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Mark Crothers is a retired small business owner from the UK with a keen interest in personal finance and simple living. Married to his high school sweetheart, with daughters and grandchildren, he knows the importance of building a secure financial future. With an aversion to social media, he prefers to spend his time on his main passions: reading, scratch cooking, racket sports, and hiking.
One Good Call?
57 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 4/14/2026
FIRST: Howard Schwartz on 4/14 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 4/19
Scent of a Cheapskate: Frugality Gone Wrong
21 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 4/17/2026
FIRST: 1PF on 4/17 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 4/18
Recency Bias (or: You're Running Buggy Software)
29 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 4/7/2026
FIRST: Doug C on 4/7 | RECENT: Mark Gardner on 4/17
The Opportunity Cost of Waiting
19 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 4/9/2026
FIRST: Rick Connor on 4/9 | RECENT: David J. Kupstas on 4/12
Lent, Chocolate, and the Art of Retirement
33 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 4/2/2026
FIRST: Doug C on 4/2 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 4/5
Very Fast, Not Very Smart
16 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 4/1/2026
FIRST: David Lancaster on 4/1 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 4/1
Prepping to Pull the Trigger
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/28/2026
FIRST: Michael1 on 3/28 | RECENT: Michael1 on 3/30
Private Credit Stress?
25 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/25/2026
FIRST: Howard Schwartz on 3/25 | RECENT: William Dorner on 3/29
Let the Arrows Speak for Themselves
28 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/27/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 3/27 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 3/28
The Bear Market Survival Kit (Pharmaceuticals Not Included)
9 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/20/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 3/20 | RECENT: normr60189 on 3/25
When Luck Rises, Be Ready to Dig
15 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/19/2026
FIRST: David Lancaster on 3/19 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 3/20
Well That's A Bummer!
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/16/2026
FIRST: Michael1 on 3/16 | RECENT: Grant Clifford on 3/19
Why Marlboro Gold is better Than GoldÂ
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/11/2026
FIRST: Ben Rodriguez on 3/12 | RECENT: Cammer Michael on 3/15
The Anatomy of a Threshold Rebalance: April 2025
27 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/13/2026
FIRST: David Lancaster on 3/13 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 3/15
Opinions Wanted: Please Reply Freely (I'm used to being called an idiot)
30 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/10/2026
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 3/10 | RECENT: achnk53 on 3/12
Buffett's 90/10 is Wrong. Even Though it's Right.
8 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/8/2026
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 3/8 | RECENT: Edmund Marsh on 3/11
Volatility is your Best Friend
26 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/4/2026
FIRST: David Lancaster on 3/4 | RECENT: Martin McCue on 3/9
Loose Change
32 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/2/2026
FIRST: David Mulligan on 3/2 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 3/9
Smoke, Sparks and Retirement Spending.
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 3/5/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 3/5 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 3/8
A Rule of Thumb Is Not a Plan
29 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/26/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 2/26 | RECENT: baldscreen on 3/4
Something Borrowed, Something Saved.
8 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/23/2026
FIRST: Michael1 on 2/23 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 2/23
A Very Sensible Conclusion
47 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/18/2026
FIRST: Ormode on 2/18 | RECENT: Ormode on 2/22
Joining the Club, Maybe?
17 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/20/2026
FIRST: Fred Gloeckler on 2/20 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 2/21
The 34% Return I'm Glad I Missed
14 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/13/2026
FIRST: Michael1 on 2/13 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 2/19
The Monthly Mystery of the Vanishing Paycheck
41 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/10/2026
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 2/10 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 2/16
House Move and the Upcoming Hassle FactorÂ
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/12/2026
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 2/12 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 2/13
The High Cost of Financial Advice: A Tale of Two Portfolios Revisited
30 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/6/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 2/6 | RECENT: Andy Morrison on 2/9
A Message to Young Readers: Your Crisis Is Coming.
