Life Insurance: Determining Your Need (2008-03-17)

by David John Marotta and Bob Arms

You may have heard that "Life insurance is a gift of love." But if you bought a $100,000 whole-life policy because you wanted to build some cash value when you should have bought a million dollars of low-cost term insurance to meet the survival needs of your family, your well-intentioned effort was not an act of love.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=275

Remember to Fund Your Roth IRA (2008-03-10)

by David John Marotta

If you are eligible, make sure you fund your Roth IRA or your Roth 401(k) this year with the maximum contribution possible. It may be your last chance to pay a reasonable tax rate before the prevailing winds of class envy swamp your retirement sailboat.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=274

Loss Aversion (2008-03-03)

by David John Marotta

Psychologists suggest we feel a loss about 2.5 times as much as an equivalent gain. Even with a brilliant investment plan, it takes diligence to overcome our emotional biases and avoid making investing mistakes.


Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=273

Eliminate the Capital Gains Tax (2008-02-25)

by David John Marotta

I've decided to run a mock campaign for president again as a forum to talk about public policy. Every four years I look for a candidate who understands economics, only to find politicians instead. If elected, I promise to do less harm.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=272

Learning to Live on Your Own, Part 2 (2008-02-18)

by David John Marotta

Here we offer some sound advice on how to put the money you've saved to work for you.


Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=271

Learning to Live on Your Own, Part 1 (2008-02-11)

by David John Marotta

If you're like most of today's college graduates, you may find yourself ill prepared for the real world of financial responsibility. You never saw how your parents lived when they were first married and struggling. Consequently, you may be basing your after-school expectations on an upper-middle-class lifestyle. Here is my financial advice for those of you learning to live on your own.


Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=270

For Now, Avoid Real Estate Investment Trusts (2008-02-04)

by David John Marotta

I received my county real estate tax bill recently, and for the first time in several years, my property tax assessment went down by about 2.8%. The drop is very small, but the trend is significant. Commercial real estate investments fell sharply during 2007 and may underperform other investment choices during 2008.


Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=269

Market Volatility Is Back (2008-01-28)

by David John Marotta

Normal market volatility has returned, and with it investors are tempted once again to jump in and out of the markets.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=268

by David John Marotta

Those countries with the greatest economic freedom and the highest level of gender equality also tend to exhibit superior performance in the stock market.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=267

2007 in Review (2008-01-14)

by David John Marotta

A valuable exercise this time of year is to review your investment returns to analyze what occurred in the broader asset classes. First, check to see if your specific investments are capturing a majority of the potential market return of their asset class. Second, evaluate whether your asset allocation is optimized to balance risk and return.


Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=266

How safe is your money market? (2008-01-07)

by David John Marotta

Money market funds are a type of mutual fund that usually sells and redeems their shares for $1. The value to the consumer is the interest earnings plus the stability of getting their principal back.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=264

Financial Help for the New Year (2007-12-31)

by David John Marotta

We all want to be slim, eat healthy and get our financial house in order, but few of us are disciplined enough to accomplish all that without help. After the indulgences of the holidays, both gustatory and financial, inevitably you'll probably resolve once again to make some changes in all these areas. You owe it to yourself and your family to make certain you keep your financial New Year's resolutions this year.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=263

Scrooge's Former Boss Fezziwig Is a Nester (2007-12-24)

by David John Marotta

My favorite character from Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" is Fezziwig. Fezziwig is what Bert Whitehead would describe as a "nester".


Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=262

Scrooge's Nephew Fred Is a Traveler (2007-12-17)

by David John Marotta

Every December I reread "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Ebenezer Scrooge's nephew Fred is the character young people most easily relate to. He is young himself, carefree, in love and enjoying life with his friends. He has a "traveler" personality.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=261

How Shrewd Investors Save on Taxes (2007-12-10)

by David John Marotta

When you're building wealth, saving a penny on your taxes is just as important as earning a penny in the markets. You can use both investment losses and investment gains to good tax advantage.

Read the complete column at http://www.emarotta.com/article.php?ID=260