James C. Molet's Blog, page 75

Understanding REITs

In the recent SavvyInterview with Brian, he mentioned planning to add Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to his investment portfolio. That mention served as the impetus for this post. I have previously noted my belief that the primary home should be viewed as a place to live, enjoy friends and family and not viewed as an investment. I noted that if an individual wants to invest in real estate, they should consider purchasing a rental property. Another good option? REITs. Modeled after mutual funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are Read the Full Story

A SavvyInterview – Brian

It really is a pleasure to conduct this week’s SavvyInterview with Brian, a long-time supporter and reader of this blog.  In fact, if not the first, he is among the first to subscribe to the blog and participate via comments to various posts.  I appreciate his support and I look forward to having him share his thoughts on personal finance and retirement planning. What was the catalyst that started you on the road to fiscal fitness? In April of 2008 I was displaced from my employer, “workforce reduction” as a Read the Full Story

Living Frugally: Possible Side Effects

I don’t know about you, but if taking a pill brings with it “possible thoughts of suicide” I tend to think it may not be the pill for me. Have you ever read the possible side effects on many prescription pill bottles? Many times the combination of side effects are worse than the original sickness. It just seems like there has to be a better, and more frugal, way to deal with illness.  I remember watching a documentary several years ago which featured a mother who was depressed and withdrawn, literally Read the Full Story

Value Line

Many of you may remember the SavvyInterview I conducted with Mr. Andy Rutter.  I recently received a personal letter from Mr. Rutter in which he continued to share sage advice. He started the letter with a little Shakespeare in noting Polonius’ advice to his son Laertes, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.”   In the middle pat of the letter, Mr. Rutter noted that he would recommend Value Line to gain insight into potential stock selection. Read the Full Story

Tutorial: Utilizing the RWR Simple Retirement Planner

A few years ago I created, and subsequently have modified a number of times, a spreadsheet for tracking and managing my retirement goals.  In many ways, the spreadsheet is the heart of my book, RENDEZVOUS WITH RETIREMENT: A Guide to Getting Fiscally Fit. Ultimately, with respect to retirement planning, the question for most people is, “how much do I need to invest on a monthly basis to reach my stated financial retirement goals?” This spreadsheet answers that question and much more.  This one document allows you to identify the desired annual Read the Full Story

A SavvyInterview – Shenae

This week’s interview is with Shenae.  I met Shenae through her husband, SavvyTaz, the man behind the Living Frugally series. I wanted to sit her down for a SavvyInterview as I thought it would be interesting to get the views of a fellow blogger on the road to fiscal fitness.  I highly encourage readers to check out Shenae’s blog, Life More Than Food, the minute this interview concludes. What was the catalyst that started you on the road to fiscal fitness? How old were you at the time? The catalyst Read the Full Story

Living Frugally: A Little Coconut Medicine

Can you think of a medicine, a single pill, that serves as an antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial all in one? Imagine if there was just one pill that fought off a viral infection along with the microbials that cause so many illnesses. Folks would flock to it in droves. The medical community would market it, charging and arm and a leg knowing the public would pay anything to enjoy its benefits. Great news: This “pill” actually exists. A short story: My wife felt sick the other day and I Read the Full Story

Hunger in America

Documentary: A Place at the Table (2012). As noted on the film’s website, 50 Million Americans – 1 in 4 children – don’t know where their next meal is coming from. This documentary tells the powerful stories of three such Americans, who maintain their dignity even as they struggle just to eat. In a riveting journey that will change forever how you think about the hungry, A Place at the Table shows how the issue could be solved forever, once the American public decides – as they have in the Read the Full Story

Lump-Sum Year End 401(k) Matching

You may have heard, or read, something about the AOL brouhaha recently. If you haven’t, here is a quick summary for you. In a CNBC appearance last Thursday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Armstrong announced that effective this year, 2014, AOL would make a change in the way it distributes 401(k) matching contributions to employees. Instead of providing matching contributions with every paycheck, which is traditionally the norm, AOL would match employee 401(k) contributions at the end of the year. That means employees who leave the company before Dec. 31 Read the Full Story

A SavvyInterview – Valerie

Valerie is a relatively new SavvyReader that was introduced to this blog by one of her co-workers, my wife.  In addition to being a reader of this blog, she is currently reading my book, RENDEZVOUS WITH RETIREMENT: A Guide to Getting Fiscally Fit.  I certainly look forward to getting her feedback.  She readily agreed to this interview when I approached her and it is clear that she is enthusiastic about learning more about becoming a SavvyInvestor and securing her financial future. What was the catalyst that started you on the road to Read the Full Story