Strong US economic growth, escalating trade tensions, Brexit concerns, continued normalization (rate increases) by the Fed, and a selloff in emerging markets characterized Q3 2018. While the focus has seemingly been on the political front, with a contentious Supreme Court nomination and “The Resistance” looking to make gains in the upcoming mid-term elections, the economic news in the US has been very good.
Fair Advice for Women (and Men)
“The fair is in October!”
That was the coach’s response to one of my high school teammates when he suggested that the wind sprints everyone was being asked to run after a loss weren’t fair. He didn’t understand why the whole team was being treated that way when only a few players had made errors or failed to come through with the game on the line.
So, when I saw a recent news story about how women are at a disadvantage to men when it comes to retirement savings, I could hear that old coach yelling in the back of my mind.
How to Choose a Mutual Fund
As someone who advises people how to manage their money, I am asked frequently how I choose the investments that I recommend or buy on behalf of clients. There are a few ways to go about answering such a question, but the simple answer is that I’m cheap.
You may have already figured that out if you have read any of my DIY articles recently. One cause of my parsimony is certainly due to a father that passed to along a frugal streak that earned him a nickname of Squeaky Weeks. It was said that he was so tight, that he squeaked when he walked.
But while the thrifty trait very well may have been passed through DNA, the behavior has been nurtured by observations as well. Perhaps the most compelling research has been Dimensional Funds annual Mutual Fund Landscape, which once again reveals the power of penny pinching.