The nineteenth-century feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys doesn’t hold a candle to the debate between supporters of index funds and supporters of active management. Those in the index fund camp cite decades of data—going back to the 1930s—to support their view that active management is a [...]
Social Security’s spousal benefit
On the surface, Social Security is straightforward: During our working years, we pay into the system. Then when we’re older, the government sends a monthly check for life. But scratch the surface, and you’ll find that Social Security offers a number of additional benefits. Among them: a benefit for [...]
Is 4% right for you?
The 4% Rule is one of the most well known ideas in personal finance. But is it really a rule? And does it apply to you? Let’s start at the beginning. The father of the 4% Rule is a financial planner named William Bengen. Back in the early-1990s, he became frustrated with the prevailing rules of [...]
Tax-smart investing
If there’s one story that seems to have captured the public’s imagination this summer, it’s the revelation that venture capitalist Peter Thiel has managed to accumulate more than $5 billion in his Roth IRA—where it will be entirely tax-free to him. In its reporting, ProPublica, the news outlet [...]
Long-term solutions
A few weeks back, I discussed some of the challenges with traditional long-term care (LTC) insurance: In addition to steep—and rising—premiums, these policies are complex. Many policyholders have to contend with an annual renewal letter that presents a mind-numbing matrix of options. But there’s [...]
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