5 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/8/2026
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 2/8 | RECENT: David Rhoades on 2/9
Don't Let Mr Market Bully You: A Gentle Reminder of Your Built-In Protection
13 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/23/2025
FIRST: Dan Smith on 11/23/2025 | RECENT: Mark Gardner on 2/8
The Right Time to Retire Isn't Always the Optimal Time
23 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/4/2026
FIRST: baldscreen on 2/4 | RECENT: Michael1 on 2/6
Tax Filing (A Teeny Tiny Rant)
32 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 2/2/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 2/2 | RECENT: normr60189 on 2/5
The Playground Indicator
32 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/30/2026
FIRST: Kenneth DeLuca on 1/30 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 2/2
Decoupled From Reality
38 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/28/2026
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 1/28 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 1/30
The $8,000 Cost of Peace of Mind
59 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/20/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 1/20 | RECENT: Andy Morrison on 1/29
Owning My Sin Premium
14 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/16/2026
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 1/16 | RECENT: Andy Morrison on 1/28
Financial Wisdom from the Scottish Bard
7 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/25/2026
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 1/25 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 1/26
3:26 AM: The Arithmetic of Anxiety (A Sleepless Night)
14 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/26/2026
FIRST: Pete Storm on 1/26 | RECENT: Mike Gaynes on 1/26
The Debt Free Penalty.
35 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/23/2026
FIRST: G Mzz on 1/23 | RECENT: Steve Melnyk on 1/26
The Comfort Trap
21 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/21/2026
FIRST: mytimetotravel on 1/21 | RECENT: Bob Steele on 1/23
Irrational Financial Choices
21 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/17/2026
FIRST: David Lancaster on 1/18 | RECENT: jan Ohara on 1/19
Should I Lock in CD Rates Now or Stay in Money Market?
25 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/13/2026
FIRST: mytimetotravel on 1/13 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 1/15
How the Other Half Live: The Reality Check
41 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/12/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 1/12 | RECENT: K LM on 1/14
The Grass Is Definitely Greener.
19 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/7/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 1/7 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 1/10
Four Weddings and a Wake-Up Call
26 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/9/2026
FIRST: baldscreen on 1/9 | RECENT: Rob Jennings on 1/10
Help Me Out People—Is This Just Me?
24 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/4/2026
FIRST: Dan Smith on 1/4 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 1/8
The Distance: Time Grinds On
36 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 1/2/2026
FIRST: Kim Zimmerman on 1/2 | RECENT: deusexmachina21 on 1/4
Hitting the Pause Button
14 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/31/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 12/31/2025 | RECENT: Jeff Bond on 1/1
Well: That's Just Inconvenient!
16 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/29/2025
FIRST: Victor Hernandez on 12/29/2025 | RECENT: achnk53 on 12/31/2025
New Voices
19 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/27/2025
FIRST: Langston Holland on 12/27/2025 | RECENT: Langston Holland on 12/28/2025
The Life That Was Waiting
15 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/26/2025
FIRST: Patrick Brennan on 12/27/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 12/28/2025
When a Debt-Free Christmas Goes Wrong
6 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/23/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 12/24/2025 | RECENT: Linda Grady on 12/26/2025
The Supply Chain Behemoth That Puts Amazon on the Naughty List
14 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/24/2025
FIRST: 1PF on 12/24/2025 | RECENT: Linda Grady on 12/26/2025
Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?
31 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/22/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 12/22/2025 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 12/24/2025
The Jumper and the Dilemma
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/19/2025
FIRST: Winston Smith on 12/19/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/22/2025
Would You Raid the Piggy Bank or Mortgage the House?
29 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/7/2025
FIRST: Aaron on 12/7/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/19/2025
All I Want For Christmas: The Gift of Presence, not Presents
11 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/18/2025
FIRST: Marilyn Lavin on 12/18/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/19/2025
Becoming A "Bad Investor"
35 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/17/2025
FIRST: Howard Schwartz on 12/17/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/19/2025
The Monthly Payment Trap: How Car Dealerships Hide the Real Cost
64 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/15/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 12/15/2025 | RECENT: Marilyn Lavin on 12/17/2025
An Uncomfortable Retail Truth
46 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/10/2025
FIRST: Kim Zimmerman on 12/10/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/12/2025
What's Your Perfect "Normal" Day?
