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You Should Be Including International Investments In Your Portfolio
Last week, I spoke with an investor who said, “I heard you’re supposed to have international investments in your portfolio, but the United States investments are just so much stronger performers, so I got rid of all my international stocks.”
Many people all over the world have what’s referred to as home bias, where a disproportionately high amount of their stock portfolio is in their home country. In the United States, this can often result in their portfolio containing 100% stocks from U.S. companies.
Recent history is not an indication of future returns and international investments can add diversification to enhance returns, reduce risk, and provide unique opportunities that aren’t available in the United States.
How Privatization Can Impact Individual Investors
Due to the high government deficit, the topic of privatizing certain government functions, like education and healthcare, have been increasingly discussed. Privatization essentially means moving from government ownership to private ownership. The idea behind pushing this is to lessen the financial burden on the government while promoting efficiency and economic growth. Here are the potential impacts of privatization and what a move toward privatization could mean to individual investors.
Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your 401(k) With A Past Employer
Consider the following: you leave your employer and opt to leave your 401(k) as is as you transition into your new role. Then, let’s say your employer updates their business name and transitions to a new investment provider over the course of a few years. As time goes on, let’s say you move to a new home.
This was a reality for one man, who then struggled for 10 subsequent years to gain enough information to get the plan transferred only for the new investment provider to say the check had to be sent to an old address. This struggle could have been avoided if he opted to move his 401(k) to an IRA or his new employer’s retirement plan. Here is why you shouldn’t leave your 401(k) with a past employer.
How To Navigate A Stale Marriage With A Financially Irresponsible Spouse
Lately, I’ve seen a lot of people stay in marriages with financially irresponsible partners after the love has gone because they are worried about what it would cost them to get divorced.
Financial irresponsibility might include extreme risk-taking behavior, consistently missing bill payment deadlines, refusal to include their partner in major spending decisions, taking on more debt than they can afford, spending beyond their means, an inability to hold down a job, or a proclivity toward financial dishonesty.
This is an exploration of the financial cost of staying in this type of marriage versus cutting ties.
How To Find Love Without Straining Your Finances
In an age where we are more connected than ever, many people struggle to find lasting love. I have friends who go on multiple dates per week with no luck. I also see people who the enter early stages of dating and are shocked by the change in their spending patterns. Learn the financial cost of the pursuit of love, and some ways to create connections without added financial strain.
MY BOOK
I seek to make personal financial planning less scary.
This book provides a simple guide for working through life's biggest financial questions facing couples in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s today. It starts with goals-based planning around topics including retirement planning, education planning, and major purchase planning. It then walks through some basics of investment management, options for how to invest, behavioral finance, and pitfalls to avoid. Lastly, it discusses risk management and insurance.
If you are not sure where to start, this book may provide some clarity.