Andy's Two Cents

Notes and thoughts from our director.

1. When should I start investing for retirement?

The best time to start investing for retirement is as early as possible. Thanks to compound interest, even small contributions made in your 20s can grow significantly over time. The longer your money is invested, the more time it has to grow. But it’s never too late to start!

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2. How do I start investing if I don’t have much money?

Start small! Many platforms let you invest with $100 using fractional shares or ETFs. Choose a Brokerage company to open an account, contribute to your employer’s 401(k) plan, or open a Roth IRA etc. Focus on consistency — contributing even $50/month can build wealth over time. The magic of compounding interest is amazing.

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3. What’s the difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA?

Traditional IRA: Contributions are tax-deductible now; you pay taxes when you withdraw in retirement. Roth IRA: Contributions are made with after-tax dollars; withdrawals in retirement are tax-free if certain conditions are met. Younger investors often benefit more from a Roth, while those seeking a tax break now might prefer a traditional IRA.

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4. How much do I need to retire?

A common rule of thumb is to aim for about 10–12 times your annual income saved by retirement. Alternatively, plan to withdraw 4% per year of your retirement savings to maintain your lifestyle. But your personal target depends on your expenses, lifestyle goals, and healthcare needs.

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5. Is it better to pay off debt or invest for retirement?

Answer: Ideally, do both — but prioritize based on interest rates: If your debt interest (like credit cards) is high (>7%), pay that off first. If your debt is low-interest (like federal student loans), you might be better off investing, especially if you get employer-matching 401(k) contributions or you take a nice tax deduction by […]

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Wall$treet Week

  January 28, 2016 Louis Richard “Lou” Rukeyser was born January 30, 1933 and was best known for starting the popular PBS series Wall$treet Week with Louis Rukeyser in 1970. Rukeyser was the one of four boys with a financial journalist as their father, Merryle Rukeyser (He wrote for the New York Tribune). He graduated […]

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How Safe Are Dividends on Oil Stocks?

January 20, 2016 Back before the crash of 2008, the majority believed that the housing market was untouchable. Bankers that worked for the big guys on Wall Street vehemently defended mortgage-backed securities, yet no one was looking at these mortgages and had they been better regulated, it would’ve been clear that a crisis was coming. […]

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Cutting your Losses can keep you from getting Hurt

October 28, 2015 How does Charles Darwin’s piece of advice translate to the world of investing: It means that you better know when to sell your position in a stock when things change for the worst. It’s easy to fall in love and buy a stock for your portfolio, but it doesn’t matter how much […]

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The World of Amazon

October 20, 2015 When you decide to go the focused-investor route one of the necessary components to your job is to thoroughly research companies and act as though you are buying them entirely, just like a Warren Buffett type. Lately this company has been on my mind, so let’s take a moment to examine one […]

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Be Brave & Look for Green Shoots

October 6, 2015 It has been difficult to not be “negative” during the past 3rd quarter, but after Friday Oct 2nd we can start to feel some positive energy in the markets as we enter the 4th quarter. As of most recently, 40% of stocks on the NYSE are back above their 50 day moving […]

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