______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tue. Jul. 7, 2009 Dividends4Life classics, commentary

Optimizing Your Asset Allocation

When to buy a stock and at what price are very important decisions. However, serious investors will tell you the most important decision is how you allocate your assets. I have recently stepped back and took another look at my asset allocation with an eye toward how it will change as I approach retirement.

More on this topic (What's this?)

Learn the Simple Secret of All Great Investors: Asset Allocation (Contrarian Profits, 6/1/09)

Asset Allocation and Diversification (Dividend Tree, 4/26/09)

What’s your after-tax asset allocation? (Canadian Business Blog, 1/21/10)

Read more on Asset Allocation at Wikinvest

3 Comments BIV, BLV, CLX, EFA, GPC, JNJ, KO, LQD, MMM, SPY, VB, VEU, VO, VT, VWO

________________________________________________________________________________________

Wed. Jun. 24, 2009 Dividends4Life classics, commentary

3 Simple Steps For A Successful Retirement

Have you ever read something then paused and said well that’s stating the obvious? Then upon further reflection realize what is obvious to you may not be obvious to others. This happened to me recently as I was scanning some retirement headlines.

More on this topic (What's this?)

The Math of Retirement; Not Good (Random Roger's Big Picture, 2/18/10)

The Gone Fishin’ Portfolio: Your Retirement’s Financial “Declaration of Independence” (Investment U, 5/12/09)

What NOT to Do With Your 401K and IRA Retirement Plans (Saving to Invest, 11/13/09)

Bogle Still Believes In Buy And Hold

Vanguard Group founder Jack Bogle has not changed his tune as a result of the economic downturn. At the ripe age of 80, he is still preaching buying-and-holding domestic stocks and bonds, cheaply, in an asset allocation that’s appropriate for your age. Below are some key excerpts from a recent Market Watch article.

More on this topic (What's this?)

TIM BOND: EQUITY INVESTORS ARE DANCING ON THE EDGE OF THE VOLCANO (THE PRAGMATIC CAPITALIST, 2/10/10)

The Impact Of Rising Interest Rates On Stocks And Bonds (Disciplined Approach to Investing, 2/26/10)

Rethinking Bonds: Beyond The Aggregate (Index Universe, 1/27/10)

Read more on Bond Investing, Asset Allocation at Wikinvest

No Comments AGG, BLV, EFA, JNJ, KO, MMM, PG, VEU, VWO ________________________________________________________________________________________

Tue. Jun. 2, 2009 Dividends4Life classics, commentary

All Investing Involves Risk

If your goal is to accumulate wealth for a comfortable retirement, then there is no risk-free path. Throughout time every angle has been tried and failed. However, some approaches carry less risk than others. Let’s consider some of the popular paths.

More on this topic (What's this?)

Risk Tolerance and Smart Investing: When Fear shouldn't be a Factor (Dividend Growth Investor, 6/6/09)

Interesting Dividend and Investing Sites to Consider (Dividend Growth Investor, 1/16/10)

Investing Globally: The Risks & Benefits of Foreign Stock Diversification (Investment U, 4/27/09)

International Income Investing

Any investor that understands the merits of asset allocation also understands the importance of including an international allocation in their portfolio. The concept is that in “normal” times there is always a market somewhere in the world rallying. To meet my set international allocation, I have focused on the following four areas of my overall portfolio:
Read more…