14 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/12/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 12/12/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/12/2025
Happy Hour, or The Panic Button? Why Early Retirement Anxiety Is Real.
52 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/30/2025
FIRST: Jo Bo on 11/30/2025 | RECENT: bbbobbins on 12/8/2025
The High Cost of my Financial Ignorance
6 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/5/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 12/5/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/8/2025
Ripples Through Time
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/4/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 12/4/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/6/2025
Bearing Witness: Retirement From the Wrong Side of the Divide
42 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/25/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 11/25/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/6/2025
The Absurdity of my Mental Financial Gymnastics
15 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 12/2/2025
FIRST: Michael1 on 12/2/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 12/4/2025
The Magic of the Season: From Turkey to Rollercoaster in 72 Hours.
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/28/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 11/28/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 11/30/2025
Fantasy Retirement Billable Hours
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/24/2025
FIRST: Dan Smith on 11/24/2025 | RECENT: Ormode on 11/25/2025
Wealth: A Short List on How to Recognize It
21 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/10/2025
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 11/10/2025 | RECENT: Tim Mueller on 11/22/2025
Four People, One Stupid Observation
21 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/17/2025
FIRST: Dave Melick on 11/17/2025 | RECENT: Dwain Sims on 11/22/2025
Skipping a Generation
16 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/21/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 11/21/2025 | RECENT: greg_j_tomamichel on 11/21/2025
The Catch-22 of Success: How Our Achievements Shape Our Children's Choices
26 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/16/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 9/16/2025 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 11/20/2025
A Retirement Paradox: Why My Retired Friends Judge My Downtime, But Not Their TV
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/19/2025
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 11/19/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 11/20/2025
The Messy Human side of Social Security ClaimingÂ
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/16/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 11/16/2025 | RECENT: Kevin Lynch on 11/18/2025
Retirement Conversations with my Joints
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/13/2025
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 11/13/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 11/16/2025
Purple Handcuffs and the Gift of Time
21 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/12/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 11/12/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 11/13/2025
I Don't Like to Judge…But.
31 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/9/2025
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 11/9/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 11/10/2025
The Best Money We Almost Didn't Spend
18 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/7/2025
FIRST: Marilyn Lavin on 11/7/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 11/10/2025
The Auto Loan Compensation Scam
3 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/5/2025
FIRST: William Perry on 11/5/2025 | RECENT: William Dorner on 11/9/2025
Would You Vote Against Your Own 500% Gain?
9 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/7/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 11/7/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 11/8/2025
So You Think Your Pension Journey Was Tough?
8 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/6/2025
FIRST: mytimetotravel on 11/6/2025 | RECENT: greg_j_tomamichel on 11/6/2025
Three Peas and a Reality Check. (A Very Tiny Rant)
27 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/4/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 11/4/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 11/5/2025
Coastal Retirement? Have You Considered These Costs?
35 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/30/2025
FIRST: David Mulligan on 10/30/2025 | RECENT: Martin McCue on 11/3/2025
Joined up Thinking??
9 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/3/2025
FIRST: Mike Xavier on 11/3/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 11/3/2025
A Question of Cash.
39 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 11/2/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 11/2/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 11/3/2025
A Nightmare on Destitution Street
15 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/31/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 10/31/2025 | RECENT: Jerry Pinkard on 10/31/2025
The Luxury of Low Expectations: What We Gained by Having Less
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/2/2025
FIRST: Kristine Hayes on 10/2/2025 | RECENT: Vince Villey on 10/31/2025
Cash: The False Prophet
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/29/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 10/29/2025 | RECENT: Mike Gaynes on 10/31/2025
 I don't know. Or care. But I will at the end of April.
