Category: Finance

A few weeks ago I started thinking about how to discuss investing with residents, as I have been half-invited to talk with them about financial topics.

I had planned to talk about investing, but realized there were a number of steps a person should go through first before committing money : first, making sure the investor actually has some money they can invest, and then explaining why risking their money in investments beats hiding cash under their mattress.

I have been putting off the discussion of investing–mostly talking about stocks and bonds–because the more I think about them, the more complicated they feel.

Last week I tackled an introduction to stocks, and this week I am attempting to tackle bonds.

Continue reading “Investing Step 1, Bonds”

A few weeks ago I started thinking about how to discuss investing with residents, as I have been half-invited to talk with them about financial topics.

I had planned to talk about investing, but realized there were a number of steps a person should go through first before committing money : first, making sure the investor actually has some money they can invest, and then explaining why risking their money in investments beats hiding cash under their mattress.

I have been putting off the discussion of investing–mostly talking about stocks and bonds–because the more I think about them, the more complicated they feel.

Continue reading “Investing Step 1, Stocks”

Mondays I usually write about money.

A few weeks ago, I was thinking about how to explain investing to residents, should the invitation to speak to a group about financial matters actually come through. I still have to figure out how I want to present stocks and bonds, but don’t quite have the energy to do that this week. Maybe next week.

Instead, I decided to feature some posts that caught my eye over the past few months. Considering that it is Armistice Day today, an international theme seems to be in order.

Continue reading “Monday Melange”

I’m in the middle of a crazy work period, with long and busy days.

In the meantime, I still have other obligations, some of which won’t wait until I go back to a lighter work schedule.

While people talk about taking care of the big things (housing, cars) and letting the little things work themselves out, I am getting pretty anxious about taking care of business. I have to tackle those little details that cause so much pain when you miss them.

Continue reading “Minding My P’s and Q’s”

Last week I wrote about steps to complete before investing, as I think about how to talk about investing and personal finance to the residents at my program. I started writing about all the things that really need to happen before a person is in a good place to invest, and it ended up taking a long time and many pixels.

Something similar happened this week. I had planned to cover proper investments in this post, but got caught up in explaining why just saving money isn’t enough. I’ll see if I can get to investing next week.

Continue reading “Investing Step 1/2, Why You Need To Invest”

Last month, someone contacted me about discussing personal finance with the residents. That’s still up in the air, but I thought it might be a good idea to start preparing.

Continue reading “Investing Step Minus-1”

All day long, I see people with problems, and use the SOAP note (1) to document the visit and, quite frankly, help me organize my thoughts. I thought I might apply it to a financial problem and see how it goes.

CC: I have a bonus coming and I don’t know what to do with it.

Continue reading “A Financial SOAP Note”

A blow-by-blow account. Mostly. With optional musical accompaniment.

Continue reading “What Really Happens When You Try to Pay Off Your Mortgage”

For the past several years, I have been reading posts exhorting me to look at fees in my investing accounts. I have been told that investment fees will cost me millions. That I’m leaving money on the table if I don’t fix this, ASAP.

Continue reading “Fees Always Matter”