Solin on June 8, 2010
2 comments
Generally speaking, I am no fan of 401(k) plans. They are brimming with high costs, conflicts of interest, and poor investment choices. The primary beneficiaries of these plans are mutual funds and plan advisers who skim off billions in fees-money that should be going into…
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