Should You Manage Your Own Mortgage Escrow?

Posted on July 5, 2010 // 39 Comments

I recently got a refund from my mortgage escrow servicer, as my property taxes decreased. This reminded me about how I always used to read that you should manage your own escrow account. I don't think I have a choice about the matter right now, … [Read the rest]

Slow Down Your Hedonic Treadmill

Posted on July 2, 2010 // 8 Comments

You may be familiar with Predictably Irrational, a best-selling book by a professor in behavorial economics that challenges the idea that humans behave rationally. In fact, says author Dan Ariely, humans are predictably irrational in many ways that … [Read the rest]

Capital One 360 Independence Day Offers

Posted on July 2, 2010 // 1 Comment

Online bank Capital One 360 has a few specials for Independence Day that (for some reason) are only good until midnight on Friday, July 2nd. In all cases, they are slightly better versions of offers that they regularly offer. Not a bad time to pounce … [Read the rest]

Lessons From a Stock Newsletter Scandal

Posted on June 29, 2010 // 19 Comments

I ran across another cautionary tale highlighting the world of paid stock newsletters, where people pay hundreds of dollars for "exclusive" stock picks. In this one, former professional baseball player Lenny Dykstra somehow become a … [Read the rest]

Blippy.com: Are You What You Buy?

Posted on June 29, 2010 // 11 Comments

While flipping through old magazines at the Doc's office, I read about a site called Blippy.com in a Time article. It's yet another social media site, except this time you link up your credit card data so it can automatically share all your … [Read the rest]

Perkstreet Checking with 2%/5% Cashback Debit Card

Posted on June 25, 2010 // 11 Comments

Perkstreet Financial is relatively new, but they've already tried a bunch of different ways to make their online checking account attractive, from sign-up bonuses to coffee awards. However, I think they've stumbled onto something with their new … [Read the rest]

Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life (Book Review)

Posted on June 25, 2010 // 7 Comments

"Terrorist attacks. Natural disasters. Domestic crackdowns. Economic collapse. Riots. Wars. Disease. Starvation. What can you do when it all hits the fan?" Sounds like great travel reading, right? Well, it was, at least for me. Emergency: … [Read the rest]

VEIEX Fund vs. VWO ETF Performance Comparison

Posted on June 24, 2010 // 4 Comments

The bottom line for converting to the ETF version of equivalent mutual funds: lower costs = greater returns = more money. To illustrate this, I ran over to Mornginstar.com and compared the 5-year returns for VEIEX and VWO, the mutual fund and ETF … [Read the rest]

Vanguard Mutual Fund to ETF Share Conversions

Posted on June 24, 2010 // 9 Comments

If you are invested in Vanguard mutual funds, you might have been confused by their recent announcement of free trades for Vanguard ETFs for in-house brokerage customers. One consequence of this is that it makes it more attractive for many folks … [Read the rest]

Vanguard Mutual Funds vs. ETFs: The Decision Process

Posted on June 23, 2010 // 5 Comments

You want index funds. You want Vanguard. Should you buy them in mutual fund form, or ETF form? There are several pages on the Vanguard website dedicated to help you learn the differences between their ETFs and mutual funds. Check out their … [Read the rest]

Google Voice Now Available To All In US

Posted on June 22, 2010 // 10 Comments

Google Voice announced today that it is now available to everyone in the US, with no need to track down an invite. Here's a nice, quick intro video for the service for the unfamiliar: For more tips, see my previous post on how to save money … [Read the rest]

Total Stock Returns = Fundamental + Speculative Returns

Posted on June 21, 2010 // 7 Comments

Another theory of predicting future stock market returns states that there are three main components to long-term stock market performance. Amongst many others, I learned this from authors and investors Jack Bogle and William Bernstein. Part 1: … [Read the rest]

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