Finance

The Federal Reserve system is an imperfect, but rather innovative, clearinghouse. Its structure as, “independent within government,” makes it hard to decipher precisely who owns it but here's my understanding of what it actually is.

Irrespective of any active v. passive investing debate, good advisors are an absolute necessity. Here’s my top 10 list of reasons why

Suppose you were NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden, or fictional international spy Jason Bourne, and the most powerful intelligence agencies on the planet were hunting you. Where would you go? A crucial factor in deciding where to go is whether or not the country has an extradition treaty with the U.S. This article presents a list of all such countries and less extreme ways to protect yourself from the untoward actions of your government. Words: 519

You don’t have to be an athlete or even follow sports to embrace the qualities that go into a championship athlete and team. Let’s take a closer look at these qualities so you have a better understanding of how you, too, can “think like an athlete and retire like a pro”.

Once you are debt free you can enjoy your retirement savings and live your retirement on your terms. Here's how.

Consumer debt – student loans, auto loans, and revolving credit such as credit cards and personal loans - but excluding housing-related debts such as mortgages and HELOCs – jumped...by 4.7% ($187B), to a record $4.2 trillion in the fourth quarter 2019.

Many people assume they aren't rich because they don't earn enough money. If I only earned a little more, I could save and invest better, they say. The problem with that theory is they were probably making exactly the same argument before their last several raises. Becoming a millionaire has less to do with how much you make, it's how you treat money in your daily life. The list of reasons you may not be rich doesn't end at 10. [Here are 10 more.] Words: 842

As more and more investor education and information is freely available online... investors now have an important choice to make. Should you go it alone, stick with your financial advisor, or fire him and find another, perhaps this time a fee-only planner? Words: 740

Many have speculated that the U.S. government could once again turn to gold confiscation/nationalization if it became desperate enough. These fears are not unfounded given the abysmal financial situation of the U.S. government that only continues to get worse, coupled with a total lack of political will to cut spending but would the U.S. government really turn to a 1933-style grab again? I would argue that they wouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean the threat to your gold has diminished. Quite the opposite. [This articles identifies what they might well do.]

Many will cheer as the world makes a rapid transition to a cashless society, but I will not. I believe that a truly cashless system would open the door for great evil, and I don’t want any part of it. What about you?