When we talk about financial fitness, one of the most important measures is the value of our assets. The problem is that we often have false expectations about some asset types, and we need to break those illusions to focus on our real financial condition.
Why do so many of us not use our vacation days? Salespeople talk about “leaving money on the table.” Well, employees leave vacation on the table. And the cost to us is significant.
It used to be that everyone wanted to buy a home, seeking pleasure and security, as well as the potential for future wealth. But younger Americans are buying homes far less often than their elders’ generations did, and that puts a large sector of the U.S. economy at risk.
Americans expecting the government to fund their retirement may be sorely mistaken. Taking retirement savings into your own hands is the only smart move that can guarantee comfort in your years after work.
Capitalism is the best economic system in practice for charitable giving because it is the only one that gives us the freedom to allocate our capital as we see fit. But so many people equate capitalism with greed and think that the profit motive is not compatible with giving. This is a wrongheaded notion.
Taxes are a reality of life. As a result, taxes should be included in the evaluation and construction of any portfolio plan. Investors that ignore the effect of taxes on investments may end up paying higher taxes and earlier than needed. The good news is that investors have some control over when and how taxes will be generated in the investment process to reduce taxes.