A Few Dollars More

Financial Advice From Bill Schmick

A Few Dollars More header image 4

Entries Tagged as 'Financial Planning'

12(b)-1 Strikes again

July 30th, 2010 · No Comments

My regular readers know how much I despise 12b-1 fees. Those are the fees that mutual fund companies kickback to your broker or investment advisor for putting you into their funds. You never see the charge in your statements but it can be as much as one percent annually if you own a certain class [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning

I got a Rat for Father’s Day

July 2nd, 2010 · 3 Comments

The next time you run out of ideas for that perfect gift, save this column. I am about to give you over 200 one of a kind gift ideas that will cost you only as much as you want to spend and at the same time make anyone happy. Global Giving beats the heck out [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning · Portfolio Advice

Don’t be fooled by Annuities

June 11th, 2010 · 2 Comments

Given the volatility of the stock market over the last few weeks, it is no surprise that annuity and life insurance salesmen, brokers and financial advisors are once again touting the wonderful benefits of fixed and variable annuities. Don’t get sucked into their sales pitch because the facts are that annuities only make sense for [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning

Going Green Makes Dollars and Sense

April 9th, 2010 · No Comments

Every day is Earth Day as far as the government is concerned, at least when it comes to converting America’s homesteads to green power. Energy efficiency makes sense from a bottom line point of view, whether you are a millionaire or just one of us working stiffs. Here’s why.

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning

What’s a Fiduciary and why should you care

April 6th, 2010 · No Comments

In the financial services industry, most people don’t know the difference between a stock broker, insurance salesman, financial planner, advisor, consultant or wealth manager. That’s not an accident. Wall Street has spent a great deal of money and time confusing you on purpose. I believe in this age of confusion, misinformation and desire for honesty, [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning

Stay with a Traditional or Convert to a Roth in 2010?

February 5th, 2010 · No Comments

This year the tax laws are changing. If you have a Traditional IRA, Roll-Over IRA or another tax deferred plan like a 401 (K), 403 (b) or 457 (b) you can now convert to a Roth IRA, regardless of income level. Better yet, the government is giving you an added incentive to convert by allowing [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning

2010—the year women come into their own

January 28th, 2010 · No Comments

Congratulations, as of this year, women officially control the majority of privately-owned financial assets in this country. Not only is that wealth an awesome responsibility, but it also presents women, especially Baby Boomers aged 45 and over, with an enormous opportunity. Here’s how you can prepare.

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning

Women Baby Boomers are at a Crossroads

January 14th, 2010 · No Comments

This year women, especially, women in their fifties and up, will control the lion’s share of America’s privately-owned wealth. That should be good news to most boomer women, but good news is sometimes deceiving.

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning

Recipes for Financial Health in the New Year

December 31st, 2009 · No Comments

New Year resolutions, I suspect, will be quite popular this year, especially in the financial and investment areas. Given the horrible losses most of us sustained last year in our retirement accounts, followed by a pink slip at work for over 10% of us, makes for a bit of soul-searching as 2009 comes to a [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning

Finally, a hand-out for the silent majority

November 6th, 2009 · No Comments

Over the last two years trillions have been spent to aid and assist Wall Street’s wealthiest bankers, Detroit’s blue collar auto workers, owners of gas-guzzling clunkers, first-time home buyers, thousands of Americans facing foreclosures and maybe another dozen or so programs, that we, the long-suffering, silent majority, will have to pay for. Yesterday, however, Washington [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Financial Planning · Macroeconomics