FREE NEWSLETTER

Jonathan Clements

Jonathan founded HumbleDollar at year-end 2016. Earlier in his career, he spent almost 20 years at The Wall Street Journal, where he was the newspaper's personal finance columnist, and six years at Citigroup, where he was director of financial education for the bank's U.S. wealth management arm. Born in England and educated at Cambridge University, Jonathan now lives with his wife Elaine in Philadelphia, just a few blocks from his daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons. In addition to his Forum posts and comments, shown below, be sure to check out Jonathan's writer's page, where his articles are listed.

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Forum Posts

Why Don’t Folks Save? By Jonathan Clements

40 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 2/14/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 2/14   |   RECENT: Adam Starry on 2/17

Some Good News

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 2/3/2025
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 2/3   |   RECENT: Scott Dichter on 2/5

What Drives You? By Jonathan Clements

33 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 1/24/2025
FIRST: Michael1 on 1/24   |   RECENT: Dan Smith on 1/31

Limits of Power by Jonathan Clements

71 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 1/17/2025
FIRST: Michael1 on 1/17   |   RECENT: Dan Smith on 1/30

All About Me

18 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 7/22/2024
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 7/22/2024   |   RECENT: Edmund Marsh on 1/13

Not Doing It by Jonathan Clements

18 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 1/1/2025
FIRST: ostrichtacossaturn7593 on 1/1   |   RECENT: William Dorner on 1/6

Our Report Card by Jonathan Clements

15 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 1/2/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 1/2   |   RECENT: baldscreen on 1/3

No Barriers to Entry by Jonathan Clements

28 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 12/27/2024
FIRST: R Quinn on 12/27/2024   |   RECENT: baldscreen on 1/3

Too Big to Succeed by Jonathan Clements

30 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 12/13/2024
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 12/13/2024   |   RECENT: John Podsedly on 12/22/2024

Staying Alive by Jonathan Clements

26 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 12/20/2024
FIRST: William Perry on 12/20/2024   |   RECENT: Mark Eckman on 12/21/2024

How Quickly We Forget by Jonathan Clements

14 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 12/6/2024
FIRST: baldscreen on 12/6/2024   |   RECENT: smr1082 on 12/9/2024

Didn't Say That by Jonathan Clements

23 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/20/2024
FIRST: Don Southworth on 9/20/2024   |   RECENT: Richard Gore on 12/8/2024

The Stories We Tell by Jonathan Clements

7 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 11/29/2024
FIRST: Robert Wright on 11/29/2024   |   RECENT: DAN SMITH on 11/30/2024

Taking Stock by Jonathan Clements

33 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 11/22/2024
FIRST: Richard Gore on 11/22/2024   |   RECENT: William Dorner on 11/24/2024

Time's Up

39 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 11/15/2024
FIRST: Tom Tamlyn on 11/15/2024   |   RECENT: R Quinn on 11/17/2024

Don’t Dis Dividends by Jonathan Clements

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 11/8/2024
FIRST: luvtoride44afe9eb1e on 11/8/2024   |   RECENT: Michael l Berard on 11/11/2024

Those Who Follow by Jonathan Clements

45 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 11/1/2024
FIRST: philip durand on 11/1/2024   |   RECENT: Charlie Flagg on 11/4/2024

Eyeing the End by Jonathan Clements

32 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 10/25/2024
FIRST: zestfulc3bd36fc1c on 10/25/2024   |   RECENT: smr1082 on 10/27/2024

Just the Facts by Jonathan Clements

61 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 10/18/2024
FIRST: Mike Xavier on 10/18/2024   |   RECENT: GaryW on 10/22/2024

Dollar Averaging by Jonathan Clements

15 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 10/11/2024
FIRST: Dan Wick on 10/11/2024   |   RECENT: G Handrigan on 10/13/2024

First Place by Jonathan Clements

63 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/6/2024
FIRST: eludom on 9/6/2024   |   RECENT: Edgaria Rosabella on 10/5/2024

They Said the Darndest Things by Jonathan Clements

12 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 10/4/2024
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 10/4/2024   |   RECENT: David Lancaster on 10/4/2024

Anybody Listening? by Jonathan Clements

26 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/27/2024
FIRST: baldscreen on 9/27/2024   |   RECENT: Michael l Berard on 9/28/2024

Getting Rolled by Jonathan Clements

31 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/18/2024
FIRST: Don Southworth on 9/18/2024   |   RECENT: John Kaczka on 9/23/2024

Traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage?

