Tag Archives: debt

In several of my previous posts, I’ve touched on the importance of starting to save early. It’s a pretty easy case to make—having the benefit of a long time horizon can make a substantial difference in what you can amass …

Back-to-school commercials have quickly replaced those featuring summer getaways. For those about to head off to college for the first time, returning to school is taking on an entirely new dimension.…

Everyone who is not on vacation appears to be focused on the uncertainty created by the lack of a resolution to the most recent government funding crisis. I wish I could add some value with respect to the discussion of …

This time of year we are flooded with reminders, checklists, and predictions. Many are useful, but some are merely entertaining.

While there are many items related to your financial health that deserve attention at the beginning of the year, this …

Here are several “big picture” retirement themes I expect to hear more of in the coming year. I’ll come back later in the month with a post on personal retirement tactics.…

For those of you who watch or have heard of the hit series “Mad Men,” you’ll know that the show provides an interesting story line, some fascinating characters, and great commentary on the social mores and gender differences of the …

Do you have a tax refund coming? Some would say it means you over-withheld and should have paid less last year. Others look at it as a non-interest-bearing savings account. I’d look at it as an opportunity to improve your …

I’ve been watching the U.S. consumer savings rate climb. It’s been heartening to witness the ascent past 5% on its way to perhaps 7%. Any way you look at it, this is a welcome—if not critical—change in our financial/economic behavior.…

Are Americans becoming more thrifty? Personal savings rates are up, the government statistics tell us. This fact has engendered a wide-ranging debate. Is this just a short-term deviation from America’s obsession with spending, or is it a permanent change?

I …

One of our readers recently asked about Vanguard’s view on 401(k) loans.

As you might know if you’ve poked around Vanguard.com, we generally frown upon retirement plan loans, to put it mildly. In fact, Vanguard’s intranet for employees recently featured …