How to Build Lifetime Income Without Annuities
Have you heard advertisements about creating lifetime income for a secure retirement? I’m always skeptical about annuities because they are so confusing, even for those of us who pay attention. It turns out that the term “lifetime income” is a marketing phrase intended to demystify annuities by highlighting their primary benefit. Unfortunately, a PR campaign…
Roth IRA Contributions from a Taxable Brokerage Account
A fundamental strategy for any U.S.-based DIY retirement planner is to accumulate as much retirement money as possible in a Roth IRA. Roth IRA contributions and conversions grow tax-free, and withdrawals are tax-free and not subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs). I didn’t have a Roth IRA for the first 15 years of my investing…
What I’m Doing Now to Travel More Before Retirement
This summer, my family of five will be visiting England and Scotland. International travel became my top priority after my high school Latin class went to Italy in 1993. That trip inspired: A 60-day European backpacking trip in 1998, which led to Four months in China and South-East Asia in 2001, Five months in South America…
Retire on Dividends vs. Investment Sales
At an early age, I was attracted to the allure of living off of interest — having enough income-producing cash and invested assets to retire on dividends and interest without spending any of the principal. This is appealing because it would provide the ultimate sense of financial security. When investors can generate enough income to…
Market Volatility Playbook
The market is in volatile shape right now, and there’s little we can do about it. New information comes to light every hour, but the fog persists. With so much being unknowable, the market will fluctuate until policies and corporate earnings become clear and the trauma subsides. Companies, consumers, and the market need time to…
A Dividend Income Portfolio Update
This week’s blog post points to my latest YouTube video where I share an update on my two taxable dividend income portfolios. The combined portfolio pays me about $13,633 per year in dividend income or about $1,136 per month. The video shows my Fidelity and M1 Finance portfolios and a combined future dividend income view…
Investing in “Uncertain” Markets
The Pittsburgh Steelers won four Superbowls in the 1970s — a legendary run. My Uncle was a diehard Steelers fan in the 1970s and 1980s. He had season tickets, fabricated an Iron City Beer “kegerator” in his basement, and bet on the outcomes of the games. Sports betting is commonplace today. But back in the…
Why are My IRA Returns Disappointing?
A friend of mine was trying to figure out why his financial advisor was underperforming the market so badly. Over the past 5 years (November 15th, 2019, to November 15th, 2024), his portfolio was up just 4.8% annually vs. 13.8% for the S&P 500. He’s not the kind of person who checks his portfolio every…
Lunch Money Review: Automated Budgeting Fast and Simple
I’ve discovered an excellent product to help make data-driven decisions with our money. The software is called Lunch Money — an independent, female founder-led budgeting tool that makes the budgeting process simple, fast, and automated. Many of you will ignore this post, thinking you’re too wealthy or sophisticated to budget anymore — or you don’t think…
The Four Cornerstones of a DIY Retirement
So much has changed in the world of personal finance and investing over the past 30 years. ETFs and index funds have replaced individual stock portfolios and managed mutual funds. Investing moved online, then to mobile. Online brokers eliminated commissions and now encourage fractional share purchases for as little as $0.01. Tax laws and planning…
