Become a Patron! I've noticed an interesting phenomenon, which I call "common knowledge about common knowledge" (doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, I know). It's when some piece of conventional wisdom becomes so banal that someone decides to refute it, and then the refutation becomes as widely known as the original factoid, if not more so. To give an easy example, … [Read more...] about The Fidelity “dead accounts” study is fake, not wrong
personal finance
What will the Social Security funding “crisis” look like?
Become a Patron! When ignorant people want to sound serious, they start solemnly intoning about the Social Security funding crisis and the need for a "long-term" "fix" to the "problem." This serves three useful purposes: it allows the speaker to change the subject from any actual problems existing today, it provides the superficial cover of concern for vulnerable … [Read more...] about What will the Social Security funding “crisis” look like?
What do the wealthy need from their financial advisors?
Become a Patron! I've had two conversations lately that got me thinking about a question which, for obvious reasons, doesn't come up in most people's lives: what do you do after you've exhausted all the obvious financial planning tools? Financial planning isn't complicated, it's just hard Most people have been trained to think about financial advice in terms of investment … [Read more...] about What do the wealthy need from their financial advisors?
Roth 401(k)’s are different, but they’re not special
Become a Patron! The other day I got into a very frustrating argument with a popular anonymous Finance Twitter account about the epistemology of 401(k) savings vehicles. The frustration arose from a very specific phrase he used to describe one of the benefits of a Roth 401(k) over a traditional 401(k): "you’re able to contribute more with a Roth 401k." This is such a strange … [Read more...] about Roth 401(k)’s are different, but they’re not special
The SECURE backdoor into 529 assets
Become a Patron! I've written extensively in the past about 529 College Savings Plans, an extremely tax-advantaged method of saving for higher education expenses. Contributions are made after federal and state taxes (although many states offer in-state tax deductions for contributions), compound internally tax-free, and are withdrawn tax-free for "qualified higher education … [Read more...] about The SECURE backdoor into 529 assets