The Investment Scientist

As a recap of interesting developments in 2015-Q3 we offer the downloadable link below.

• Equities – US, International, Emerging and REIT Markets were down
• Fixed Income – US and Global Markets were up
• The ‘Best’ Stock Market was Ireland at -1.12%
• The ‘Worst’ Stock Market was Brazil at -33.06%
• Commodities were universally weak with Crude Oil turning in the worst performance at -27.39%

[by Russ Thornton] When sharing the initial results of my survey last week, there was a high level of interest in the topic of Social Security.

And here we are, just a week later, with a couple of significant Social Security changes included in Section 831 of the recent budget approved by the House and expected to be approved by the Senate. 

These are changes that could cost some of you tens of thousands of dollars in lifetime Social Security benefits.

First, a little history . . .

Back in 2000, a law was passed that included a provision allowing you to apply for Social Security benefits and then voluntarily suspend those same benefits. While adding to the already complex choices involved with Social Security benefit elections, this law unintentionally allowed some couples to “double dip” from their Social Security benefits. Read the rest of this entry »

For those who are hard core about learning personal finance, I have this to share with you – Jim Ludwick’s Tweets for the Month. Jim is a hourly fee-only financial planner I respect a lot. His tweets cover a wide range of issues

• Is Wall Street Eating Your 401k Nest Egg?: PBS story: https://t.co/bpRIQVm8Um@asergunina #GarrettMember @SemperFrugalis8:34AM
• Is this a better way to manage your cash? Give a look to this new strategy:https://t.co/kh0t33E0RG @sergunina #GarrettMember4:11AM
• RT @SquaredAwayBC: Gulp. Average costs for dementia care $287,038- far exceeding cancer, study finds https://t.co/B0hmvCbN733:59AM
• Why you should file the college aid FAFSA no matter how rich you are:https://t.co/DVECFK2ceh @asergunina #GarrettMember3:58AM

• 7 scams that might affect you: https://t.co/biOGBqLSzK3:51AM
• RT @ASergunina: RT @Forbes: If your employer offers a Roth 401(k), consider it, especially if you’re on the younger side: https://t.co/pxTt…3:48AM
• Advantages of working with a remote financial advisor. My latest blog:http://t.co/v6GHi7od4i #GarrettMember @ASergunina @SemperFrugalis6:51AM
• @united typical: canx; 14 hrs later delayed; arrive early sit on tarmac; now late; connect Read the rest of this entry »