I thought these visual-friendly brackets would help in your 2024 planning and 2023 taxes. Bookmark and enjoy!
2024 Tax Brackets That Don’t Suck (and 2023 too)
QA12: Will A Life Of Financial Independence Meet Expectations?
We’re back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions!
For this week:
- An update on markets and our personal finance situation
- The role of dividends in growth and withdrawal assumptions
- Expectations vs reality on a life of financial independence
- Our experience with health insurance without employer-sponsored plans
- Real estate investing: an update on our experiences and economics as remote landlords
- Health insurance considerations for long-term travel
- Short- to medium-term savings goals (like a house) versus saving for retirement
- Loss of purpose without a traditional job
- So much more!
QA11: Laying It Out in Simple Terms
We’re back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions!
For this week:
- How has my lifestyle evolved since achieving financial independence and how do I spend my time?
- Updated thoughts on money and markets
- Are we putting too much faith in institutions like Vanguard?
- Can and should life insurance policies be used for retirement savings?
- Tax avoidance versus accepting higher tax rates
- What is a Simple IRA and how does it differ from a 401(k)? Can I still do Roth conversions?
- Savings rates are great! Should I pay less on my loans to maximize my savings?
- Big picture: Where do I start on getting my financial life together?
- Outreach and presentations
- So much more!
Mike Piper: Down To The Essence Of Smart Money Management
Mike Piper is a CPA and the creator of the Oblivious Investor blog, where he teaches a philosophy of simple and low-maintenance investing.
Mike’s simple philosophy distills down to three primary principles:
- Diversify your portfolio
- Minimize costs (commissions, fees, mutual fund expenses, taxes)
- Ignore the noise.
Mike began his career as a CPA before realizing he could support himself by writing books. Surprisingly, he left his secure job during the 2008 financial crisis. He has gone on to publish seventeen books and is widely considered an expert in social security, tax, and a number of other personal finance topics. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Morningstar, to name a few.
Continue reading “Mike Piper: Down To The Essence Of Smart Money Management”QA10: Bear Markets and Bank Failures
We’re back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions!
For this week:
- Are new investors part of an “unlucky cohort” that won’t achieve financial independence in the often-cited timelines?
- Is it worth it to hire a tax professional? And if so, how should I find one?
- Can you help me understand all these confusing public sector retirement accounts?
- Should I do a Roth conversion now or just make a contribution to a Roth IRA?
- Thoughts on the recent bank runs and instability in financial markets
- So much more!
QA7: Financial Freedom Fast-Tracks and Climbing Plateau Busters
We’re back to the digital mailbag to answer your questions!
For this week:
- Does the 401(k) max include employer contributions?
- Should I invest in my 401(k) or pay down my mortgage early?
- What about Fidelity’s zero expense ratio fund, VZROX?
- Investing tips for a Health Savings Account
- Do you write off business expenses for Clipping Chains?
- How and when do you pay yourself from investments?
- Winter climbing in St. George, Utah
- Big life expenses and expectations when pursuing financial independence: children, weddings, etc.
- Mandatory pension contributions vs DIY investing
- Front-loading savings without going for full financial independence (Coast FI)
- Climbing plateau busters
EP 26: How to Spend Retirement Money Early
This week on episode 26, we revisit the Roth conversion ladder, a method used to spend retirement money early without penalty and with little to no tax burden.
Continue reading “EP 26: How to Spend Retirement Money Early”EP 19: (Part 2) The Boring Guide to Successful Investing
Today in episode 19 we return for more details on our boring guide to successful investing. Now that we have an idea on types of funds and asset allocation from part 1, we can take a detailed dive on each investing account and how to simply save more and minimize taxes. Oh boy!
Continue reading “EP 19: (Part 2) The Boring Guide to Successful Investing”2021 Exciting Year-End Financial and Tax Checklist
Wow, another year almost in the books! As we wind down 2021, now is the time to make sure we are on track with our financial goals. Remember how we started with Your 2021 Guide to Actually Saving Real Money? Let’s examine a few crucial steps with this year-end financial and tax checklist.
Continue reading “2021 Exciting Year-End Financial and Tax Checklist”Some Fantastic News on Health Insurance Costs
Back in October, after the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I wondered if healthcare was about to get a lot more expensive. Now, health insurance is about to be far more affordable for those of us at lower income levels.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is a $1.9 trillion stimulus package, signed into law on March 11, 2021. And this thing is massive! Tell them Large Marge sent ya! Mainstream media has expectedly latched on to the $1,400 stimulus checks and the very generous extended child tax credit. However, the news bulging my eyeballs is the boost coming to the Affordable Care Act (also lovingly known as Obamacare).
Continue reading “Some Fantastic News on Health Insurance Costs”