One more quick savings bond update... the official rate for new I Savings Bond was announced and the variable rate is indeed 1.18% but the fixed rate was a surprise at 0.20%. It's still very small, but the last time we got a rate slightly above … [Read the rest]
Consistently Top-Rated 529 Plans: Morningstar Gold and Silver Ratings 2010-2013
Posted on November 1, 2013 // 11 Comments
Investment research firm Morningstar rates 529 plans in their annual "529 College Savings Plans Research Paper and Industry Survey". They recently announced their top plans from the 2013 survey, although it appears the full study and state-specific … [Read the rest]
Savings I-Bonds September/October 2013 Rate Speculation
Posted on October 31, 2013 // 19 Comments
Update 11/3/13: The new rates for November 2013-April 2014 are 0.20% fixed and 1.18% variable. See details here. … [Read the rest]
Lessons from a Man Living on $5,000 a Year
Posted on October 28, 2013 // 30 Comments
Can a person live in the US on only $5,000 a year? According to this NBC News article and this Youtube video, Dan Price has been doing it for 20 years. I enjoy these kinds of interviews as they reinforce the fact that we all make choices every … [Read the rest]
Ally Bank CD Early Withdrawal Penalty Change: Details & Analysis
Posted on October 27, 2013 // 7 Comments
Ally Bank just announced that they will be changing the early withdrawal policy on their CDs starting on December 7, 2013. Found via Ken Tumin's DepositAccounts post, the details are now officially outlined in the fees tab of their certificates of … [Read the rest]
Quick Reference: Membership Rewards vs. Starwood Points vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posted on October 24, 2013 // Leave a Comment
Due to birth of our first child, we haven't been traveling much the last 24 months. However, I've still been racking up the miles (via credit card bonuses, credit card rewards, dining rewards, and shopping portals) and have built up a sizable pile … [Read the rest]
American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Bonuses – British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Choice Hotels
Posted on October 24, 2013 // Leave a Comment
American Express occasionally runs limited-time promotions that increase the transfer rate from their Membership Rewards points. To see these bonuses, visit MembershipRewards.com. Currently promotions: British Airways 20% Bonus. That makes … [Read the rest]
Lessons from the First Jobs of Financial Gurus
Posted on October 24, 2013 // 5 Comments
Chris Taylor of Reuters has been writing some mini-interviews about the first jobs of well-known finance gurus like Warren Buffett and Jack Bogle. They include newspaper delivery boys, retail stockboy, gofer, shoeshine boy, USPS mail sorter, … [Read the rest]
Amazon Free Super Saver Shipping: Higher $35 Minimum, Officially Slower
Posted on October 23, 2013 // 26 Comments
Amazon.com recently announced changes to their Free Super Saver Shipping program. First, the minimum order size for "free shipping" has increased to $35 from $25. Second, it is officially getting slower: With free shipping, your order will be … [Read the rest]
International Bonds Now Largest Asset Class in World Market
Posted on October 21, 2013 // 9 Comments
This Vanguard article included an infographic (see below) that shows the growth of international bonds as an asset class. If you were to consider the world's investable market as split between bonds and equities, internationally-issued bonds are … [Read the rest]
Fidelity 529 College Savings Plan Index Portfolios & Fee Reducton
Posted on October 17, 2013 // 2 Comments
Fidelity Investments recently made a 40% reduction on the management fees for their direct-sold 529 Index Portfolios, with total expense ratios now ranging from 0.19-0.29%, down from 0.25-0.35%. Fidelity runs 529 plans based in New Hampshire, … [Read the rest]
Free Online Finance and Retirement Planning Course from Stanford
Posted on October 15, 2013 // 5 Comments
Stanford University is offering a free open online course "Finance of Retirement & Pensions" taught by Joshua Rauh, Professor of Finance, running 10/14-12/13. Here's the course description and a video: In this eight-week course, you will learn … [Read the rest]
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