D.J.

Comments

• Javier, I was fortunate to attend a session with a financial planner at my first employer when I signed up for the 401(k) there. Years later, Vanguard still offered a free financial plan to account holders who had a certain balance or more. Lots of reading (including HumbleDollar) supplemented those two financial planning tent poles and gave me the fortitude to stay the course when the markets looked bad. As for your second question, I'm no expert but I have a few ideas why financial planning may not reach a lot of folks: There is a cost involved and many employers don't pay for the sort of session I mentioned above. Planners often earn more on larger portfolios so there is little incentive to market to those starting out with small balances. Some people associate financial planners with the wealthy and don't recognize how they might benefit from such advice. Another barrier is probably lack of confidence and trust: You almost have to know a thing or two about finances to ensure you can properly vet the advisor you hire. Lack of urgency might be another factor: Rather than use an advisor proactively and strategically, folks might not seek advice until they have a pressing need.

  Post: The Quiet Failure of Good Advice

  Link to comment from May 31, 2026

• Time in the market is key, isn't it? Especially with a broad market index. If you bail out, when are you going to get back in? You may just miss some of the biggest gains of any rebound that follows. I believe John Bogle once said: "don't peek."

  Post: Farrell Behavior

  Link to comment from May 30, 2026

• That's so true about Jonathan and exclamation points, Rich. I believe he said don't use them unless World War III just broke out.

  Post: Farrell Behavior

  Link to comment from May 30, 2026

• Annuities seem fine as long as we do our homework and make sure we have have the right type for our situation. I trust you know more than a thing or two about them given your background . . .

  Post: Farrell Behavior

  Link to comment from May 30, 2026

• 2022 was a wake-up call about bonds, wasn't it David? I still hold a position in a total bond fund, but sleep better with more short-term bonds and cash in the mix today.

  Post: Farrell Behavior

  Link to comment from May 30, 2026

• I hope your grandchildren listen to your wise recommendations, William. We can’t control all life throws at us, but we can do our best to save and stay invested in the market so compounding can perform its magic.

  Post: A Time to Save

  Link to comment from May 24, 2026

• You are right. It was a gradual shift to the indexes, Ed. I’m no investing wiz, but I am glad I managed to steer clear of high-expense and loaded funds altogether.

  Post: A Time to Save

  Link to comment from May 23, 2026

• Good reads, indeed.

  Post: A Time to Save

  Link to comment from May 23, 2026

• Dan, things just seemed to align in those early years. One reason I was able to contribute 15% so early was the drugstore job. I was still working weekends there while I was at the magazine during the week. Another reason: my parents allowed me to live at home while in grad school at the time. It was an intense, busy, period and I was very fortunate for their generosity with the offer of shelter.

  Post: A Time to Save

  Link to comment from May 21, 2026

• I was just easing into Bogle’s writings at this point, David. I remember first reading his thoughtful investor letters in the funds’ annual reports. (I now wonder if HumbleDollar’s Greg Spears had a hand in those letters.) It was an interview with Bogle, though, that moved me from hesitation on the taxable account. The total market index was still relatively new then, if I recall, and Bogle said something like this: Choose one or the other but invest. You may even do slightly better in total stock.

  Post: A Time to Save

  Link to comment from May 21, 2026