Posts tagged Building Wealth
Purposeful Budgeting | A budget that integrates finances with your desired life

Budgeting shouldn’t be a limiting exercise designed to tell you how to spend your money. At its best budgeting is a tool for organizing your financial resources toward your great life, both now and in the future.

Also Covered:

  • A Better Version of Budgeting

  • Opportunity Cost

  • Changing Costs

  • Changing Priorities

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How is my severance package taxed?

Severance packages are considered compensation by the IRS and are taxed the same as other income from a job, but this means not all of your severance is subject to taxation. Reviewing the terms of the agreement with your CPA or financial advisor can help you know exactly how it is taxed. If you are still negotiating your severance, you have an opportunity to lower your taxes by changing the terms of the package.

ALSO COVERED:

  • The Severance Agreement

  • Estimating Tax Withholdings

  • Avoiding Taxation — healthcare & fringe benefits

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What Do I Do with the Recent Stock Market Crash?

The last couple weeks saw a stock market drop which has many spooked. Here are the 6 things you should do to keep the market downturn from ruining your financial plan.

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Is Peer-to-Peer Lending a Good Idea?

Peer-to-peer lending (P2P lending) is a relatively new investment class and tends to carry with it high risk. As a result, I would not recommend P2P lending as a significant part of a person’s portfolio - definitely not more than 5% to 10% of their invested assets. This means you should build up a significant portfolio of more traditional investments before considering investing here.

Full Article Also Covers:

  • Adding P2P Lending Isn’t Necessary to Diversify From Mutual Funds

  • P2P Lending Actually Increases Risk to a Portfolio

  • P2P Lending Scandals

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Would Getting a Paper Divorce Help Financially?

Yes, getting a paper divorce can help you financially but it can also be a financial negative depending on your personal situation. As with most things with Personal Finance, the answer is it will depend on a large number of factors related to your family's finances. Below are a few of the consideration that immediately spring to mind, which you will want to explore.

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How does one weigh the trade offs between bootstrapping a small business and seeking Venture Capital?

While the concerns over the slower bootstrap method are legitimate and should be considered, I still believe bootstrapping for as long as possible is the way to go for the vast majority of enterprises because of the significant potential downsides of VC and Angel funding. Ultimately the question you want to ask is if it is possible to build your business through bootstrapping considering the concerns you identified. If it is, then I recommend going with bootstrapping as long as you can. Here are potential challenges with getting funding:

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Can I ask the IRS to allow me to return an IRA distribution after the 60 day rollover period?

Yes, there is potential for relief from the IRS, but ignorance of the rules and weakness in English are most likely going to get denied. At this point you will want to contact a financial advisor and a CPA to help you with this. The CPA will help you in dealing with the IRS and a good financial advisor . . . .

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Why do stock prices rise over time?

Your analysis is actually correct, in that cash flow and growth rates are constantly changing, and generally they are changing for the better. As a result, future cash flow increases at a faster rate than previously expected and the stock price is adjusted up due to these increasing cash flows. Because no one can predict the future, as new facts become apparent they changes the expectations of future cash flows. This, of course, assumes . . . .

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Is it too early to start a portfolio for my one-year-old child?

It is definitely not too early and I commend you for taking advantage of the incredible returns you can get by starting an account at one year old. I am assuming your child will not need the money for at least 18 years so a stock-heavy portfolio would be appropriate. I would even be comfortable with a 100% stock portfolio assuming . . . .

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