Best Personal Financial Planning and Personal Investment Articles this Week from Personal Finance Blogs
Carnival of Financial Planning – Edition #176 – March 18, 2011
Welcome to the March 18, 2011 Edition #176 of the Carnival of Financial Planning.
The Carnival of Financial Planning takes a long-term view of personal financial planning for individuals and families. We focus on efficient and sustainable personal financial planning practices that can lead to lifetime financial security.
This edition is arranged by subject heading, so that you can browse efficiently.
Enjoy!
The Skilled Investor, Editor
Budgeting and Economics
Craig Ford presents Are Kids the Victims or Victors in Frugal Homes? posted at Money Help For Christians, saying, “An analysis of how frugality impacts children.”
Boomer presents Increase In Gas Prices Stirs Up – Complacence? posted at Boomer & Echo, saying, “Spring is almost here and with it brings the almost predictable increase in gas prices and the dire warnings about how high the price will go.”
The Skilled Investor presents How to Save More posted at Personal Financial Strategy, saying, “Budgeting and self-control in consumption is far more important than clever investing. Expenditure control and budgeting works, while “clever” investing usually is counter-productive.”
Financial Planning
RJ Weiss presents 6 Financial Moves That Always End up in Disaster posted at Gen Y Wealth, saying, “A unique spin on 6 financial moves that always end up in disaster.”
Daine Ashford presents Financial Planning Reading List posted at Pasadena Financial Planner, saying, “A financial planning reading list about personal financial planning and investment management.”
Michael Pruser presents The Consumer Protection Financial Bureau is Here to Help posted at The Dough Roller, saying, “When financial reform was passed, one of the protections put in place for consumers was the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau.”
Janet Russo presents Inferior Mutual Fund Performance posted at Best No Load Funds, saying, “The investment research literature does provide some modest evidence that substantially inferior past mutual fund performance is more likely to lead to inferior mutual fund returns in the future. Excessive costs and high management expense ratios are the likely culprits, when explaining sub-par diversified investment fund returns.”
Jeff Rose, CFP presents Overcoming Financial Inertia posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “If you are looking to overcome financial inertia, here are some things you can try to get yourself out of your rut.”
Frank Knight presents Strategic Asset Allocation posted at Best Personal Financial Planning Software, saying, “When you are already there and invested in an asset class, you are following a passive asset allocation strategy. Tactical asset allocation strategy advocates suggest that you can anticipate the crowd, but flow-of-funds studies show that almost all tactical asset allocation fund flows are late money flows that chase performance after valuations have already moved.”
Financing a Home
Consumer Boomer presents Accelerated Mortgage Payments posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, “If you are interested in paying off your mortgage early you need this information about Accelerated Mortgage Payments.”
Kyle Berks presents Are Stated Income Loans Still Available? posted at Integrated Loans, saying, “Stated loans, also referred to as the “liar loans,” are typically mortgage products utilized when the borrower states their income on the application other than verifying their income with a W2.”
Mike Ross presents Which MLB Players Scored the Best Deals in Their New Housing Market? posted at HSH, saying, “We crunched the numbers to see how 9 Major League Baseball players will fare with housing costs and mortgage rates in their new cities.”
Investing
My Journey presents What Is the Difference Between an Ordinary Dividend and a Qualified Dividend posted at My Journey to Millions, saying, “This post explains the difference between ordinary and qualified dividends.”
FMF presents Index Funds: Not All Equal posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “One index fund isn’t the same as another. This post tells how.”
Darwin presents Understanding Correlation of Various Asset Classes – MBA Monday posted at Darwin’s Money, saying, “Here’s a handy guide to figuring out correlation of various asset classes like stocks, gold, oil and more. It’s key to understanding if your portfolio is REALLY diversified!”
Craig/FFB presents Betterment.com: Investing in Stocks and Bonds Made Easy – Review posted at Free From Broke, saying, “Betterment makes it easy for novice investors to get into the market without having to know a ton about stocks.”
Clariity presents What is Investing? posted at Living With Clariity, saying, “The world of investing with its complex formulae, nomenclature and products can be intimating even to the most educated person.”
FMF presents Steak Versus Meat Loaf posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Success in investing often boils down to simply covering the basics.”
Frank Knight presents Muni Bond, posted at Best Financial Planning Software, saying, “Municipal bond investments and your state and federal marginal income tax rates: Some investors hold municipal bonds in an attempt to reduce their tax burden. This article discusses the relationships between tax-exempt municipal bonds, bond market returns, marginal tax rates, and investment asset tax location.”