40 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 11/3/2021
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 11/3/2021   |   RECENT: Mark Eckman on 9/21/2024

Booking It by Jonathan Clements

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/13/2024
FIRST: David Lancaster on 9/13/2024   |   RECENT: DrLefty on 9/15/2024

Consuelo Mack WealthTrack

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/6/2024
FIRST: Ken Cutler on 9/6/2024   |   RECENT: jimbow13 on 9/13/2024

Rules of the Road by Jonathan Clements

25 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/30/2024
FIRST: David Lancaster on 8/30/2024   |   RECENT: Michael1 on 8/31/2024

Committing Ourselves by Jonathan Clements

13 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/23/2024
FIRST: Michael1 on 8/23/2024   |   RECENT: GNeil Nussen623 on 8/25/2024

Nothing to Trust by Jonathan Clements

29 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/16/2024
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 8/16/2024   |   RECENT: Michael1 on 8/17/2024

Lines in the Sand by Jonathan Clements

47 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/9/2024
FIRST: bbbobbins on 8/9/2024   |   RECENT: kt2062 on 8/11/2024

Staying the Course by Jonathan Clements

51 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/5/2024
FIRST: Rick Connor on 8/5/2024   |   RECENT: luvtoride44afe9eb1e on 8/11/2024

Feeling Lucky by Jonathan Clements

35 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 7/26/2024
FIRST: Neil Imus on 7/26/2024   |   RECENT: cesplint on 8/3/2024

When should you claim Social Security retirement benefits?

34 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: David Powell on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: cesplint on 8/3/2024

If money were no object, what life changes would you make?

31 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: kristinehayes2014 on 4/6/2021   |   RECENT: Edmund Marsh on 7/29/2024

Should you prepay a mortgage?

31 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/28/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/28/2021   |   RECENT: JGarrett on 7/28/2024

What financial lessons did you learn from your parents?

30 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Jim Wasserman on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: H S on 7/24/2024

What are the smartest financial moves you’ve ever made?

40 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Marc Bisbal Arias on 4/8/2021   |   RECENT: Rick Connor on 7/23/2024

What’s your biggest financial regret?

16 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Anika Hedstrom on 4/19/2021   |   RECENT: H S on 7/23/2024

What steps have you taken to simplify your finances?

29 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/5/2024
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 6/5/2024   |   RECENT: R Quinn on 7/22/2024

What’s your favorite financial quote?

91 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Ben Rodriguez on 4/15/2021   |   RECENT: dorisn18 on 7/20/2024

Humble Bragging

36 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 7/12/2024
FIRST: Rick Connor on 7/12/2024   |   RECENT: Sharon Edwards on 7/18/2024

Scroll Down

11 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 7/12/2024
FIRST: Winston Smith on 7/12/2024   |   RECENT: Jonathan Clements on 7/14/2024

They're Sunk by Jonathan Clements

26 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 7/8/2024
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 7/8/2024   |   RECENT: R Quinn on 7/11/2024

Four Mantras

10 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 7/1/2024
FIRST: 1PF on 7/1/2024   |   RECENT: steve abramowitz on 7/10/2024

My Shame

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 7/3/2024
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/3/2024   |   RECENT: Matt Sherman on 7/10/2024

Selling the Sizzle by Jonathan Clements

9 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 7/4/2024
FIRST: William Perry on 7/4/2024   |   RECENT: Ken Cutler on 7/8/2024

What percentage of your salary do you need for a comfortable retirement?

51 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/5/2024
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 6/5/2024   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 7/7/2024

Is buying long-term-care insurance a good idea?

20 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: James McGlynn CFA RICP® on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: Richard Hayman on 7/6/2024

What do you need to feel financially secure?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 6/13/2021   |   RECENT: H S on 7/3/2024

When is it okay to go into debt?

8 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 4/9/2021   |   RECENT: R Quinn on 6/29/2024

What’s the best financial book you’ve ever read?

72 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/24/2021
FIRST: Roboticus Aquarius on 3/24/2021   |   RECENT: Jack Hannam on 6/29/2024

Which financial tasks do you find most irksome?

22 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: David Powell on 6/29/2024

What do you wish your younger self knew?

23 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: Sonja Haggert on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 6/28/2024

What popular financial advice do you ignore?

40 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 5/14/2021
FIRST: R Quinn on 5/14/2021   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 6/27/2024

What should be the top priorities for those in their 20s?

16 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: R Quinn on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: jay5914 on 6/27/2024

What are your favorite charities?

36 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Jim Wasserman on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 6/27/2024

If you could buy just three funds or less, what would they be?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: jay5914 on 6/27/2024

What do you consider your greatest financial achievement?

48 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/29/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/29/2021   |   RECENT: baldscreen on 6/25/2024

Is a good financial advisor worth 1% of assets per year?

31 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: johntlim on 6/6/2021   |   RECENT: DAN SMITH on 6/25/2024

What dangerous financial myths do you regularly hear?

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 10/13/2022
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 10/13/2022   |   RECENT: H S on 6/24/2024

What’s the best strategy for generating retirement income?