25 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/28/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 10/28/2025 | RECENT: jan Ohara on 10/30/2025
The Flamingo Years: How to Lose Gracefully to a Ten-Year-Old
18 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/26/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 10/26/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/29/2025
A Simple Use of Wealth
9 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/27/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 10/27/2025 | RECENT: Jack Hannam on 10/27/2025
The Curious Case of Finally Being Able to Afford the Thing You No Longer Want
17 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/24/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 10/24/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/27/2025
Short Form Writing 101
7 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/23/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 10/23/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/24/2025
"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go."
11 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/23/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 10/23/2025 | RECENT: bbbobbins on 10/24/2025
The Knock on the Door: Bad luck, Poor Timing.
10 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/21/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 10/21/2025 | RECENT: Keith Pleas on 10/23/2025
I Really Don't Get It, But I Guess That's OK
34 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/21/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 10/21/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 10/23/2025
The Final Curtain Call: My Double Retirement
15 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/19/2025
FIRST: mytimetotravel on 10/19/2025 | RECENT: Carl C Trovall on 10/22/2025
Digital Lockout: A Cautionary TaleÂ
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/17/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 10/17/2025 | RECENT: Winston Smith on 10/18/2025
The Edge of Indifference
9 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/15/2025
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 10/15/2025 | RECENT: bbbobbins on 10/16/2025
Is Your Retirement Plan Missing the Most Important Investment?
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/13/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 10/13/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 10/14/2025
Make My Day Punk, Harvest the Volatility
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/14/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 10/14/2025 | RECENT: greg_j_tomamichel on 10/14/2025
Same But Different: The AI Bubble That Isn't (Quite)
8 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/12/2025
FIRST: Humble Reader on 10/12/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 10/13/2025
Has the 4% Rule Had Its Day? The Case for Dynamic Retirement Spending
7 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/8/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 10/10/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/13/2025
A Short History of Money
18 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/10/2025
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 10/10/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/13/2025
Six T-Shirts and a Car: My Spending Philosophy.
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/8/2025
FIRST: David Mulligan on 10/8/2025 | RECENT: Mike Gaynes on 10/9/2025
The Real Wealth of Retirement (Hint: It's Not Financial)
21 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/5/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 10/5/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/9/2025
Nothing Fancy, That Works for Me.
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/7/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 10/7/2025 | RECENT: Jack Hannam on 10/9/2025
The High Cost of Financial Advice: A Tale of Two Portfolios
63 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/8/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/8/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 10/5/2025
Spreadsheets: A Luddite's Necessary Inconvenience?
17 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/3/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 10/3/2025 | RECENT: deandwigz on 10/5/2025
Enriching Our Collective Wisdom
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 10/1/2025
FIRST: Ben Rodriguez on 10/1/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/2/2025
Right Day, On Time and at the Right Place: A Rare Trio
16 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/30/2025
FIRST: Linda Grady on 10/1/2025 | RECENT: Mike A on 10/2/2025
The 1% Club: Our Unnoticed Wealth
71 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/26/2025
FIRST: Ram Pradhan on 9/26/2025 | RECENT: S Sevcik on 10/1/2025
Memories With a Cold Spanish Beer
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/29/2025
FIRST: James Deckman on 9/29/2025 | RECENT: Michael James on 9/30/2025
From Rakhi to Community: Lessons in Family for the Humble Dollar Family
4 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/24/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 9/24/2025 | RECENT: Mike Gaynes on 9/26/2025
Success Has Many Flavours
18 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/23/2025
FIRST: fromgalv on 9/23/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 9/24/2025
The Gnashing of Teeth
19 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/20/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 9/20/2025 | RECENT: Kevin Lynch on 9/22/2025
Budget, What Budget? (Know Thyself)
39 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/17/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 9/17/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 9/22/2025
Forty Dollars Richer, Three Hours Wiser?
13 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/18/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 9/18/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 9/19/2025
My "Dark Side" of Generosity: How I'm Curbing it in Retirement.
