Personal Finance

Over the past 12 years saving gold and/or silver has been an 8x - yes, 8 times! - more effective strategy to grow one's wealth than banking money and I believe it will continue to be so for the foreseeable future for four reasons.

Americans are ignorant about just what democratic socialism really is so here is a comparison of the economics of the avowed social democratic society of Norway and the unfettered capitalism of the U.S. Well, actually, there is NO comparison.

If you’re among those struggling with debt and just want to be rid of it and move on with your life, it can be helpful to find some information and inspiration from others who are financial experts or people working to pay off substantial amounts of debt. You’ll find all of that, and more, in these inspirational personal finance blogs that can offer you advice, motivation, and guidance in paying down your debts so you can start putting that money to other uses. Words: 1010

Paying off the mortgage early is an idea with obvious appeal, but not one that many middle-class home "owners" pursue. If your interest rate is so good that the bank just made a bad bet in giving you that low rate, you might want to continue enjoying the benefits as long as possible. In many other circumstances, however, paying off the mortgage can be a fine money management move indeed. [Below are 10 sound reasons to do so.] Words: 1588

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

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

You may find that, although you’re far ahead of your neighbors financially (you own precious metals, you’ve diversified internationally and you don’t believe much of what you hear from official sources), you’re still not as prepared as you’d like. I think a good plan would be to approach the problem in four steps: Liquidate, Consolidate, Create and Speculate.

There are two kinds of bad investment advisors: well-meaning advisors without the wherewithal to keep up with the science of the fast-evolving profession, and those whose main focus is not on managing their clients’ assets well, but on gathering assets under management in order to grow their own practices. How do you tell if you’re sitting across from either one of these types of bad advisors in an industry that lacks transparency? [Well, I have done just that with a list of 10 signs that you are working with a bad investment advisor.] Words: 1467

If you are hoping to live a happier, fulfilled life without money stress, you may not want to obsess with the Joneses. You can outsmart them by making better choices. HERE are several ways you can likely beat the Joneses and improve your financial health.

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