25 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 6/12/2021   |   RECENT: Kevin Lynch on 6/24/2024

What’s your favorite actively managed fund—if any?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/10/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 9/10/2021   |   RECENT: Jonathan Clements on 6/24/2024

What everyday purchase do you consider a bargain?

41 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/26/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/26/2021   |   RECENT: Purple Rain on 6/24/2024

Is it better to give away money now or upon death?

22 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/30/2023
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 3/30/2023   |   RECENT: JSRMD on 6/24/2024

How would you summarize your financial philosophy?

32 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/30/2023
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 3/30/2023   |   RECENT: Jonathan Clements on 6/23/2024

Which financial companies would you recommend?

33 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: James McGlynn CFA RICP® on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: achnk53 on 6/23/2024

Why do many folks fail to save enough for retirement?

23 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/5/2024
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 6/5/2024   |   RECENT: Lizbeth on 6/22/2024

What’s your most prized possession?

25 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 6/6/2021   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 6/22/2024

Who most influenced your financial thinking?

20 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 10/13/2022
FIRST: David Sayler on 10/13/2022   |   RECENT: Bobby Joseph on 6/22/2024

Is it okay not to leave a tip at a full-service restaurant?

26 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: JAY SCATTERGOOD on 6/22/2024

Do you favor Roth or traditional retirement accounts?

24 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 11/3/2021
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 11/3/2021   |   RECENT: Matt McGuinness on 6/22/2024

What everyday purchase do you consider most overpriced?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 5/1/2021   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 6/22/2024

What should investors do about possible higher interest rates?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 4/6/2021   |   RECENT: James McGlynn CFA RICP® on 6/22/2024

When have you regretted paying the lowest cost possible?

12 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: David Powell on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 6/22/2024

If you couldn’t buy index funds, how would you invest?

20 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 5/14/2021
FIRST: R Quinn on 5/14/2021   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 6/22/2024

What’s the best way to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance?

7 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: Gary Cahn on 6/22/2024

What do you do that’s financially foolish?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 4/19/2021   |   RECENT: Ben Rodriguez on 6/22/2024

Are annuities ever worth buying—and, if so, which type?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: James McGlynn CFA RICP® on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: JAY SCATTERGOOD on 6/22/2024

What do you consider your greatest financial mistakes?

22 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: JAY SCATTERGOOD on 6/22/2024

Is there a downside to the current popularity of indexing?

23 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Gary Cahn on 6/22/2024

When have you taken frugality too far?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/5/2024
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 6/5/2024   |   RECENT: Michael Werner on 6/22/2024

What’s the most important financial concept?

36 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 5/14/2021
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 5/14/2021   |   RECENT: Matt Morse on 6/22/2024

Getting to the Point

7 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/20/2024
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 6/20/2024   |   RECENT: Aaron Hayes on 6/22/2024

When were you happiest—and what role did money play?

30 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: R Quinn on 6/22/2024

Is bitcoin an investment or a speculation?

24 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Ben Rodriguez on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: John Yeigh on 6/19/2024

Which financial figure would you most like to spend an hour with?

14 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Ben Rodriguez on 4/15/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

What financial topic do you find most confusing?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Ben Rodriguez on 4/15/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

What are your top financial worries?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: William Ehart on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

Should our values guide our investment choices?

10 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 10/13/2022
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 10/13/2022   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

Is it possible to have too much money?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 6/6/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

If you inherited $5 million, how would you use the money?

28 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/26/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/26/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

If you lived your financial life again, what would you change?

20 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: Sonja Haggert on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

How would you define "enough"?

27 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 6/12/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

How has your financial thinking changed over the past year?

27 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: David Powell on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

Does money buy happiness?

25 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Jim Wasserman on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: Ken Begley on 6/6/2024

Will tax rates increase—and, if so, how should we prepare?

10 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: johntlim on 6/6/2021   |   RECENT: Ross Young on 6/1/2024

What’s the best strategy for rebalancing a portfolio?

10 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 11/3/2021
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 11/3/2021   |   RECENT: L H on 5/25/2024

How much of a stock portfolio should be invested abroad?

43 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: William Dorner on 5/18/2024

Which investments will perform worst over the next 10 years?

6 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: johntlim on 6/6/2021   |   RECENT: William Dorner on 5/18/2024

Should U.S. investors own foreign bonds?

12 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Kyle Mcintosh on 5/6/2024

How did you get started as an investor?

28 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Andrew F. on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: William Dorner on 5/5/2024

Which life decisions shouldn’t involve financial considerations?

11 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Doug Kaufman on 4/27/2024

What do other people spend too much money on?

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: Jim Wasserman on 6/6/2021   |   RECENT: Ginger Williams on 4/21/2024

Are top private colleges worth the cost?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Jim Wasserman on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: Chuck BV on 4/20/2024

What do you need for a fulfilling retirement?

