Category: financial education

Keep Your Investments Separate For Different Goals

Photo by: Daquella maneraHow many of you use your 401k for your everything bucket?  I’ve overheard friends and family talk about their 401k like their “all for one long term savings account” saying things like, “I’m going to use my 401k for my kids education” or “my 401k is used for both me and my [...]

Why Is It So Taboo To Talk About Salary And Compensation?

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How is it that when we can readily see public sector and professional athletes salaries on the web and not bat an eye at it. I’m sure they discuss these things over caviar all the time and it isn’t that big of a deal; but why does middle class America think [...]

Should I Take Out A Reverse Mortgage On My House?

Should I Take Out A Reverse Mortgage On My House?

My brother mentioned setting my mother up with a reverse mortgage over the holiday break, so I thought I would do some research on what is was and if it was a good idea. I had heard of it before and I have a basic understanding of it, but I figured there had to be [...]

Should I Go To College Or Graduate School To Make More Money?

Should I Go To College Or Graduate School To Make More Money?

A question as old as college I suppose. Colleges need to make money too! What better way to market it than to say you’re DEFINITELY make more money by attending it. Colleges have marketing departments also; they’re businesses just like Walmart and Macys. They’re in the game to make money. [...]

Can I Fund My Spouses IRA If They Don’t Work?

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Dear Hank – My wife is a stay at home mom. With a traditional IRA she is eligible for the “spousal IRA.” Can she open a Roth IRA as her spousal IRA, meaning I can invest $8,000 of my income, with half of that in her name? – Peter from Mississippi
Hey Peter [...]

Goodbye To My Universal Life Insurance From Hartford Mutual

Photo by: dave mcmtSo I’ve done it – after debating for about 2 months and trying to convince myself that I DIDN’T make a bad investment in getting in on this, I’ve come to my senses. I admit it, I made a bad mistake 5 years ago to purchase my Hartford Life Universal [...]

What Is A 12-b-1 Fee And Is It Included In An Expense Ratio Of a Mutual Fund?

What Is A 12-b-1 Fee And Is It Included In An Expense Ratio Of a Mutual Fund?

Photo by: Ricky Irvine
Hank – quick one for you. Are 12-b-1 fees included in an expense ratio of a mutual fund? – Jay from Kansas
Hey Jay – quick answer back to you. No. Click the image below to enlarge:

You’ll notice it is a SEPARATE fee. But also keep in my [...]

How Do I Plan To Reach My Investing Goals For Retirement?

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Only 0 days 5 hours 2 minutes left until Hanks Holiday Handout drawing!
To make my goal of having my net worth be $1,000,000USD by 2020 I need to have a plan laid out. Yes it will change through the years, My wife and I will get raises; we won’t get the [...]

What Is The Difference Between A Taxable And A Non-taxable Investment Account?

Only 5 days 2 hours 14 minutes left until Hanks Holiday Handout drawing!
Good Morning Hank,
I was reading this article from Morningstar and they said in it: “Mutual funds are required by law to pass along any income and capital gains they’ve earned throughout the year. These distributions typically take place near year end, and [...]

What Is A Target Date Mutual Fund And Should I Use It?

Only 5 days 5 hours 02 minutes left until Hanks Holiday Handout drawing!
Hank – I have a few “target date” mutual funds in my 401k plan from Fidelity. They are:
Fidelity Freedom 2010 FFFCX
Fidelity Freedom 2015 FFVFX
Fidelity Freedom 2020 FFFDX
Fidelity Freedom 2025 FFTWX
Fidelity Freedom 2030 FFFEX
Fidelity Freedom 2035 FFTHX
Fidelity Freedom 2040 FFFFX
What exactly [...]