Ryan @ CML presents What Investment Losses Are Covered by the SIPC? posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “The SIPC guarantees investments if your brokerage firm goes bankrupt. It isn’t the same as the FDIC, but it has some similarities.”
Dividends4Life presents 9 Dividend Stocks Sending More Cash To Shareholders posted at Dividends Value, saying, “We all are looking for the perfect dividend stock. In an utopian world, the perfect dividend stock would be one that is both high-yield and provide a high dividend growth rate. Its share price would appreciate ratable with its increasing dividend. All of this would be driven by increasing earnings and cash flow.
The Skilled Investor presents Stock Market Timing posted at Personal Investment Management, saying, “Always stay invested to earn risk premiums. You must have your money invested and at risk to get risk premium returns. Jumping out and in or “timing the markets” doesn’t work.”
Mike Piper presents Roth 401(k) vs. Traditional 401(k) posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, “Conventional wisdom says that the “Roth vs traditional” question comes down to tax brackets. Is that true?”
Kevin presents 7 Things to Invest in for 2011 | Invest It Wisely posted at Invest It Wisely, saying, “This post examines seven places to invest in 2011 including commodities, exchange traded funds, and stocks.”
Frank Vertin presents Best Index Funds posted at Index Mutual Funds, saying, “Top ten no load index funds that track the Standard and Poors 500 composite index in terms of lowest costs.
Marie@familymoneyvalues.com presents Tax Lien Certificates – Sure thing or risky business? posted at FamilyMoneyValues, saying, “Robert T. Kiyosaki (of Rich Dad Poor Dad) uses them like Certificate of Deposits. Steven Stone invested $804 on 6 properties for 18% interest in Florida. He says, “You always get your money back” according to Addie M. Rimmer in the Wall Street Journal. Joel S. Moskowitz, J.D. Says they are super safe, high interest rate, guaranteed and may result in an investor getting a piece of property super cheap. So is this wonderful investment? Tax Lien Certificates.”
Managing Credit and Debt
Jeff Rose, CFP presents Should You Use an Inheritance to Pay off Debt? posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “If you are about to retire and are wondering how to pay taxes when you start taking distributions from you IRA here’s some important information you need to know”
Consumer Boomer presents How To Be Frugal With Your Credit Card posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, “Frugal use of a credit card can actually save you money rather than cost you money! Here’s how..”
Tim Chen presents Get Up To 100,000 Miles with Capital One Venture’s “Match My Miles” posted at NerdWallet Blog – Credit Card Watch, saying, “Capital One (along with Alec Baldwin, for some reason) is offering up to 100,000 bonus miles for new Venture Rewards Card applicants, by matching your previously-accumulated credit card rewards from another airline credit card.”
Joe Morgan presents Debt Collectors Using Facebook to Collect! posted at Simple Debt-Free Finance, saying, “Debt collectors have begun to use social media to get to those who owe. Here’s a run down of what a collection agency can – and cannot – do in their pursuit of you, both on and off Facebook and other social sites.”
Miscellaneous
Jeff Rose, CFP presents Bank or Credit Union: Which is Better for You? posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “Here’s an informative comparison between credit unions and banks.”
Money Reasons presents Disney World Experience, Is it worth it? posted at Money Reasons, saying, “This article recounts my trip to Disney World where I evaluate the attractions. Then I cover if it’s worth it or not.”
Joe Plemon presents Which Winnie the Pooh Character Are You? posted at Personal Finance By The Book, saying, “Our personalities often determine how we handle our finances. My hunch is that you will see a bit of yourself in these fictional characters.”
Jim Wilkerson presents Choose Mature Noload Mutual Funds posted at Best No Load Funds, saying, “Very young stock and bond mutual funds are more likely to put you into the position of being an experimental guinea pig of mutual fund companies and the ETF industry.”
Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog presents Seven Guidelines for Effective Money Conversations posted at The Canadian Finance Blog, saying, “When trying to have effective money conversations, both sides must realize that communication is not the triumph of one viewpoint over another.”
The Military Wallet presents Netflix Military Discount posted at The Military Wallet, saying, “Netflix is a great way to save money on entertainment costs, and many people can get a free one month trial.”
Pasadena Financial Planner presents Vanguard Index Funds posted at Top Mutual Funds, saying, “Compares Vanguard’s actively managed mutual funds and Vanguard’s passively managed index mutual funds. Vanguard investors should read and understand this study.”