13 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 6/6/2021   |   RECENT: jerry pinkard on 4/20/2024

What’s the best place to earn a safe yield?

15 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/11/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 6/12/2021   |   RECENT: Jeff on 4/19/2024

What’s the worst financial advice you’ve ever acted on?

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: Joe Kesler on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: tshort on 4/13/2024

Are children a good investment?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Ben Rodriguez on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Patrick Brennan on 3/30/2024

When does it make sense to buy a home?

8 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 5/14/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 5/16/2021   |   RECENT: Jeff Amick on 3/23/2024

Should investors own alternative investments?

10 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: David Powell on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: billehart on 3/23/2024

What's the best place to stash money you'll spend soon?

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/23/2021
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 3/23/2021   |   RECENT: Mike Zaccardi on 3/3/2024

What's the best strategy for charitable giving?

14 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/30/2023
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 3/30/2023   |   RECENT: Bill Woolf on 3/2/2024

Should children be paid for doing chores?

8 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/25/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/25/2021   |   RECENT: Rob Thompson on 3/2/2024

How long before retirement should you dial down risk?

14 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 2/7/2022
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 2/8/2022   |   RECENT: Adam Starry on 2/25/2024

What money advice do you recall hearing from your parents?

18 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/30/2023
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 3/30/2023   |   RECENT: Tim Mueller on 2/24/2024

Should investors tilt toward growth or value?

13 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/30/2023
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 3/30/2023   |   RECENT: Tim Mueller on 2/24/2024

Does it ever make sense to buy actively managed funds?

20 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Adam Grossman on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Michael Hennessy on 2/20/2024

Should retirees use a 4% portfolio withdrawal rate?

18 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: David Powell on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Dennis Hurley on 2/17/2024

What's your favorite tax-savings strategy?

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/30/2023
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 3/30/2023   |   RECENT: Boomerst3 on 2/17/2024

What are your favorite financial apps and websites?

23 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: kristinehayes2014 on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: Dennis Hurley on 2/17/2024

What’s the wisest financial advice you’ve ever been given?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Andrew F. on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: Laurie Phillips on 2/4/2024

Should you buy bond funds or individual bonds?

14 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 4/6/2021   |   RECENT: tshort on 2/3/2024

When is it worth remodeling a home?

11 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 5/14/2021
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 5/14/2021   |   RECENT: FarOutWest on 1/27/2024

What should you look for when buying a home?

18 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 6/12/2021   |   RECENT: corrupt on 1/18/2024

What spending brings you greatest happiness?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/30/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/30/2021   |   RECENT: Klaatu on 1/13/2024

What’s the best way to teach children about money?

9 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/10/2021
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 9/11/2021   |   RECENT: tobinw on 1/6/2024

Which financial tasks do you keep putting off?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Jim Wasserman on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: L H on 1/6/2024

How do you save money on travel costs?

15 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 9/10/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 9/10/2021   |   RECENT: rightgal on 12/30/2023

When does it make sense to buy the extended warranty, if ever?

33 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: Joe Kesler on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: Michael Hennessy on 12/30/2023

How much emergency money should you hold?

26 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/1/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 4/1/2021   |   RECENT: candygirl7 on 12/27/2023

What investment will perform best over the next 10 years?

20 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 5/3/2021   |   RECENT: Martin McCue on 12/23/2023

What costs are you most loath to pay?

35 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: booch221 on 12/16/2023

Does it ever make sense to carry a credit card balance?

11 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: kristinehayes2014 on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: booch221 on 12/16/2023

What’s the best way to collect and use credit card rewards?

15 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: kristinehayes2014 on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: Jeff on 12/13/2023

Is a home a good investment?

16 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: Michael Stewart on 12/10/2023

Should you take pension payments or a lump sum?

18 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/25/2021
FIRST: R Quinn on 4/29/2021   |   RECENT: Klaatu on 12/2/2023

Is “die broke” a smart retirement strategy?

13 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Sonja Haggert on 4/15/2021   |   RECENT: bhagwan g on 12/2/2023

What criteria should you use to pick a retirement location?

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 2/7/2022
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 2/8/2022   |   RECENT: Christopher James on 11/26/2023

What do you need to be financially independent?

9 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 2/7/2022
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 2/8/2022   |   RECENT: Cammer Michael on 11/25/2023

What’s the best strategy for getting a good deal on a car?

13 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 5/14/2021
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 5/14/2021   |   RECENT: Edmund Marsh on 11/23/2023

When is it okay to drop life insurance coverage?

11 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 2/7/2022
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 2/8/2022   |   RECENT: GaryW on 11/18/2023

Where do you see signs of inflation?

14 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/18/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 5/7/2021   |   RECENT: Mark Hirsch on 11/18/2023

What aspect of Wall Street do you find most distasteful?

8 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/28/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/28/2021   |   RECENT: Jennifer P on 11/12/2023

Do parents have an obligation to pay college costs?

