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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 4 comment(s) Filed under: Financial Planning, Income Investing

• Lord Byron Said it First

  "Yes. Ready money is Aladdin's Lamp." -- Lord Byron, 1788-1824 Most of us don't appreciate the magic of cash until we are without it. Then we understand. Then we understand the advantages it affords us, what it will do, and how essential... Posted Aug 24 2007, 03:30 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Income Investing

• The Nitwit Sector

  Last time I dared look, the financial sector of our economy accounted for about 20 percent of all market value. At the end of June, for instance, financial services accounted for that much of both the S&P 500 index and the broader Russell 3000 index... Posted Aug 10 2007, 04:30 PM by scottb with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: 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

• The Perils of Hyperactive Investing

  OK. Listen up. It’s hot. It’s July. You’d rather be at the beach. But you’re probably worried about your investments because some hyperactive managers with seven-figure salaries at Bear Stearns have made a mess--- perhaps for all of us --- by buying massive... Posted Jul 06 2007, 10:30 AM by admin with | with no comments Filed under: Income Investing, Index & ETF Investing

• Enhanced Index Funds: Interesting But Problematic

  Q: I've had my 401(k) account with Fidelity for years. I've had my money in its funds most of the time. I have recently compared many of its funds to others, including the index funds that make up many of your balanced, low-cost portfolios. I have found... Posted Jun 13 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Income Investing, Index & ETF Investing

• When It Comes To College Saving, Keep It Simple

  Q. How about some guidance on saving for college. My daughters both have new babies and want to start saving for college. I recommended mutual funds with Vanguard. One son-in-law wants to fund college through a life insurance program with a fraternity... Posted Jun 06 2007, 09:00 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Income Investing, Q&A (from print), Resources, Retirement

• When the Sky Falls, It Will Do So Slowly

  Q. My wife and I are 60 and plan to retire at 62. At that time we will have $31,000 annual income from Social Security and $48,000 from a corporate pension. A 401k/IRA of $1 million will provide additional income from investments. Recently I have been... Posted May 23 2007, 01:00 PM by scottb with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• 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

• Ladder of bonds is good choice

  Question: I currently use a money manager for half of my portfolio. I manage the balance. I am 55, retired, have sufficient funds to live comfortably and have a 60/40 asset allocation. My managed account has a 1 percent management fee. Here's my question... Posted Sep 18 2006, 09:19 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Income Investing

• Bond Ladders Make Sense and Cost Little

  Q. I currently use a money manager for half of my portfolio. I manage the balance. I am 55, retired, have sufficient funds to live comfortably, and have a 60/40 asset allocation. My managed account has a one percent management fee. Here's my question... Posted Sep 07 2006, 08:14 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Income Investing

• Readers: More Ways to Increase Investment Income

  "You could have said a lot more about ways to increase investment income." That was the composite response from readers to my Tuesday, July 18 column on how cash was finally worth something. Mr. Columnist may have stopped paying attention while money... Posted Aug 08 2006, 04:13 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Income Investing

• TIPS are still a good bet

  TIPS, otherwise known as Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, have taken some hard knocks this year. Many investors are surprised at the losses. They may have believed having inflation protection is the same as being invulnerable. It isn't. At mid... Posted Jul 30 2006, 04:29 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Income Investing

• The Best Retirement Formula: Make Your Own

  Q. Please email me your formula for figuring how much money it takes to retire. I am 72 and still working. ---J.A., by email from Dallas, TX A. For better or worse, I have no such formula. The best we can do is come up with different rules of thumb, all... Posted Jul 20 2006, 04:09 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Income Investing, Q&A (from print), Retirement

• Salespeople Don't Sell Non-Commissioned Products

  Q. I retired in the spring of 2000 and my financial products salesman sold me on predominantly equities. After some painful losses, I want to diversify into some fixed income investments--- as we should have done in 2000. I've asked him about Vanguard... Posted Jul 15 2006, 01:56 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Income Investing, Q&A (from print)