Jeff Rose, CFP presents Failure Can Lead to Success posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “If you are afraid of failure in your financial situation here is some encouragement to help you overcome that fear.”
Retirement Planning
Jessica presents Retirement Account vs. No Retirement Account posted at MomVesting, saying, “A look at the difference between using an IRA for your retirement savings and not using one.”
Walter W. Fouse presents Top 10 Large Cap Funds posted at Best Mutual Fund, saying, “This table of low cost top 10 S&P 500 mutual funds has been organized with the lowest cost index fund first. Nevertheless, each of these S & P 500 index funds is among the least costly on the market.”
Jeff Rose, CFP presents Good Financial “Tips” Series #1: Don’t Do This posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “Here are some common mistakes that you don’t want to make when planning for your retirement.”
Jareth presents Retirement Investment Calculator posted at Retirement Planning Software, saying, “Retirement investment calculator software automatically acts as a comprehensive compound investment calculator that applies historical investment return growth rates to your cash, bond, and stock assets.”
Risk Management and Insurance
Consumer Boomer presents Fixed Annuity Term (Comparing Annuity Features) posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, “If you are looking at purchasing an annuity, there are some things to consider first before even looking into the many kinds of annuities out there. This article will give some of that important information.”
Clariity presents When Do You Need to Buy Long Term Care Insurance? posted at Living With Clariity, saying, “As you or your parents get into their 50’s and 60’s, the need for long term care insurance becomes a necessity.”
Ryan @ CML presents How to Negotiate Lower Medical Bills posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “These tips from an industry insider teach you how to negotiate lower medical and dental bills by following a simple step by step process.”
Jules Wells presents Investment Risk Questionnaire Investment Software, posted at Financial Answers saying, “There is a way for you to get a much better assessment of your risk tolerance than you would from a simple conservative versus aggressive financial industry investor questionnaire.”
Susan Howe presents Why won’t Californians buy earthquake insurance? posted at Insure, saying, “If you think Californians’ reluctance to buy earthquake insurance is just about high deductibles and premiums, think again.”
Savings
MoneyNing presents Five of the Worst Ways to Save Money posted at Money Ning, saying, “Not everything is worth the money, but some things are for sure.”
Taxes
N.W. Journey presents 4 Best Ways to Use Your Tax Refund posted at Networth Journey, saying, “Be sure to use your tax refund wisely.”
Madison DuPaix presents TurboTax Review posted at My Dollar Plan, saying, “If you’re thinking of filing your own taxes this year, check out this TurboTax review first.”
David presents How to Get Free Tax Help From the IRS posted at Credit Card Offers IQ, saying, “Get free tax help from the IRS”
Ken presents 3 Ways You Can Obtain Copies of Your Prior Year Tax Return posted at Spruce Up Your Finances, saying, “Copies of your tax return are needed when your applying for financial aid, mortgage loans, filing for bankruptcy,etc. If you misplaced your copies, here are 3 ways you can obtain them!!”
Larry Russell presents Roth IRA Calculator posted at Retirement Planning Tools, saying, “Trying to decide about a traditional IRA to Roth IRA conversion without first having a comprehensive lifetime financial plan in place makes absolutely no sense. Without such a plan, you cannot figure out whether or not you are likely to achieve the tax savings in retirement that would warrant paying higher taxes now.”
Jim Yih presents Another option for retirement savings posted at Retire Happy Blog, saying, “Canada Revenue Agency’s Tax Wavier Form can provide immediate tax relief to employees who want to invest early or systematically into RRSPs.”
The Military Wallet presents What To Do with Your Tax Refund posted at The Military Wallet, saying, “Solid financial tips for what to do with your tax refund if you have one coming your way.”
Financial Freedom presents IRA Contributions, posted at Retirement Tool , saying, “The Roth tax optimization puzzle for asset conversions, as well as for annual Roth contributions during working years, is one of the most complex decisions that the ridiculously complex US taxation and retirement planning system forces upon individuals.”
Susan Howe presents Tax Prep Costs: How Much Will It Cost to Get Your Taxes Done? posted at Get Rich Slowly, saying, “Here are some insights in choosing the right tax-preparation that will fit your needs.”
My Journey presents What Do I Need to Bring to My CPA or Accountant posted at My Journey to Millions, saying, “This post breaks down everything I need to bring to my CPA so he can do my taxes; it also explains why I don’t do my own tax return.”
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Carnival of Financial Planning using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
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