My wife and I recently returned from our vacation, where we visited several national parks, including Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, and the Grand Canyon. It was a fantastic trip where we hiked trails, gazed at stars, and waded in rivers. The vistas and canyons were breathtaking.
Most trailheads...
How much is enough? It's a common question Investors ask when planning for retirement. Financial planners offer several rules of thumb about how much is enough, like the 4% of your assets rule or 80% of your employment income. One of my indicators is storage units; you have more than you need if you...
According to Zillow, the value of my home fell 6.2% last month. I was shocked because I thought real estate always went up, especially in Austin, Texas, the home of Longhorn football, BBQ, live music, and weekend bridal shower parties. Is it time to panic and sell my home?
The recent housing data...
Are you ready to enjoy your golden years? Retirement is a goal for most investors, especially those who have faithfully contributed to their 401(k) plan for three or four decades. Is it time to cash in your chips and go all in on retirement?
A successful retirement requires years of planning and...
Have stocks bottomed, or is this a bear trap? Since Mid-June, the Nasdaq has risen by more than 20%, which, by definition, is a bull market. However, the tech-heavy index is still down 16% on the year. On August 10, The Wall Street Journal declared a new bull market had arrived. [1] I hope they are...
Next week starts another college football season, the best time of the year. The usual suspects like Alabama, Georgia, and The Ohio State University are projected to finish near the top. The offseason was entertaining as USC and UCLA said they would leave the Pac-12 and join the Big-10, causing a...
Pikes Peak looms large at 14,115 feet above sea level, known as America's Mountain, and is also the inspiration for America the Beautiful. Pikes Peak Highway allows people of all abilities to enjoy the spectacular views from the summit. In addition to driving to the top, visitors can enjoy a...
My daughter starts her job in a few weeks, and we are helping her set up her apartment. After years of schooling, she is ready to begin her career, and assisting a child in launching her career takes years of planning and patience. It's bittersweet because she is leaving the nest to create a new...
The Nasdaq soared more than 12% in July, its best monthly return since 2020. Small-cap stocks, international holdings, and bonds also participated in the broad-based rally, providing some relief to weary investors. The markets are trying to recover from rising interest rates and persistent inflation...
Mark Cuban invested $20 million into 85 companies on Shark Tank. Mr. Cuban recently tweeted, "On a cash basis, I'm down on my Shark Tank Investments."[1] He joined the show in 2011, and if he had invested in the Vanguard S&P 500 Index Fund instead, he could have made 214%! However, that's not the...
A few years ago, my family spent three weeks traveling around Europe. We trekked from Edinburgh to Rome, with several stops in between. We saw amazing and sobering sites, including Edinburgh Castle, the Tower of London, Dachau, the Eifel Tower, The Louvre, the Sistine Chapel, the Last Supper...
My former Jeep needed an engine repair that cost more than $6,000 to fix! It was a budget buster and a shock to my financial system. Thankfully, my emergency fund kept me from selling assets or using my credit card. Have you experienced an unexpected financial shock like a medical expense, a new...