14 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/23/2021
FIRST: R Quinn on 6/23/2021   |   RECENT: Crystal Flores on 11/11/2023

Is buying a used car always the smarter financial choice?

18 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 2/7/2022
FIRST: Mike Zaccardi on 2/8/2022   |   RECENT: Susanne Krivit on 11/11/2023

Should affluent parents insist their children pay college costs?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Jim Wasserman on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: Rob Thompson on 10/21/2023

Should folks create and follow a written budget?

19 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/31/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 3/31/2021   |   RECENT: Kathy C on 10/7/2023

When is renting a home a good idea?

7 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 10/13/2022
FIRST: Kristine Hayes on 10/13/2022   |   RECENT: Kathy C on 9/30/2023

What’s the best strategy for selling a house?

9 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 6/13/2021   |   RECENT: Crystal Flores on 9/17/2023

Which aspect of the tax code do you hate the most?

29 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Andrew F. on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: Michael Hennessy on 9/16/2023

Do we talk too little about our personal finances—or too much?

15 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: Sonja Haggert on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: jerry pinkard on 9/16/2023

What are the hallmarks of a good financial advisor?

8 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: William Ehart on 6/8/2021   |   RECENT: Kathy C on 9/2/2023

Would you risk your finances to help your retired parents?

8 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: Edmund Marsh on 8/27/2023

How often do you check your portfolio and the markets?

18 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: R Quinn on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: Chuck BV on 8/26/2023

What stock would you happily hold for the next 10 years?

30 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: Sonja Haggert on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: Lehman Brown on 8/26/2023

Is it okay to retire with debt?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: tshort on 8/19/2023

What do you spend too much money on?

12 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 6/6/2021
FIRST: Sanjib Saha on 6/6/2021   |   RECENT: Susanne Krivit on 8/12/2023

Can the market be beaten?

21 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Joe Kesler on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: alex scott on 8/5/2023

When does it make sense to hire a financial advisor?

13 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: James McGlynn CFA RICP® on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Marisol Aldahondo on 8/2/2023

How much financial help should parents give their children?

24 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: Kristine Hayes on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: Tom Dee on 7/29/2023

What’s your No. 1 goal for retirement?

26 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: William Ehart on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: Patrick Brennan on 7/29/2023

When should parents stop supporting their adult children?

11 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Joe Kesler on 4/14/2021   |   RECENT: Patrick Brennan on 7/1/2023

What would you happily buy even if it were twice the price?

13 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 5/14/2021
FIRST: kristinehayes2014 on 5/14/2021   |   RECENT: Captain FI on 6/20/2023

Is it wise for everyday investors to buy individual stocks?

17 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: William Ehart on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: Captain FI on 6/20/2023

Is rental real estate a good investment?

13 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 5/14/2021
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 5/14/2021   |   RECENT: Captain FI on 6/20/2023

How much allowance should children receive?

7 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Catherine on 5/20/2021   |   RECENT: Bruce Keller on 4/30/2023

Should political views influence how we invest?

5 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: Bruce Keller on 4/30/2023

When does leasing a car make financial sense?

12 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/12/2021
FIRST: Rick Connor on 4/22/2021   |   RECENT: Bruce Keller on 4/30/2023

What purchase do you most regret?

20 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 3/20/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 3/20/2021   |   RECENT: mjflack on 4/23/2023

Is term life insurance always better than cash value?

7 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: Joe Kesler on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Mark Eckman on 4/1/2023

What obligations do we have to our heirs?

10 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 8/17/2021
FIRST: R Quinn on 8/17/2021   |   RECENT: alex scott on 11/6/2022

What financial advice would you give to those in their early 20s?

16 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/2/2021
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 4/2/2021   |   RECENT: Philip Stein on 7/9/2022

Which financial markets are in a bubble, if any?

6 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: David Powell on 4/5/2021   |   RECENT: Kurt S on 7/17/2021

If you want long-run growth, is there an alternative to stocks?

5 replies

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/4/2021
FIRST: John Goodell on 4/4/2021   |   RECENT: Mike Zaccardi on 4/20/2021

Comments

  • Forget sticks, like raising the age to claim Social Security. Instead, think of the tax carrots that could be used to encourage folks to stay in the workforce for longer and to encourage employers to retain older workers. Whatever the tax cost incurred with these policies would be more than offset by the additional tax revenue collected.

    Post: Social Security vs. Private Investment Accounts – RCC runs some numbers.

    Link to comment from February 3, 2025

  • Very cool! Here's the link for those who want to check out the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkcYY1sGJIQ

    Post: A Balanced Retirement by Marjorie Kondrack

    Link to comment from February 3, 2025

  • Agreed. Rather than reciting which taxes you'd raise or which benefits you'd cut to shore up Social Security, what I'd love to hear are the policies that readers would favor to encourage labor force participation. That's the solution to Social Security funding and so much else. More folks working means more taxes collected. But more fundamentally, you have more people producing the goods and services that society needs and wants.

