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• The Evolution of the Couch Potato

  By Scott Burns The only thing constant is change---that includes Couch Potato investing. When I created the first Couch Potato portfolio nearly 20 years ago it was a very simple portfolio by both design and necessity. Design required it be something anyone... Posted Jun 02 2008, 02:30 PM by admin with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing

• When Investments Go Down, the Value of Attentive Spending Goes Up

  By Scott Burns Q. I am a Couch Potato investor. From regular news stories--- and some of your columns--- one might deduce the financial end is near. Should I stay the course or trim the sails? ---F. S., San Antonio, TX A. The day-to-day news is dismal... Posted Apr 23 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Q&A (from print)

• Couch Potato Portfolios Aren’t About Change

  By Scott Burns Q. Would you comment in a column on your present suggestions for a Couch Potato portfolio for retirees? ---C.D., by email A . The Couch Potato portfolios aren’t about change. They are about simplicity and low costs. Whether it is a two... Posted Mar 19 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Q&A (from print)

• Put Sloth to Work for You

  By Scott Burns It was a Maalox kind of year. But that's what it takes to build vocabulary. Today, everyone in America has a visceral understanding of the word "volatility." But when you clear away the market babble, 2007 wasn't such... Posted Jan 18 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing

• Diversification is the Answer, Whatever the Question

  by Scott Burns Q. I am conflicted by what I have been reading about Social Security in your columns and book "The Coming Generational Storm." On the one hand, you recommend we delay taking Social Security benefits until we reach full retirement... Posted Nov 28 2007, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Q&A (from print)

• A Better Building Block

  by Scott Burns Q: A few years ago you recommended a Couch Potato portfolio based on six building blocks. The fourth block was to be an "unhedged international bond fund." You recommended American Century International Bond fund. That fund no... Posted Nov 07 2007, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Q&A (from print)

• An 8 Percent Yield Means Major Risk

  Q. In a recent column you told a reader that a guaranteed high investment return doesn't exist. You also said, "If someone tells you about an investment that will provide a safe 8 percent return, grab your wallet and run." I take exception to your conclusion... Posted Apr 25 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Financial Planning, Q&A (from print)

• The Long Term Cost of High Investment Expenses

  Today's rude question: When does your money manager cost more than the taxman? Answer: Sooner than you think. If the idea of comparing a money manager with the tax collector sounds a bit perverse, let's examine some basic realities. When we earn income... Posted Mar 10 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 15 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Financial Planning

• Is 2007 the Year for Growth Stocks?

  Growth is back! That's the message from the strong start mutual fund investors have enjoyed since the New Year. Growth-oriented funds have trumped value-oriented funds in all three capitalization categories--- large, mid-cap, and small (see chart below... Posted Feb 17 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Financial Planning

• Still More Couch Potato Building Block Portfolios

  OK. You're tired of the original Couch Potato portfolio. (It is possible to have too much of a good thing, even sloth.) And now you've expanded to the Margarita portfolio. Do you dare build a portfolio more complicated than mixing a three-part drink?... Posted Feb 10 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 40 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing

• The Couch Potato Building Blocks, 2006

  It's time to play with blocks again. Yes, it's Building Block portfolio time. We're going to see how the building blocks did in 2006. Next week we're going to add more blocks so we can have still more fun. If you've missed my column for the last 15 years... Posted Feb 03 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 14 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing

• Using ETFs to Build a Portfolio

  Q. I am 47 and work fulltime. I have about $250,000 in my 401(k) and about $150,000 in my IRA from a previous employer. I have invested in the Couch Potato portfolio and in the IRA, and in the past few years have moved to the Margarita Portfolio (I am... Posted Jan 31 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Financial Planning, Q&A (from print)

• Waiting to buy

  Q: I'm a 64-year-old grandma who messed up bad. My money was in the Vanguard 500 index fund, but in August everything was going south. So I moved my money to a money market account. Now stocks are doing well again, and I have no idea how to get back into... Posted Jan 24 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Index & ETF Investing, Q&A (from print)

• Another happy year for sloth and passivity!

  "The first myth of management is that it exists." -- Robert Heller Had I known that sloth and passivity paid so well, I would have pursued them more aggressively. That perverse thought came to mind as I assembled the numbers for this year's Mea Culpa... Posted Dec 23 2006, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 31 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing

• Couch Potato Building Block Portfolios 2006

  Lot's of readers have been writing in asking for more information on the Building Block portfolios. The table below shows the performance, YTD and trailing 12 months. It also gives a key with both the name and ticker symbol of the funds used. The link... Posted Dec 12 2006, 05:50 PM by scottb with | with 8 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing