Good article, Adam. I agree wholeheartedly but would add one thing. We still need for a lot of people to buy individual stocks for purposes of finding the right price of the stock. Funds/ETFs rely on having the stocks they are holding priced correctly if there is to be true valkue there.
Sorry, but this is an unrelated comment and perhaps one of the regulars could respond. I get the Humble email on Saturday morning and I see that the articles have been posted earlier as comments are already a day or two old. Seems like it's too late to join in by Saturday morning and I was wondering if the email notice could be timed to the day the articles first appear? Or, do I just need to login on such days? Thanks
As Richard said the trust fund is no longer buying treasury bonds....only cashing them in. In fact, about $80 billion per year is being cashed in now to pay promised benefits. The bad news is that treasury has to sell $80 billion in new bonds to pay off those being cashed in by the trust fund.
Adam, I'd be interested in knowing the returns AFTER taxes and fees. Is it the typical hedgefund fee structure? Is he passing a lot of capital gains on to his shareholders? This info would be helpful. Thanks
Dick, I've been confused on the healthcare "cuts":. Can you be more specific on what is being cut? I thought the only cut involved having to work 80 hours a month or volunteering 80 hours a month to keep benefits. I further heard a congressman state that $20 billion was earmarked for rural hospitals as an extra. Perhaps slowing the rate of increase is the issue....but we're still spending more. Thanks in advance for your response.
To me, Adam, history suggests it will LIKELY go the other way. And although implied in your article let me state that just about every technoloical breakthrough increases our standard of living...often dramtaically. At least from a jobs point; I'm not a bit worried about the AI impact.
Jonathan, Are you sure paying ordinary income tax rates on annuity withdrawls and the extra .25% annuity charge ( on top of fund expenses) is better than just opening a taxable brokerage account with really low cost index funds and capital gai tax treatment isn't a better choice?
Norm, you could go back to the old standard deduction ( and itemize those losses) but, in the end, I suspect you'd actually pay more tax in that situation. The higher standard deduction is a good deal for the vast majority.
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And a lifetime COLA on the benefit once started.
Post: Is saving really that hard? Nope, not for the great majority of Americans.
Link to comment from May 2, 2026
Good article, Adam. I agree wholeheartedly but would add one thing. We still need for a lot of people to buy individual stocks for purposes of finding the right price of the stock. Funds/ETFs rely on having the stocks they are holding priced correctly if there is to be true valkue there.
Post: Wall Street Trap
Link to comment from May 2, 2026
Sorry, but this is an unrelated comment and perhaps one of the regulars could respond. I get the Humble email on Saturday morning and I see that the articles have been posted earlier as comments are already a day or two old. Seems like it's too late to join in by Saturday morning and I was wondering if the email notice could be timed to the day the articles first appear? Or, do I just need to login on such days? Thanks
Post: Navigating a Turbulent Career
Link to comment from April 18, 2026
I plan to stick with the tips I get from thye shoe shine boy.
Post: The Playground Indicator
Link to comment from January 31, 2026
As Richard said the trust fund is no longer buying treasury bonds....only cashing them in. In fact, about $80 billion per year is being cashed in now to pay promised benefits. The bad news is that treasury has to sell $80 billion in new bonds to pay off those being cashed in by the trust fund.
Post: Plan for a Pay Cut
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
Adam, I'd be interested in knowing the returns AFTER taxes and fees. Is it the typical hedgefund fee structure? Is he passing a lot of capital gains on to his shareholders? This info would be helpful. Thanks
Post: How to Beat the Market
Link to comment from August 23, 2025
Dick, I've been confused on the healthcare "cuts":. Can you be more specific on what is being cut? I thought the only cut involved having to work 80 hours a month or volunteering 80 hours a month to keep benefits. I further heard a congressman state that $20 billion was earmarked for rural hospitals as an extra. Perhaps slowing the rate of increase is the issue....but we're still spending more. Thanks in advance for your response.
Post: One Big Beautiful Act: Tax Breakdown and Planning Strategies
Link to comment from August 16, 2025
To me, Adam, history suggests it will LIKELY go the other way. And although implied in your article let me state that just about every technoloical breakthrough increases our standard of living...often dramtaically. At least from a jobs point; I'm not a bit worried about the AI impact.
Post: The Jevons Paradox
Link to comment from June 28, 2025
Jonathan, Are you sure paying ordinary income tax rates on annuity withdrawls and the extra .25% annuity charge ( on top of fund expenses) is better than just opening a taxable brokerage account with really low cost index funds and capital gai tax treatment isn't a better choice?
Post: When They’re 64
Link to comment from May 17, 2025
Norm, you could go back to the old standard deduction ( and itemize those losses) but, in the end, I suspect you'd actually pay more tax in that situation. The higher standard deduction is a good deal for the vast majority.
Post: Taxing Situations
Link to comment from April 28, 2025