    Post: Social Security vs. Private Investment Accounts – RCC runs some numbers.

    Link to comment from February 3, 2025

  • I hate to sound like a broken record, but we can't fix a demographic problem with an investment solution. Sure, we can all imagine scenarios where our privatized Social Security accounts earn great returns. But why use our imagination? Let's just promise all retirees $1 million at age 62. The question is, what happens when folks go to spend those dollars? Where will the goods and services demanded by society come from? What we need is a strategy to encourage folks to stay in the workforce for longer. Absent that, we're just rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

    Post: Social Security vs. Private Investment Accounts – RCC runs some numbers.

    Link to comment from February 3, 2025

  • Thanks for your first post to the Forum--and it's great to have you as part of the HumbleDollar community. I'm sure many readers can relate to your initial missteps, and to how it took some time to find the right path forward.

    Post: Kindly Compounding

    Link to comment from February 2, 2025

  • I know you're focused on practical skills, but let me put in a plug for managing money: That's a skill -- minimizing fund expenses, limiting advisory fees, holding down interest costs, avoiding overdraft fees and so on -- that's potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.

    Post: Necessary Skills

    Link to comment from February 2, 2025

  • Something to ponder: Suppose all workers redirected their Social Security contributions to the stock market. All earned fabulous returns, leaving them with handsome seven- or even eight-figure investment balances. What happens when they go to spend those dollars? Stocks, bonds, bitcoin, dollar bills and such are all just instruments of exchange. We use them to buy goods and services from others. But what if everybody had far greater wealth to spend, but the goods and services on offer remain the same? We'd get massive inflation. Allowing folks to invest their Social Security contributions in the stock market does nothing to solve our economic problems -- and, indeed, could make them worse -- unless it's accompanied by policies that encourage folks to stay in the workforce for longer and hence produce the goods and services that society is demanding.

    Post: They’re Right, I’m Wrong, Sort Of

    Link to comment from February 2, 2025

  • I split my bond-market money evenly between a short-term TIPS fund and a short-term conventional government bond fund.

    Post: Bond Index Funds or Something Else?

    Link to comment from February 2, 2025

  • I consider your comment unnecessarily snarky. For his wonderful retirement, Dennis can thank his own frugality over many decades. When his mother died -- whom he spent most of his initial retirement years looking after, following a period looking after his father -- he'd been retired for a decade, living in the mortgage-free condo he'd bought on his own dime and living on the savings he'd amassed during his career. You'd be hard-pressed to find somebody more admirable, which is why Dennis is beloved by the HD community.

    Post: Better Than Ever

    Link to comment from February 1, 2025

  • I think this is a huge issue. I've had a slew of contractors in the house over the past two years, many of them in their late 40s and early 50s. I enjoy chatting with these folks -- it's the journalist in me, always curious about the lives of others. Many of these guys struggle with physical deterioration, and it's hard to imagine them working far into their 60s.

    Post: Should Social Security benefits be income tax free?

    Link to comment from February 1, 2025

QCDs and Me

Chris Cagle  |  Mar 5, 2024

SOME 90% OF TAXPAYERS claim the standard deduction on their tax return. Thanks to 2017’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, today’s standard deduction is larger than the itemized deductions of most taxpayers, including those who previously itemized.
But my wife and I are among the 10% of taxpayers who have continued to itemize, including each of the five years since I retired in 2018. Despite the much higher standard deduction for married couples over age 65,

Read More

For the Fun of It

Robert Dailey  |  Feb 21, 2024

THIS IS MY FIRST contribution to HumbleDollar. It may well be my last, for I am no longer old. Rather, I’m ancient and on my way to being archaic.
The vicissitudes of investing are behind me. I now invest for fun, for the data analysis, for following the impact of macro world events on economies, for the thrill of the market rollercoaster, for the intellectual challenge, for the exercise of discipline,

Read More

Horse Then Cart

Jesse Cramer  |  Feb 14, 2024

MONEY CONVERSATIONS are part of my daily life. I’ve written a personal finance blog for five years and recorded a related podcast for three years. I work full-time for a fiduciary financial planning firm. All of these activities expose me to folks seeking to improve their financial literacy.
I love talking money. But the more “money talks” I have, the more I see that people overlook the most fundamental principle of personal finance. What principle?

Read More

Our Freshman Year

Tom Short  |  Feb 12, 2024

LAST YEAR WAS OUR first full year living solely off our portfolio, with no paycheck coming in.
How did it go? It was a vast improvement from 2022, when we not only retired, but also got hit with high inflation, tumbling bond prices and a sharp stock market decline. We were looking at sequence-of-return risk—that perfect storm of rising living costs and a shrinking portfolio that can derail those early in retirement—and I can recall feeling a bit panicked.

