Managing Your Money Blog
Hard Decisions: When to Stop an Older Driver
Submitted by S. F. Ehrlich Associates, Inc. on October 1st, 2018
September 30, 2018
The Wall Street Journal1 article states the obvious: There are no easy answers or decisions when it comes time to try to stop an older driver from driving. (I can recall one family member stating that if he lost his license, he might as well die. He was approaching 90 at the time.)
Three Great Perks Volunteers Should Look For
Submitted by S. F. Ehrlich Associates, Inc. on October 1st, 2018By The Numbers - September 2018
Submitted by S. F. Ehrlich Associates, Inc. on October 1st, 2018
Source: Direxion Funds
September 30, 2018
- Foreigners have increased their holdings of US Treasury securities from $1 trillion in 2000 to more than $6.2 trillion in 2018.
- In June 2018, the Congressional Budget Office projected that by the year 2048 (i.e., 30 years from now) the US government will spend as much money servicing its national debt as it will spend that year on the nation’s Social Security program. Today, our nation’s net interest cost is just 33% of our Social Security outlays.
- Borrowing $100,000 on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.53% (today’s national average) requires a monthly “principal and interest” payment of $508.47. Borrowing $100,000 on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 5.53% requires a monthly “principal and interest” payment of $569.67.
Stan's World - Shouting it from the rooftops!
Submitted by S. F. Ehrlich Associates, Inc. on August 23rd, 2018
August 15, 2018
I can’t say it takes up a lot of our day, but John and I do spend a little time answering a similar question using a variety of the same answers: “NO”, “I don’t think so”, “Have you really thought about this?”, and “Is this is the same brother-in-law that you told me last year was a loser and good-for-nothing?”
What’s the question you ask? “I’d like to invest some money in (fill in the blank on the latest investment opportunity).”
Hard Decisions: Should you relocate when you retire?
Submitted by S. F. Ehrlich Associates, Inc. on August 23rd, 2018What Is Small Ball and Why Should You Care If We Play It?
Submitted by S. F. Ehrlich Associates, Inc. on August 23rd, 2018
August 15, 2018
A few years ago, Carl Richards, author of “The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money,” wrote a column1 in which he advocated that financial advisors should play small ball with money they manage. It’s directly related to this issue’s Stan’s World, so we took it out of the archives, dusted it off, and will use it to explain further why our asset management process so closely resembles small ball.
Cybersecurity: Stop What You're Doing and Take Action
Submitted by S. F. Ehrlich Associates, Inc. on August 23rd, 2018
August 15, 2018
We heard from a financial planner colleague in Maryland who recently shared an absolutely incredible cybersecurity scam experienced by one of his clients. The series of events is so frightening that we’re compelled to strongly urge you to take steps to better protect your investment and other accounts. Cybercriminals are using technology to degrees never before seen.
By The Numbers - August 2018
Submitted by S. F. Ehrlich Associates, Inc. on August 23rd, 2018
Source: Direxion Funds
August 15, 2018
- The yield on the 10-year Treasury note closed at 1.36% on 7/08/16, its lowest closing yield ever. (10-year notes have been traded in the USA since 1790, i.e., 228 years of trading.) The yield on the 10-year note closed last Friday (8/17/18) at 2.85%.
- Proposed US tariffs on car imports will add an estimated $5,800 to the price of an imported foreign vehicle.
- 45 US states collect statewide sales taxes, i.e., 5 states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon) have no state sales tax. California has the highest state sales tax (7.25%) in the nation.