November’s Top Three Favourite Reads
What is the difference between “automatic” and “automated” finances? How are the retirement planning rules and tools different if you’ve been earning a lower than average income? Why is there all this administration… and all these taxes… when your spouse passes away? These questions and more are answered in November’s round up of my Top Three favourite reads. If you’re still thirsty for more information, don’t hesitate to dig into this month’s full list, which includes a hilarious eulogy for the 60/40 portfolio, how financial bloggers make money from affiliate marketing, and so much more. Scroll down for articles that will keep your brain working and your money on track this month.
Low Income Retirement Planning
From Owen Winkelmolen
“Low-income retirement planning requires a very different set of tools than your average retirement plan and this can sometimes lead to trouble when a soon-to-be low-income retiree gets advice that has been tailored for someone with a much higher income.”
Read the full article here.
Automatic vs Automated Finances – A distinction that makes a big difference
From Doris Belland
“When your finances become automatic, it’s like turning on the auto-pilot switch. You go through your days unconsciously behaving in the way you always have without much thought about how much you’re spending, or without regularly reviewing where your money has gone. One year flows into the next as you maintain your financial status quo, with the net result being an awakening five to ten years later when you realize you’re no closer to your goals, or worse.”
Read the full article here.
What To Do When Your Spouse Dies Before You
Part One, Administration & Part Two, Taxes
From Marc Goodfield
A detailed look at what to do when your spouse passes away.
Read part one here and part two here.
You can read this month's entire list below:
A Eulogy for the 60/40 Portfolio | Ben Carlson
“60/40 is survived by its immediate family — wife, asset allocation, and children Vanguard, rebalancing and comprehensive investment planning. Distant relatives include crypto, pot stocks, and technology IPOs but they were all left out of the will.”
When is the same return not the same return? | Greg Davies
“If a portfolio falls and you’re not watching, did it really fall for you?”
Robo advisors are paying bloggers with affiliate marketing | Bernadette Berdychowski
This article references US companies and US laws, but the issue with blogger and affiliate marketing is similar here in Canada:
“As a result of these arrangements, [affiliate marketers] will financially benefit from referring users to Personal Capital, which results in a conflict of interest as they are potentially making that referral for money and not because they believe a valuable service is being offered.”
5 Reasons you should take early RRSP withdrawals | Jason Heath
“Remember that RRSPs are tax deferral mechanisms, but the goal shouldn’t be maximum deferral all the time.”
How to Donate or Recycle Your Lego Bricks | Boone Ashworth
Not according to my kids, but yes.
“Got too many Lego pieces scattered throughout the house?”
Learn to Get Better at Transitions | Avivah Wittenberg-Cox
"Everyone...is struggling to let go of what was (identity, community, colleagues, and competencies) to embrace what’s next (as yet unknown, undefined, and ambiguous). There is a mixture of fear (Who am I?) and excitement (I am SO ready for a change), confusion (What do I want?) and certainty (Time to move on).
Because more of us are living longer, healthier lives, we’ll face more of these moments of liminality...No matter where we are in our own journeys, we could all get better at the skill of transitioning."
Finance Topics That Make Your Head Hurt | Ben Carlson
“What makes you think you’re better at predicting the path of interest rates than all of the macro hedge fund managers, professional bond managers and economists who collectively do a less than stellar job of predicting the direction of rates?”