Money Matters

No matter how challenging the environment, there is always reason for hope and items for which to be grateful. This is true for life as well as investing.

When I discuss college planning strategies with clients, I typically focus on how to afford these steep tuition costs.

I’m inspired by the people all over the world, Jews and non-Jews alike, who are donating time, money, supplies, and food, to help defend Israel.

For any reader who made it through this article, congratulations! You now know more about financial planning than the overwhelming majority of your friends and fellow countrymen!

Technically, stocks have unlimited upside. That’s why they may be the best vehicle for long-term investors who need their money to outpace inflation over that long period.

The theme of living a Torah lifestyle became much more important to me and guides my decision-making process today.

One of the biggest determinants of financial success is the ability to stick with a strategy through many different environments.

At this stage of your child’s life, the most important thing is to engage them in discussion about basic financial literacy.

While sacrifices need to be made to live a frum lifestyle, NO family should be expected to accumulate credit card debt to send their kids to yeshiva. It's the yeshiva’s responsibility to do more to help parents in this scenario!

Freeing up cash from unnecessary expenses can give you the flexibility to spend more on areas that are more meaningful for you, like family, vacation, or making necessary home improvements.

The urban legend is that in honor of Haym Salomon's pivotal contributions the 13 stars, representing the colonies, on the back of the dollar bill were arranged in the shape of the Star of David.

An open letter to recent college graduates.

It’s important to note that while you are allowed to collect Social Security and unemployment benefits simultaneously, depending on where you live, your unemployment benefits might be reduced.

Sensitivity to taxes can also manifest itself in portfolio construction. Certain investments are more tax efficient than others.

I don’t oppose lavish vacations. In fact, as long as someone is living within their means, saving for their future, and giving to tzedakah, they should be able to go on the most extravagant and over the top vacation that they want.

Yes, finances are a very important consideration when dating. In fact, I would rank it among the most important criteria.

Sadly, there is no combination that is more dangerous to your nest egg than overconfidence mixed with a lack of experience.

Start-up companies were the bank’s major clients, and they tend to borrow a lot of money. When rates were low, business was easier. When rates climbed, it became much more expensive to run their business and things gradually became more challenging for them.

Before delving into the more involved questions about life insurance, it’s worth reviewing what it is and why it is important.

The KCP is often the result of social pressure from one’s community and circle of friends. It’s quite common for people to exhibit conformity bias, where they behave according to, and make decisions based on, what others around them deem acceptable.

If you spent many years working for a company, it is possible that this pool of money is one of your most significant assets. Therefore, proper management of these funds is foundational to a successful retirement.

As I watched the documentary, reliving what I saw unfold firsthand in 2008, I couldn’t help but note several timeless investing lessons that could be learned from the greatest scam in history.

Investors should remember that despite what is happening in the world, the markets and humankind have always prevailed.

Little did he know that he taught me much more about investing and retirement planning than the training program at a major Wall Street bank early in my career.

It’s tempting for clients to want their fees to be the lowest possible. However, working with someone just because their fees undercut the competition may be shortsighted.

For folks who are deep in debt, getting to a $1,000 emergency fund is a big accomplishment.

I am also thankful that we have a well-established system for handling bankruptcy just in case an investor overextends themselves on any speculative investments. Most people deserve a second chance after they learn from their mistakes.

High-interest debt is a cancer to personal finance. It can quickly grow out of control and become insurmountable. To dig yourself out of your financial hole and begin building wealth, you need to get rid of your loans.

Attempting to time your home purchase with the optimal market conditions is like trying to time when to invest in the stock market. In both situations, you will most likely not be successful.

The social pressures that come with living in a tight knit community or having a close group of friends may be some of the most difficult money challenges to overcome.