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03 Jun '19Player or Investor?
Continue readingAs an observer of the capital markets over the past few decades, I’ve noticed that “market professionals” and investment advisors are generally selling a story about the future. Whether a bold prediction on the future price of gold or a more subtle discourse on why it’s a good time to buy Tesla, Uber or Apple. […]
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14 Apr '19The Magic of a Roth IRA
Continue readingA Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) offers a unique advantage for many investors; the magical ability to earn tax-free income. These tax-advantaged accounts allow you to indefinitely grow your investments without ever paying Federal income tax on interest, dividends, or capital gains. I say “indefinitely” because, as opposed to Traditional IRAs, there is no required […]
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09 Jan '19Are Qualified Opportunity Funds A Good Investment?
Continue readingDo you hold highly appreciated stock that you want to sell, but don’t want to pay the subsequent capital gains tax? If so, there is a new investment option to consider. Investing in a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) allows you to defer federal tax on your capital gains while freeing up the money you initially […]
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25 Oct '18Amazonian’s $1 Billion Retirement Bet
Continue readingAmazon employees have invested $1 billion of their 401(k) retirement funds[1] in their employer’s stock—by far the single largest holding in Amazon’s 401(k) plan. Luckily, this was a very good bet during 2017 (up 56%) and has continued to be an outstanding investment during 2018 (up over 70% as of end of September). Implying a […]
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10 Oct '18Save Taxes on 401(k) Distributions
Continue readingPreferential Tax Treatment on Company Stock in Your 401(k) If you hold shares of your employer’s stock in your 401(k) account, there is an IRS rule with the potential to significantly reduce your future tax burden. The rule pertains to net unrealized appreciation (NUA). NUA is the difference between the price you originally paid for […]
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25 Sep '18RSU Income & Mortgage Qualification – 2018
Continue readingWorking for a tech company—like Amazon—that uses Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as compensation, can limit your ability to qualify for the home mortgage you might desire. Luckily, more mortgage providers now accept income from RSUs in their qualification calculations, but it may take some advanced planning on your part. This change is likely based on […]
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08 Jun '18Statistically Probable Investing
Continue readingWe are often asked, “What’s your investment thesis?” Although various investment approaches impact your accumulation of wealth differently, we don’t believe selecting the “best” investment thesis is the most critical decision. The largest long-term influence on your wealth—unless you are already independently wealthy—is more likely whether you have implemented a disciplined investment plan. Systematic contributions […]
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20 Apr '18Hazardous Advice—Reaching for Yield
Continue readingActing on generic investment advice in magazines—or on the internet—can be hazardous to your wealth. In their desire to attract readers, publications often fail to fully explain an investment or adequately disclose the risks. The other day I ran across a particularly worrisome article on Forbes.com with the title “The Amazing 8.8% Cash Payout No […]
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11 Mar '18How Do You Stack Up?
Continue readingEmployees at technology companies—as a group—are highly compensated. Nonetheless, it may not feel like it, given the high cost of living in tech hubs like Seattle or the San Francisco Bay Area. To keep grounded in reality, I look forward every three years to the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances for the latest […]
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17 Jan '18
What Do Amazon Employees Invest In?
Continue reading401(k) plan sponsors are required to file Form 5500 with the Department of Labor every year. Along with other information, Form 5500 lists which investments plan participants have selected for their retirement funds—giving us insight into how Amazon.com employees choose to invest for retirement. So what do your fellow Amazon employees invest in? Perhaps not […]
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03 Dec '17Human Capital vs. Financial Capital
Continue readingA person’s net worth is generally considered the sum of financial assets (stocks, bonds, savings) and real assets (automobiles, real estate) less debts (mortgage, credit cards). But this view fails to account for Human Capital—the value of all future wages. For younger workers, Human Capital is generally much larger than accumulated Financial Capital. Human Capital […]
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10 Nov '17
Investment Advice: is there really a difference?
Continue readingIt can be overwhelming to research all the different financial advisory firms out there today. Who is a good advisor? Whom can I trust? Given this uncertainty, most people solicit recommendations from friends or family. They then hire the recommended advisor without examining alternatives or selecting the right person for their specific situation. In this post we try […]
