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• Fees and the Top and Bottom 25 Percent

  By Scott Burns No one wants to be at the bottom of the heap. We want to be above average at everything, including investing. That’s why we spend billions every year, hoping to find a superior investor who will, for a modest fee, invest our modest savings... Posted Mar 14 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing

• Buy Closed End Funds at a Discount

  Here’s an interesting factoid. Over the three years ending May 30, the average mutual fund that invested in domestic equities has provided an annual return of 13.30 percent. Rather nice. Until you compare it to another return. The average closed-end fund... Posted Jul 13 2007, 10:30 AM by admin with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Index & ETF Investing

• Four Milestones for Successful Investing

  Allow me to introduce the yellow brick road of investing. Follow this road and you will be a happy investor. Ignore it at your peril. The yellow brick road has four major milestones. The first three are clearly visible. Anyone can get good investment... Posted Dec 09 2006, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 13 comment(s) Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Financial Planning, Income Investing, Index & ETF Investing

• Pensions and Inflation (part 1): The High Cost of Modest Inflation

  Imagine this. You're in your late 50s. You've been working for the same company for a long time. You're in pretty good financial shape. You've paid off the mortgage. You have a nice balance in your 401(k) plan. You have some modest savings outside the... Posted Jul 03 2005, 12:30 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Retirement

• Investing To Live Abroad… Or Save Purchasing Power

  B.M. writes with a question that must be bugging many people who are wishing to retire abroad: " I plan to make a permanent move to Europe in the next one or two years. However, in the meantime I will earn dollars, most of which I will save. By the time... Posted Jan 25 2005, 11:30 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• Bonds--- The Forgotten Competitor

  Twenty years ago, having just arrived in Dallas, I wrote a column predicting 1985 would be a very good year for stocks. My analysis was basic. Interest rates were likely to continue falling. As a consequence, investors would be willing to pay more for... Posted Jan 11 2005, 12:13 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing

• Take Your Money and Run from Janus and Strong?

  Q. My wife and I have over $300,000 spread over five Janus and Strong mutual funds. We know you have recommended getting out of the funds involved in the recent fund timing scandals. We also know you seem to like the Vanguard family of funds. We are close... Posted Apr 15 2004, 09:44 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• Sizing Up A Simple IRA

  Q. My employer offers a Simple IRA. They match the first 3 percent. This is great, but the only fund company they are offering is John Hancock Funds, with class A, B, or C shares, and horrendous yearly expenses. Should I invest anyway to get the match... Posted Jan 01 2004, 11:52 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing

• A 25 Year Old Invests for the Far Future

  Q. My grandfather in Seguin Texas makes it a point to mail me some of your articles from time to time. I'm a 25-year old growth-minded investor. I have about $4,500 or so from a previous job's 401k plan that I intend to rollover into 1 or 2 IRA mutual... Posted Dec 25 2003, 12:29 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• Fees Lower Returns. Period.

  "… I could only agree with your yardsticks of 1, 2, and 3% (for management expenses) with the assumption that all investment advisors and their resources are created equal---but that isn't the case. I would gladly have given 3% to an investment advisor... Posted Mar 25 2003, 11:23 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing

• How To Maximize Security During A Job Hunt

  Q. I was recently laid off. I have roughly $17,000 in savings (not counting retirement). The only debt I have outside of current living expenses is a car loan. It has a balance of $11,000 (2 years remaining) My question is this. Should I pay off the loan... Posted Jan 02 2003, 11:34 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• For Some, Parenting Never Ends

  Q. I am a 64-year old retired dental hygienist who has a 42-year-old mentally ill daughter. She is bi-polar. I have sole responsibility for her. She was recently awarded disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income totaling $565 a month, $112... Posted May 16 2002, 02:51 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• An Action Plan for Income Loss

  Q. We could use some advice investing money. We recently sold a rent property and it netted $33,000. We also have $10,000 from a flood loan that government provided due to hurricane Allison. We started repaying it monthly in February at $357 for the next... Posted Mar 28 2002, 11:22 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• The Real Cost of Long Term Money Management

  Could you use an extra $200,000 or so? How about $1,000,000? Then lets examine what high expense 401(k) and 403(b) plans are costing plan participants. A primary or secondary school teacher who invests for retirement through a typical 403(b) plan pays... Posted Nov 27 2001, 10:26 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing

• Money Management: No Rocket Science Required

  Q. Here is my dilemma: I will be 61 soon. I am very healthy and energetic. Not employed. No one wants a 60-year old Controller. I have $420,000 in 3 separate IRA accounts, down from $800,000 in January of 2000. I am currently with a full service broker... Posted Nov 15 2001, 11:46 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)