Read More

Words to Remember

Gary Kelly  |  Jan 29, 2024

“WE CANNOT GET RICH doing dentistry, but we can get rich investing what we make in dentistry.” A nationally recognized lecturer on dental-practice management shared that piece of advice with me some 40 years ago.
I’d been out of dental school for a year when Dr. Dick Klein spoke at our local dental society’s annual meeting. The meeting’s organizer was a friend. He asked if my wife and I would take Klein and his wife out to dinner after his presentation.

Read More

A Long Journey

Hank Bertsch  |  Jan 17, 2024

MY FATHER LEFT US—my mother, sister, brother and me—in 1951, when I was age 10. With the help of her parents, my mother managed to raise us three children until we each got married. I knew I wasn’t as well off as many of my parochial school classmates, but I never felt poor. Still, we didn’t waste a cent, and that became a lifelong habit.
It’s been a long journey since then—service in the Army and Army Reserves,

Read More

Don’t Trust Your Gut

Nicolas Bérubé  |  Dec 27, 2023

WE OFTEN IMAGINE WE know something about the future that’s unknowable—and the result can be costly investment mistakes. Below is an edited excerpt from the new book “From Zero to Millionaire: A Simple, Effective, and Stress-Free Way to Invest in the Stock Market,” published by Harriman House.
“I don’t think the United States is going to survive.”
Several years ago, I was having lunch with a friend in a San Francisco restaurant when he made this confession. 

Read More

A Taller Ladder

David Cooper  |  Dec 13, 2023

I RETIRED ALMOST TWO years ago, at age 56. My wife, who is nine years younger, decided to semi-retire so we could relocate from Rhode Island to Florida. We were able to afford early retirement in part because we’d lived below our means for many years, diligently saving while also paying off our mortgage and other debts.
Relocating to a state with a lower cost of living and lower taxes also helped. In addition,

Read More

Searching for When

Patrick Brennan  |  Dec 4, 2023

DURING MY FINAL NINE years with the Coast Guard, I was involved in decisions regarding search-and-rescue operations. We were almost always working with imperfect information. For three of those nine years, I was responsible for all missions in one section of the Great Lakes and, in my last year, I made the final decision on when to suspend search-and-rescue operations in an even larger area.
To lower risk, we often assumed the worst, and threw copious operational resources at the situation.

Read More

Teaching Myself

Tim Moyer  |  Nov 13, 2023

WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, working toward a bachelor’s degree in music education, a friend’s dad told me about Vanguard Group. I’d never heard of Vanguard, and I had no idea what a mutual fund was.
I did some research on the firm and its founder, John Bogle, and read his book Bogle on Mutual Funds. Soon after, at age 19, I opened an IRA at Vanguard and thereafter contributed the maximum allowed every year.

Read More

Not What I Expected

Eric Hughes  |  Nov 8, 2023

I SAID GOODBYE TO my career in the retail industry nearly five years ago, at age 39. I’d had my eye on early retirement as soon as I entered the workforce.
My first job out of college was with an upstart retailer, where I worked 80-hour weeks for many years as I sought to improve my skills, knowledge and reputation. I did well, earned multiple promotions, and had high hopes for a life-changing payout from the company’s planned initial stock offering.

Read More

Retirement Takes Work

Michael Amoroso  |  Oct 25, 2023

MANY FOLKS—ESPECIALLY those still working—think retirement is “living the good life.” The truth is, unless you develop a solid plan for how to enjoy your newly available time, life after retirement can be filled with bouts of boredom, anxiety and even depression. My objective: Forewarn recent and soon-to-be retirees of the emotional dangers that lie ahead—and to suggest a road to a successful retirement.

Retirement isn’t a destination but a journey with three key stops.

Read More

My Money Education

Allison Foster  |  Oct 23, 2023

LIKE MANY OF MY generation, I grew up in a family that never talked about money. I had some sense that I should save, but no sense of where to save. This made me susceptible to a lot of advice—both good and bad—that shaped my financial journey.
I married a teacher and I became a school-based speech pathologist. I knew we’d never be rich, but we would have a comfortable life. In those early days,

Read More

Burnishing a Legacy

Charles Lansden  |  Oct 17, 2023

AS I PREPARE FOR retirement, I’ve been reminded that I should “retire into something,” that I should use my anticipated free time for a meaningful purpose. During the past couple of years, I’ve discovered that—for me—one of those “somethings” is to care for “the farm,” 200 acres of rolling countryside in western Tennessee. This discovery has been both surprising and delightful for me, and has led to a reconnection with the farm and, through that reconnection,

Read More

Happy to Follow

Tony Wilson  |  Oct 7, 2023

FOR MUCH OF MY ADULT life, I’ve read about marriages in turmoil because the wife earns more than her husband. That’s always bewildered me, because I spent most of my career being a very happy trailing spouse.
My wife and I met in our early 30s while trying to rescue a three-year-old stuck on an elevator. This was more than three decades ago. I was divorced and working as a journalist, and had taken my son with me when I needed to drop by the newsroom early one weekday evening.

