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.
Peter Dunn
Articles
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.
PETE THE PLANNER: Get organized now for your eventual demise
I don’t know how many scenes are left and what plot twists are ahead, but I do know how this movie ends.
PETE THE PLANNER: Take a minute now to write down your 10-year financial goal
You and I are going to predict the value of our investment account balances on Dec. 31, 2029, then write these numbers down and leave ourselves a passive aggressive note to agonize over years from now.
PETE THE PLANNER: Open wallet to help others, not just buy things
Investing in your community provides a deep expression of gratitude that is as fulfilling as it is impactful.
PETE THE PLANNER: How to pick up the pieces if you lose your job
Whether you see it coming or not, hearing that your job is no longer your job is shocking.
PETE THE PLANNER: How are you doing financially? Take this test
It’s not about what you earn; it’s about what you keep.
PETE THE PLANNER: Think carefully before deciding to invest without an adviser
When it comes to investing, not only do too many people misconstrue knowledge for skill, but beyond that, people tend to make a series of predictable mistakes brought on by inexperience. Therefore, even if you find yourself in the “I know what I’m doing” camp, you might not have the rest of what it takes to succeed long term.
PETE THE PLANNER: Use bonuses to bolster finances, not to go on a spending spree
Anytime I break down a financial life, I explore three distinct areas. I look for long-term financial stability, midterm financial stability and, you guessed it, short-term financial stability.
PETE THE PLANNER: Protect your nest egg—or risk running out of money
Running out of money in retirement isn’t a small problem. It’s the worst problem.
PETE THE PLANNER: Financial stress is a reality, no matter your income level
Stress doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t know your income, your gender or your job title. And even if it did, it wouldn’t care.
PETE THE PLANNER: Opting for a 30-year mortgage often a mistake
The 30-year mortgage is the default. It shouldn’t be. A 15-year mortgage should be the default. You should choose a 30-year only if you have an incredibly compelling reason not to go with a 15.
PETE THE PLANNER: If you won’t start budgeting, show discipline another way
If you don’t want to budget, then don’t. It won’t ruin your financial life as long as you accept a couple of important boundaries.
Peter Dunn: How little can you defer for a comfortable retirement?
You need to save between 12% and 14% of your gross income throughout your career to secure at least a 90% chance of retirement success, according to Russell Investments Research Report.
PETE THE PLANNER: Recognize cycles of financial opportunities, challenges
The goal is to be honest with yourself so you can be prepared for the challenges and ready to take advantage of the opportunities.
PETE THE PLANNER: These Rules of Peter will help you plan for retirement
If you diligently saved (invested) from age 22 all the way through age 57, the final decade of your work career should be a snap.
PETE THE PLANNER: Don’t forget the 401(k) when evaluating a job offer
Mere minutes after raising my glass in celebration of my dear friend’s new job, I was on the verge of ordering another round to drown my dismay. He had just made a $713,000 mistake, and had no idea. I’m not normally a judgmental friend when it comes to money, despite what you might think, but […]
PETE THE PLANNER: A couple disagrees about budgeting their $200,000 income
Pushing the limits of housing affordability will compromise the rest of your financial life, as it drives up utility, maintenance, taxes and insurance expenses.
PETE THE PLANNER: Get more from your financial adviser
I guarantee, you utilize less than 60 percent of the functionality of your financial adviser, and you suffer for it. The stakes are high. It matters.
PETE THE PLANNER: The more money you make, the more you can delude yourself
There are only two successful retirement strategies. Just two. And the sooner you choose which one you’d like to employ, the better chance you have of securing a desirable outcome.