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

December 2005

The Ideal Stock Trader

by Luke Landes

What qualities constitute perfect stock traders? “They don’t sleep. They don’t ask for pay. And they aren’t subject to the equilibrium-killing forces of emotion…” Wired Magazine has a story about the increasing use of personal computers for automatic technical analysis — and in some cases, actual trading activity. Computers can continually run algorithms, always looking ... Continue reading this article…

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The Most Indebted Generation

by Luke Landes

BusinessWeek and MSN have published an interesting article which describes those of us in our 20s and 30s (ie. me) as the most indebted generation. College seems to be the tipping point. Young adults begin to see the world from an individual point of view rather than as a son or daughter. By the time ... Continue reading this article…

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It’s Your Turn To Host The Carnival

by Luke Landes

As of today, the hosting list for the Carnival of Personal Finance is booked solid through May, 2006! If you’ve participated in the Carnival, you’re eligible to host. Sign up early to reserve an early slot, and hosts are encouraged to wear the badge.

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Cashiers Offering Credit Cards at Register

by Luke Landes

In almost every store I visited while shopping over the last week, the cashiers offered me an additional discount if I’d apply for (and be granted) a store credit card. Usually a 10 percent discount for the entire day is part of that offer. According to MSN Money, some companies have been offering more, such as ... Continue reading this article…

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ING Direct Inches Up

by Luke Landes

ING Direct has raised the interest rate offered on its savings account 25 basis points from an annual yield of 3.5 percent to 3.75 percent. Unfortunately, that’s still not enough to overcome Emigrant Direct, Presidental Bank, or a few others.

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Making The Most Of The Holidays

by Luke Landes

The holiday shopping season is in high gear, and Marketwatch has an idea about how this can be used to your advantage. If you think that retail will have a positive season, John Spence recommends buying ETFs (exchange-traded funds) that follow the retail sector. They can be traded like stocks for those who like to ... Continue reading this article…

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Carnival Monday

by Luke Landes

Ready to begin the week? The latest Carnival of Personal Finance is up at Frugal Underground. Check it out, and stand in awe of Sarah’s sorting method. The Carnival of the Capitalists has also been posted. Between the two, there is a lot of great reading to ensure you don’t get any work done today.

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A Look At The Number, Part 4: Advisors

by Luke Landes

This is Part 4 in a series about The Number by Lee Eisenberg. Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here, and Part 3 is here. Chapter 11 of Lee Eisenger’s book, The Number, focuses on the topic of financial advisors. The author’s opinions of the financial advice industry is neatly summarized by the second ... Continue reading this article…

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Bank of America’s Keep The Change

by Luke Landes

Some time ago, Bank of America introduced a new program for its checking account, savings account, and debit card holders called Keep The Change. A friend of mine asked me to write about this program quite some time ago, and I said I would do so. I try to keep my word. The premise is ... Continue reading this article…

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A Look At The Number, Part 3

by Luke Landes

This is Part 3 in a series about The Number by Lee Eisenberg. Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here. The great thing about science is people are now living older and in better health in the past. From a certain point of view, a long lifespan may be a curse rather than ... Continue reading this article…

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Balance Sheet and Income Statement, November 2005

by Luke Landes

It’s that time again. Time to own up to the facts and share my detailed financial position with the world. Continue reading this post to see if this has been a good month or a not-quite-as-good month. First my net worth, then my income and expenses.

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Possible Changes to Retirement Plans

by Luke Landes

The House and Senate are looking at bills whose purpose is to change the attitudes companies have towards funding retirement for their employees. There is a fair amount of negotiating to do, but it’s likely something will be decided before the tax deadline on April 15. Here are some of the provisions from the bills, ... Continue reading this article…

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Completing the Media Feedback Loop

by Luke Landes

An article in the Wall Stree Journal Online mentions the buzz surrounding a book I’ve been sharing, The Number, by Lee Eisenberg. As part of a carefully planned marketing campaign, thousands of advance copies were distributed to select people in the book industry. It didn’t hurt that the author is a media-savvy former editor-in-chief of ... Continue reading this article…

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Gift Giving Among a Circle of Friends, Our Solution

by Luke Landes

Last week, I asked for opinions on what a circle of friends might do for the holidays with respect to gift giving. Some of the suggestions were to try a Secret Santa or white elephant exchange. Thanks to everyone who shared a thought or two! The decision has been made by the organizer of our ... Continue reading this article…

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