ETFs: Index Funds That Trade Like Stocks

Posted 54 days ago | 0 Comments
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In How to Build An Investment Portfolio, I explained the benefits of using index funds instead of the actively managed funds that dominate most portfolios put together by financial advisors. Vanguard and DFA both provide an excellent selection of indexed mutual funds, giving you the ability to implement a variety of portfolio strategies. However, buying into DFA funds is impossible for most investors, with typical $100,000 account minimums and only through approved advisors. So, the obvious solution is to open a Vanguard account, which only requires a $3000 balance. Another option is to use index ETFs, which trade like stocks, in whatever brokerage account you wish. There are hundreds of quality index ETFs available today, including ETF versions of most of Vanguard’s index funds.

How to Build an Investment Portfolio

Posted 93 days ago | 0 Comments
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It irks me every time I see an ad for some pompous investment advisory firm. It typically shows some well-to-do people sitting around smiling, while a generic acoustic guitar strums in the background, and some guy with a gruff voice tells you how good they are at managing their client’s “complex” investment objectives. I think we all have one simple objective – to make as much money as possible! It should come as no surprise that these companies are incredibly wealthy because they often make more from your money than you do. The truth is, it’s easy to invest your money all by yourself with the simple advice in this article and beat the vast majority of investors using high-cost brokerage firms.

Ultimate Financial Lifestyle Guide - Part 1

Posted 247 days ago | 3 Comments
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Who doesn’t want freedom, control, and peace of mind in their financial lifestyle? Is there any reason not to lower all your expenses and maximize earnings? In this series of articles, I’ll detail the ultimate products and strategies that can enhance your financial lifestyle in every aspect. In Part 1, I will discuss the importance of saving money, Roth IRAs, the best online checking accounts, and the best brokerage firms.

Killer Checking (and Savings) Deals

Posted 346 days ago | 22 Comments
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If you have any significant amount of money that’s earning less than 4% interest, this article is for you. You might already have a checking account at a local brick and mortar bank with lots of branches and ATMs in your neighborhood. These accounts have one advantage, and I already mentioned it – local branches and ATMs. The huge downside is that they earn no interest, and the “savings” accounts that are tied to them typically earn half a percent or less. There are many smarter options for parking your day-to-day cash, and today I’ll be looking at the best checking accounts among the most savvy of deal-finders.