A Tentative Personal Finance Blog

One of my favorite shows that ever aired on television was Quantum Leap.
Theorizing that one could time-travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett lead an elite group of scientists into the desert, to develop a top secret project known as Quantum Leap. Pressure to prove his theories or lose funding, Dr. Beckett prematurely […]

This time of year, corporate offices swell with college interns. The extra staff helps employers, and students gain coveted work experience. Because an internship is a critical stepping stone to employment, students who are prepared to make the most of their summer job will come out way ahead.
Be ready to do the nitty […]

When it comes to finances, there’s no shortage of tasks to dread and blow off. There’s the paperwork, paying taxes, piles of receipts, shelling out for insurance you hope you never have to use, and on and on. But ignoring the details is even worse than the drudgery of getting them done. There’s debt, denial, […]

Growing up, money was a taboo topic. My parents never talked about how much they made or how they spent it. Managing money seemed like a Hurculean feat that only my father could handle. He was the sole decision maker even though my mom was also working and providing a salary. She trusted […]

What if your life was no longer your life? You receive bills for items you didn’t purchase. The court sends you a letter about your impending bankruptcy. The bank contacts you about fraudulent checks being deposited in an account you don’t know about. It sounds like a movie starring Will Smith or Sandra Bullock.
What […]

Losing your wallet or purse can be like losing a Wii Sport tennis match to your 6 year-old nephew: it sucks, it makes you feel silly, and had you just been a bit more careful, it probably wouldn’t have happened.
Luckily, you can easily amend this problem by taking the batteries out of the Wii remote, […]

Once you’ve developed an investment strategy and selected the appropriate holdings for each of your goals, it’s important to leave your overall plan in place. However, changes in the financial markets and your time horizon may shift your investment mix from what you originally established. So review your plan periodically and rebalance and reallocate […]

It is a good idea to be mindful of news and information surrounding your investments. However, try not to abandon a well conceived, disciplined investment strategy to chase performance, the initial underlying reasons for buying a holding may still be valid.
Some people may be tempted to alter their investing plans in response to short […]

The first step to creating a sound investment plan is to establish clear, specific, and realistic goals. People sometimes over look this process. Having clearly defined objectives, however, can be a guide to developing and implementing a successful investment strategy. And a plan based on long term principles should increase the chances of […]

Many of us are likely to encounter challenges to successful investing. And although individuals respond differently, behavioral economists have identified some common predispositions, ranging from loss aversion to overconfidence, that may influence investors’ financial decisions. Gaining a better understanding of these tendencies can enable investors to base their choices on logic rather than […]