No Debt Plan » Investing

Is It Too Late for Your 2011 IRA Contribution?

Kevin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:30:47 +0000

Don’t you hate when you intend to do something but life gets in the way and keeps you from getting it accomplished? If that happened to you last your with your ambitions of opening a Roth IRA, don’t worry: you still have time to fulfill your contribution limit for 2011. Why can you still contribute [...]

Is It Too Late for Your 2011 IRA Contribution? is a post from No Debt Plan

Annual Investment Return: What is a Reasonable Expectation?

Kevin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:30:56 +0000

How high should our expectations be for investment performance over the long haul? Over the last 50 years the S&P 500 has earned an annual return of 9.5% per year on average. Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University uses a 12% annual return in the mutual fund section of the class. There’s many other seemingly reliable sources [...]

Annual Investment Return: What is a Reasonable Expectation? is a post from No Debt Plan

How to Use a Traditional IRA as a Last Minute Tax Break

Kevin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:30:43 +0000

The tax filing deadline for 2010 isn’t April 15th — this year it is April 18th. You’ve got 18 more days to file your taxes. 18 more days to squeeze every last drop of tax benefit out before you file. If you are looking for a last minute tax break consider a Traditional IRA. Getting [...]

How to Use a Traditional IRA as a Last Minute Tax Break is a post from No Debt Plan

Dumb Money: Investing in Individual Stocks

Kevin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:30:05 +0000

Every so often I write about something that I find incredibly dumb. I’ve added them to a Dumb Money series. You can go back through the archives and read about exactly how dumb things like smoking, withdrawing from retirement accounts early, and playing the lottery really are. Today I’m going to share a story of [...]

Dumb Money: Investing in Individual Stocks is a post from No Debt Plan

What’s Better: Easy to Manage Investments or Investment Performance?

Kevin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:15:56 +0000

In the fall of 2009 my wife and I helped facilitate a group going through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at our church. In that class we all learned that in most relationships there are two very different types of people: financial nerds and free spirits. If you’ve been through Ramsey’s material you’re already familiar [...]

What’s Better: Easy to Manage Investments or Investment Performance? is a post from No Debt Plan

How to Roll Over Your 401k and 403b

Kevin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:31 +0000

We reminded you to not forget your retirement behind when you move to a new job in a new city. Today we will look at what steps you need to take to bring your old 401k or 403b with you. If you’re moving an old retirement account you have a few options: cash out the [...]

How to Roll Over Your 401k and 403b is a post from No Debt Plan

Don’t Forget Your Retirement Account When You Move

Kevin — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:30:01 +0000

Moving is already enough of a financial stress and pain that you cannot afford to compound the pain by leaving your retirement behind. You’ve had to pay for a rental truck (or movers), stage and sell your house, find a new place to live, and put down deposits on new utilities. It can feel like [...]

Don’t Forget Your Retirement Account When You Move is a post from No Debt Plan

Dumb Money: Early Roth IRA Withdrawals

Kevin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:00:39 +0000

Last week I told you taking an early withdrawal from your 401k was a very dumb move. The taxes and fees you pay take a hugWehe chunk out of your withdrawal leaving you anywhere from 50% to 65% of what you originally withdrew. Astute reader Jimbo left a comment and asked: How about pulling from [...]

Dumb Money: Early Roth IRA Withdrawals is a post from No Debt Plan

Make August “Rebalance Your Portfolio” Month

Kevin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:23 +0000

In my last article I showed you how to rebalance your portfolio. Today I’m going to attempt to convince you that you should rebalance your portfolio every August. Yea, I’m posting this with 5 days left in the month. Don’t give me any flak. If I had posted this on August 1st most of you [...]

Make August “Rebalance Your Portfolio” Month is a post from No Debt Plan

Rebalance Your Investment Portfolio

Kevin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:40 +0000

Living under your means and on a budget is a great first financial step. Building up an emergency fund is a byproduct of that first step and is definitely necessary. But you and I know you can’t just stop there. One day, hopefully sooner rather than later, you’ll want to retire and live off the [...]

Rebalance Your Investment Portfolio is a post from No Debt Plan