As featured in The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, and more!

February 2005

Individual Social Security Accounts

by Luke Landes

I still need to do more research before I decide whether I like the idea of privatizing social security. For future reference, here’s some information on the current proposal.

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A Very Expensive Quarter Dollar

by Luke Landes

Two different errors on the Wisconsin quarter dollar is causing coins containing one of the errors to be valued up to $1,100, with the possibility of prices going up. Coin World reports that only coins struck at the Denver Mint are affected. State quarters have a mint mark on the “head” side of either “P” ... Continue reading this article…

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Another Option for Your 401(k)

by Luke Landes

You’ve heard of the Roth IRA, but you may not have heard of the Roth 401(k). This is a new twist to the employer-sponsored retirement account that will be going into effect on January 1, 2006. Your total 401(k) contribution limits won’t change, but like the Roth IRA, the money you contribute to the Roth ... Continue reading this article…

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Super Bowl Commercials

by Luke Landes

Spike already posted on his blog some thoughts about the commercials during the Super Bowl, focusing on the draw of monkeys. I’ll add to that a little bit about an ad he didn’t mention. In the first quarter, Fox aired an advertisement for GoDaddy.com. The spot was about some kind of committee hearing on censorship ... Continue reading this article…

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401(k) Asset Allocation

by Luke Landes

The chart that follows is my 401(k) asset allocation. I’m striving for an aggressive approach to investing for retirement since I theoretically have many years before I would be able to stop working. The company suggests a slightly different allocation for an aggressive portfolio: 25 percent small/mid cap instead of my 30 percent, 65 percent large cap instead ... Continue reading this article…

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Auto Insurance Weirdness

by Luke Landes

Here’s something odd. After getting my car last March, I had to pay my entire premium in installments, finally due in December. This year, I have to pay me entire premium due in March. According to their paperwork, this means that in the course of one year, I have to pay two years’ worth of ... Continue reading this article…

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Business Blogging Awards and South by Southwest

by Luke Landes

It looks like they have reset all votes over at the 2005 Business Blogging Awards. If you enjoy reading about my financial wees and woes, feel free to vote for Consumerism Commentary for Best Personal Finance Blog. Don’t worry—I have no expectations, but I was nominated by a few people so I figured I might ... Continue reading this article…

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Don’t Buy More Home Than You Can Afford

by Luke Landes

I’m about to leave my office, so I’ll have to add to this entry later. Here’s an article from MSN Money that touches on the topic of biting off more than is chewable; that is, buying a home more expensive than what you can afford. “Traditional” calculators and advice from mortgage lenders will lead people ... Continue reading this article…

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Fed Funds Up

by Luke Landes

The Federal Reserve raised the “target for the federal funds rate” to 2.5 percent up 25 basis points (0.25 percentage points). Their statement shows that their decision is based on the idea that inflation is “realitvely low.” I expect the interest rate on my savings account will follow suit, especially since the competition has leapfrogged in ... Continue reading this article…

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Financial Disasters

by Luke Landes

Gerri Willis at CNN Money gives us five tips for handling financial emergencies. Create a safety net. This requires thinking ahead. Everyone will have at least one kind of financial emergency in their lifetime. The author suggests having three to nine months’ worth of living expenses in an accssible account. Break into the piggy bank. ... Continue reading this article…

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Cash Decreasing

by Luke Landes

January has been a tough month. My available cash has been decreasing and my investments didn’t do too well. Read the rest of the article to see the chart. I came out ahead, but barely, even taking into account the fact I was snowed in one weekend and didn’t go out and I was sick ... Continue reading this article…

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