Browse by Categories

• Financial Planning
• Government, Taxes & Other Disasters
• Home Ownership & Mortgages
• I Bonds & Tips
• Income Investing
• Index & ETF Investing
• Mutual Fund Investing
• Retirement
• Social Security
• The Spender's Portfolio & Portfolio Survival

• You Can Be a Couch Potato Investor in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan

  By Scott Burns Q. I saw your advice to a Seattle reader who had lost some money in the government Thrift Savings Plan. I also have over $100,000 in the TSP. I have been investing conservatively for the last few months because the stock market has been... Posted Aug 27 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Q&A (from print)

• 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)

• 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)

• 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)

• Solving a Wonderful Problem: Where to Put Your Money

  Q. I'm about to move our investments so they fit an asset allocation similar to one of your Couch Potato portfolios. Ours will be made up of five classes: small U.S. stocks, large U.S. stocks, international stocks, total bond, and health care. My difficulty... Posted Apr 27 2006, 10:51 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Q&A (from print)

• TIPS Have an Advantage in Periods of Inflation

  Q. I've had the "Couch Potato" portfolio for my 403b account for close to five years with 60% Vanguard Total stock market Index fund and 40% Total Bond Market Index. I didn't know until recently that you now suggest Inflation Protected Securities in place... Posted Jul 14 2005, 11:42 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, I Bonds & Tips, Q&A (from print), Retirement

• For a Good Investment--- Delay Taking Social Security

  Q. In a recent column, you advised J.N. to delay drawing his Social Security in order to increase the amount of Social Security he would have when he does finally hang it up. Why couldn't he go ahead and draw the Social Security at 65 and invest that... Posted Dec 16 2004, 03:12 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Q&A (from print), Social Security

• Four Ways To Invest for Current Income

  Q. I recently inherited some money. I would like some advice about investing it. My husband and I are 48 years old. We feel as though our current financial package, which includes a 401k, mutual funds, life insurance, real estate, trust fund, etc. is... Posted Dec 04 2003, 02:27 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• Should You Sell An Old Mutual Fund?

  Q. In a recent column you mentioned Massachusetts Financial Services Funds. I have owned Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock fund for over 30 years and it is my largest mutual fund holding. I would have left it years ago, but the taxable gain always... Posted Oct 23 2003, 12:27 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Mutual Fund Investing, Q&A (from print)

• How About The Dogs of the Dow?

  Q. The Dogs of the Dow investment strategy seems about as easy as using the Couch Potato Formula. I realize one of the points of the Couch Potato is to keep costs low. There are low cost traders out there that could reduce the expense of a Dogs portfolio... Posted Oct 09 2003, 02:15 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Income Investing, Q&A (from print)

• Enough Assets and Nursing Home Cost Isn't A Problem

  Q. Do you recommend the "couch potato" approach for an 89-year-old woman who needs to safely invest $600,000 from the sale of her home? She has an additional $350,000 in Treasurys and individual stocks managed by Wells Fargo Bank and another $200,000... Posted Sep 11 2003, 10:41 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Couch Potato Investing, Q&A (from print), Retirement