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02 Dec '22Amazon Employees Retirement Investments – Revisited
Continue readingRetirement investments of Amazon employees brought to us by their annual Department of Labor (DoL) filings. 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 invest for retirement. So what do Amazon employees invest in? Perhaps not surprisingly, the Company Stock […]
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27 Oct '22When to Sell RSUs for Tech Employees
Continue readingWhen is the optimal time to sell my RSUs? Many technology company employees receive grants of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). This form of equity compensation may be in the form of a one-time hiring bonus, a reward for exceptional performance, or part of the annual compensation program. Regardless of how you received your RSUs, everyone […]
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18 Oct '22Stories VS. Studies
Continue readingHave you ever noticed that many financial salespeople are selling some story instead of quoting empirical studies (spinning stories vs. empirical studies)? A bold prediction on the future price of gold, or a more subtle discourse on why Apple stock would be a good addition to your portfolio, they are all spinning a story. The […]
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11 Oct '22Retirement Spending
Continue readingAre you saving enough for retirement? Can your investments support your retirement spending desires? These are difficult questions to answer. It boils down to how much money you need in retirement to maintain an acceptable lifestyle. Unless you are close to retiring, you likely don’t have a good grasp of your retirement spending needs. How […]
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07 Oct '22Compounding Investment Returns
Continue readingThe stock market is down significantly this year with many tech companies losing over 30%. Against this dismal backdrop, compounding returns and adding to your investment portfolio may not be top-of-mind. Yet it behooves you to keep in mind that U.S. equity markets historically return about 10% per year on average over the long term. […]
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26 Sep '22Savings Bonds Revisited—9.6% Yield
Continue readingBack in May 2021, I initially discussed the surprising merits of the humble U.S. Savings Bond in my post SAVINGS BONDS – INFLATION HEDGE SERIES. At that time, the Series I bond was paying 3.54%. Today, Series I Savings Bonds yield 9.6%. These bonds are paying 9.62% annually for purchases through October 2022. This rate […]
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19 Aug '22What Do Apple Employees Invest In?
Continue readingAt least for their company sponsored retirement plan, we have the data to answer this question thanks to the Department of Labor (DoL). 401(k) plan sponsors are required to file Form 5500 with the DoL every year. Form 5500 lists which investments Apple 401(k) plan participants have selected for their retirement funds—giving us insight into […]
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12 Aug '22How Do Microsoft Employees Invest for Retirement?
Continue readingWe have data to answer this question thanks to the Department of Labor (DoL). 401(k) plan sponsors are required to file Form 5500 with the DoL every year. Form 5500 lists which investments Microsoft 401(k) plan participants have selected for their retirement funds—giving us insight into how Microsoft employees choose to invest for retirement. So, what […]
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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 […]
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10 Oct '21
How 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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
