-
23 Feb '22Amazon Doubles Pay Cap!
Continue readingAmazon is doubling down on its efforts to retain talent and attract new hires by increasing its cap on base cash compensation to $350,000, more than double the previous amount, according to an internal announcement. The company cited “a particularly competitive labor market” as the reason for the move, which was only for salaried corporate […]
-
03 Jan '22Smart Financial Moves for New Parents
Continue readingHaving a child is a defining moment in everyone’s life. And as with all major life changes, it is vital to have a plan and be aware of the financial implications. This post aims to help new parents become more financially savvy as they nurture their new baby. Here are a few concrete steps to […]
-
01 Nov '217.1% interest, risk-free! But is it for real?
Continue readingWhen an investment advertises a high return, that seems too good to be real, it almost certainly is. In these “too good to be real” situations, you often take on a undisclosed high level of risk, or the quoted return is based on “return of capital”, not earnings. See Hazardous Advice – Reaching for Yield for […]
-
10 Oct '21How Do Amazon Employees Invest For Retirement?
Continue readingThanks to the Department of Labor (DoL), we have data to answer this question. 401(k) plan sponsors are required to file Form 5500 with the DoL every year. Along with other information, Form 5500 lists which investments Amazon 401(k) plan participants have selected for their retirement funds—giving us insight into how Amazon.com employees choose to […]
-
15 Jun '21Hiring an Investment Advisor
Continue readingIt would be overwhelming to research all the different financial advisory firms and investment advisors out there today. Is there really a difference between firms? Who is a good advisor? Whom can I trust? Given this uncertainty, most people just solicit a recommendations from friends or family. Then hire the recommended advisor without really examining […]
-
01 May '21Savings Bonds – Inflation Hedge Series
Continue readingArguably, the simplest of all investments—U.S. Savings Bonds—may be the best current hedge against inflation available. As discussed in my prior post, Are TIPS a Good Investment, TIPS are nearly the perfect inflation hedge. Your return is fully protected from inflation since the bonds yield is adjusted based on actual inflation experienced. You receive a […]
-
02 Feb '21Financial Rubbernecking – Part 3: Retirement Accounts
Continue readingHow do your retirement savings stack up? Are you accumulating retirement assets faster than your peers? This is the third posting in a series exploring these types of questions. (See Part 1 – Income; See Part 2- Net Worth) Every three years I look forward to the latest Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances […]
-
12 Jan '21Financial Rubbernecking – Part 2: Net Worth
Continue readingHow do your finances stack up? How are doing compared to others? Are you accumulating assets faster or slower than your peers? How does your net worth measure up to the rest of the country? This is the second posting in a series exploring these questions. (See Part 1 – Income) Every three years I […]
-
07 Dec '20Financial Rubbernecking – Part 1: Income
Continue readingTech employees – as a group – are highly-compensated. However, it may not feel that way given the high cost-of-living in many tech hubs like Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. To keep grounded, every three years I look forward to the latest Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) to remind us […]
-
12 Oct '20Should I Invest Internationally?
Continue readingInternational stocks have been crushed by U.S. stocks over the past decade—and the return from developed international markets has barely outpacing inflation over the past 20 years. Leading some investors to question if they should own foreign equities given this poor performance. For a variety of reasons, we still believe U.S. investors should maintain exposure […]
-
28 Sep '20Are TIPS a Good Investment – Inflation Hedge Series
Continue readingWith the Federal Reserve “printing” massive amounts of new money to fund Congress’s record-breaking deficit spending, I thought it would be a good time to review investments considered good hedges for inflation. Ideally a good inflation hedge would maintain (or increase) its real value during periods of high inflation. Today’s post will consider Treasury Inflation-Protected […]
-
17 Sep '20Are Amazon and Google technology companies?
Continue readingWhen you think of large technology companies, you probably think of companies like the so-called FAANG stocks: Facebook (FB), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Netflix (NFLX), Google (GOOG). Not a bad starter list of highly successful “tech” companies. But from an investing standpoint—of the 5 FAANG stocks—only Apple Inc. is considered part of the Information Technology […]