Read More

Articles

Never Enough

Jonathan Clements   |  Feb 15, 2025

MANY FINANCIAL IDEAS are tough to embrace. But perhaps the toughest can be summed up in one simple word: enough.
Will we ever feel like we have enough and that we’ve accomplished enough? Accepting that we have enough and done enough might seem like worthy goals, a serene acceptance that’s possible for those at peace with themselves and the world around them. Indeed, for many, “retirement” and “enough” seem to be pretty much synonymous,

Taking It Personally

Jonathan Clements   |  Feb 8, 2025

WHICH FINANCIAL dangers should we focus on? The possibilities seem pretty much endless. In fact, five years ago, I decided to make a list—and ended up offering readers 50 shades of risk.
Yet our notion of risk used to be far more circumscribed.
In the late 1980s, when I started writing about personal finance, insurance was considered important, but it wasn’t much discussed. Instead, the only risk that seemed to merit serious analysis was investment risk,

Mind Over Money

Jonathan Clements   |  Feb 1, 2025

I LIKE TO THINK I’M rational in the way I spend my dollars, and I suspect most readers do, too.
We are, of course, deluding ourselves.
Spending is never simply about buying what we want or need. Instead, behind every dollar that leaves—or doesn’t leave—our wallet is a complex mental dance that reflects how we feel that day, the influence of others, how we want to be perceived, and our own financial history. We might declare that we’re using our money to buy happiness.

Taking Center Stage

Jonathan Clements   |  Jan 25, 2025

IT’S THE ONE ASSET we’re all born with, and it pretty much defines our financial life. I’m talking here about our human capital, our ability to pull in a paycheck.
That paycheck—or the lack thereof—drives our ability to save, service debt and take investment risk. It also dictates our insurance needs and how much emergency money we should hold. Put it all together, and our human capital should arguably determine how we manage our money over our lifetime.

Money Grows Up

Jonathan Clements   |  Jan 18, 2025

I MOVED FROM LONDON to New York City in 1986, when I was age 23. That’s when my financial education truly began.
I’d previously studied economics for three years and spent a year writing about the international financial markets for Euromoney magazine. Still, I knew almost nothing about investing, insurance, homeownership and other topics crucial to managing a household’s finances.
I’ve learned a ton since, and the focus of that education keeps changing,

Spending It

Jonathan Clements   |  Jan 11, 2025

RETIREES ENDLESSLY debate how best to draw down their retirement savings, and yet it all comes down to two simple rules: Don’t spend too much each year, and don’t sell stocks during down markets.
How do we put these two rules into action? Retirees can pick from a host of withdrawal strategies, including the five popular choices listed below. You’d likely fare just fine with any of the five strategies—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pick carefully.

Why We Struggle

Jonathan Clements   |  Jan 4, 2025

I’VE SPENT MUCH OF MY life trying to better understand the world, especially the financial world. But I wonder whether I should have spent more of that time trying to better understand myself.
Why do some financial situations scare us, while others leave us unperturbed? Why do we spend time and money in ways we later regret? Why do we find our bad habits so difficult to change? Why do we admire some folks,

Four Questions

Jonathan Clements   |  Dec 28, 2024

IT’S SEVEN MONTHS since I received my terminal diagnosis. Cancer is now the reality that looms over each day, and it’s been a rocky road, though the latest abdomen scan suggests I’ll be around for a while longer.
Where’s my head at? Here are four questions I’ve been asking myself—questions, I suspect, that might also be interesting to those who aren’t facing a terminal diagnosis.
1. Am I afraid of dying? No,

Model Behavior

Jonathan Clements   |  Dec 21, 2024

I’M WRAPPING UP MY final big investment. Going into it, I knew it would lose money, unleash unwanted disruption and chew up time when it’s never been more precious—and yet I still went ahead.
As readers might recall, last year, Elaine and I remodeled the kitchen in our Philadelphia home. This year, we decided we’d revamp the upstairs bathroom, despite my cancer diagnosis and the forecast that I might live just 12 more months.

Sharing Lessons

Jonathan Clements   |  Dec 14, 2024

THE STOCK MARKET HAS been one of my life’s enduring interests. No, it’s not because I try to pick market-beating investments. I gave up on that nonsense more than three decades ago.
Rather, I’m fascinated by the way we humans engage with this maddening market that promises both riches and peril, and which seems both ruthlessly efficient and utterly nuts. What have I learned from a lifetime of following the stock market? The sad truth is,

SHARE