PETE THE PLANNER: Many variables affect retirement planning
The most complicating factor is that we don’t know how much we’ll need because we don’t know when we’ll die.
Peter Dunn
Articles
PETE THE PLANNER: House prices are lofty, so should you sell?
An unemotional, rational approach to this question will always yield the best results.
PETE THE PLANNER: Election uncertainty shouldn’t drive your investing strategy
Whether or not a constitutional crisis–and all the economic and market chaos it would bring–is nigh, it’s impossible to time our exit and re-entry into the markets,
PETE THE PLANNER: It’s time to step up and help save local restaurants
Many restaurants are in very serious danger of not making it to December. Every dollar you can spend matters.
PETE THE PLANNER: COVID could teach us important money lessons
The pandemic is not over yet, nor is the economic fallout, but I do believe Americans’ financial sensibility could conceivably shift in a healthier direction.
PETE THE PLANNER: Time to own up to dubious financial decisions
It’s easy to dismiss financial mistakes with the old, “It made sense at the time.” But here’s the thing; a lot of times, those decisions didn’t actually make sense at the time.
PETE THE PLANNER: New grad should pay down loan debt as quickly as possible
Following my first two rules will create an inordinate amount of stress if he were to earn at or below living wage, even if he is living with you and eliminating most of his living expenses.
PETE THE PLANNER: Milestones are points on your financial journey, not destinations
Debt elimination is a beautiful thing. From paying off student loans to making your last mortgage payment, getting rid of monthly debt obligations is undoubtedly an accomplishment worth acknowledging and celebrating.
PETE THE PLANNER: Don’t assume home improvements are an investment
There’s something incredibly practical about putting money into your home, in the right places. The key is to not get carried away by convincing yourself every dollar spent is wise or even an investment.
PETE THE PLANNER: Procrastination can complicate homework—and retirement
Proper financial planning does not require additional work. It requires timelier work.
PETE THE PLANNER: Don’t repeat mistakes you made after the stock market tumbled
You can’t change your mistake. That ship has sailed. But you can resolve to never do it again.
PETE THE PLANNER: It’s time to buckle down on convenience spending
Self-sufficiency can turn instability into stability by leveraging an abundance of time to save money.
PETE THE PLANNER: Be cautious about planning to sell your business to fund retirement
If you’re going to sacrifice your current retirement plan to save your business, you’d better make sure your business is your retirement plan.
PETE THE PLANNER: It’s time to face the reality that you need to cut spending
The reality is, a financial crisis was destined to strike your household at some point.
PETE THE PLANNER: Don’t let your financial challenges paralyze you
When a complex issue seems so overwhelming that a person becomes paralyzed with inaction, it becomes important to delineate and solve your challenges independently.
PETE THE PLANNER: Hard financial times don’t have to be insurmountable
I’m not giving up on you or anyone else. Why? Because of the thousands of people who’ve rebuilt their financial lives right in front of my eyes over the last two decades.
PETE THE PLANNER: You can’t lose by preparing now for a slowdown
When times get tough, and some jobs get eliminated, it’s the people who have cash to pay the bills, as opposed to liquidating depleted retirement accounts, who will come out on the other side unscathed.
PETE THE PLANNER: Don’t confuse putting things off with patience
There’s a giant difference between the two, and knowing the difference can save your financial life. Patience is strategic, if not pragmatic, while waiting is a gamble.
PETE THE PLANNER: Think twice about offering to pay for college
Unless you have an ungodly amount of money, you need to define exactly what it means to “pay for their education.” That’s a much bigger and broader promise than most people know.
PETE THE PLANNER: Your portfolio might not be as diversified as you think
The goal of diversification isn’t just to spread your market risk across different companies, but to make sure the companies themselves are significantly different from one another, and even more important, complementary.