Month: February 2019
I drive past this sign in the morning as I’m winding down my final weeks of work. I catch myself wondering “who are these people?” Really, who are these people who stay at the office past 8pm and get their car locked up? I quickly remember: That person was me. That was me 10 years ago. I am unlikely to be at the office at 8pm grinding on a deal now. I'll occasionally work late, but it'll be at an…
If you've ever bought a stock or mutual fund, this question will eventually come up: Should I Reinvest Dividends? (and Capital Gains for Mutual Funds). There's no right or wrong answer, but this will outline the case for and against reinvesting your dividends. The case for reinvestment: Dividend reinvestment is automated. There's no thought into if/when to invest the money, the dividends and capital gains roll right back into the investment that generated them. It is simple Dividend Reinvestment is…
I had a reader send me a nice email with some lengthy questions. This individual was doing well, including maximizing all retirement accounts, had money saved outside of retirement accounts, and worked in a volatile industry and lives in an area where the local economy is boom or bust. He is 33 and has already worked for eleven years and is a homeowner. I'm assuming he and his wife are good savers based on the details provided, but he didn't…
Introduction to Rewards Credit Cards I first stumbled across travel rewards while in college. I had little bit of credit and was able to apply for and get a Hilton Honors points credit card. Earn a free hotel night or two to supplement a trip? Sign me up! Over the course of the next ten years we would earn a few free nights a year. Eventually we added the Hilton Amex and has a brief run with manufactured spending (thanks…
What is enough? This is one of the tough questions I see people pursuing financial independence coming to grips with. What is enough? The material goods might be the easy part: There will always be a bigger house, a bigger boat, and a fancier car to buy. The career may be tougher as there may always be a bigger job just within your reach, but everyone has to decide when do they have "enough". Separating yourself from…