10 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/14/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/14/2025 | RECENT: Steve Jon on 9/18/2025
Smoke and Mirrors with a Million Dollar PortfolioÂ
27 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/11/2025
FIRST: Dan Smith on 9/11/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 9/15/2025
The Long Dander Home: Being Close to Your Crew
10 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/15/2025
FIRST: Catherine Jaffe on 9/15/2025 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 9/15/2025
The Financial Metric I Refuse to Calculate
29 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/14/2025
FIRST: Gary Klotz on 9/14/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 9/15/2025
My Two Handicaps
8 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/12/2025
FIRST: Dan Smith on 9/12/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 9/13/2025
Musk and Me: A Tale of Second Best
6 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/10/2025
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 9/10/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 9/11/2025
The Long Game of Harbour Stories
31 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/7/2025
FIRST: Dan Smith on 9/8/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 9/10/2025
How I Failed My Way to Financial Freedom
16 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/9/2025
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 9/9/2025 | RECENT: L H on 9/10/2025
What They Don't Tell You About Retirement: Part 2 - Grandchildren Are Expensive
34 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/4/2025
FIRST: normr60189 on 9/4/2025 | RECENT: S Sevcik on 9/8/2025
What They Don't Tell You About Retirement: Part 1 - Everything Breaks
24 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/4/2025
FIRST: normr60189 on 9/4/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 9/8/2025
Pension Plan Buyout: The Exception to the Rule
9 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/5/2025
FIRST: David Mulligan on 9/5/2025 | RECENT: Rick Connor on 9/7/2025
When My Car Broke Down, Our One-Car Plan Passed the Test
16 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/3/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 9/3/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 9/5/2025
My New Zero-Wage CEO Role
10 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 9/1/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 9/1/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 9/2/2025
What If You Don't Want to See the World?
56 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/28/2025
FIRST: Ken E on 8/28/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 9/1/2025
Love, Money, and a 44-Year Compromise
7 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/23/2025
FIRST: MikeinLA on 8/23/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 8/30/2025
Still a Wild Child: When Spending Habits Never Grow Up
8 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/29/2025
FIRST: Rick Connor on 8/29/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 8/29/2025
The Seeming Irrationality of Unneeded Risk
19 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/25/2025
FIRST: 1PF on 8/25/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 8/27/2025
A Summer of Shared Memories
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/26/2025
FIRST: Rick Connor on 8/26/2025 | RECENT: Mike Gaynes on 8/27/2025
Humble 10% Win: The First Financial Benefit of Retirement
10 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/24/2025
FIRST: Dan Smith on 8/24/2025 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 8/26/2025
A Contrarian View of a MortgageÂ
38 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/19/2025
FIRST: Edmund Marsh on 8/19/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 8/26/2025
Bah Humbug! It's Not Even September Yet
32 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/21/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 8/21/2025 | RECENT: Mike A on 8/24/2025
The Tax Man Cometh, And I Think It's Okay.
7 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/20/2025
FIRST: OldITGuy on 8/20/2025 | RECENT: DrLefty on 8/21/2025
Not Retired, Just Re-Directed
19 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/14/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 8/14/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 8/18/2025
The Cloth Seller Who Invented Social Security
7 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/10/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 8/10/2025 | RECENT: William Dorner on 8/16/2025
The Day I Cashed In My Forgotten Treasure
4 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/15/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 8/15/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 8/16/2025
Data's Double Edge: Why Spreadsheets are Both a Lifeline and a Possible Lie
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/11/2025
FIRST: mytimetotravel on 8/11/2025 | RECENT: Adam Starry on 8/13/2025
Supercharging Your Retirement with Crypto: A Wise Move, or a Risky Bet?
23 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/8/2025
FIRST: Kim Zimmerman on 8/8/2025 | RECENT: squirrel hammer on 8/11/2025
Did the Era You Grew Up In Influence Your Financial Plan?
4 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/6/2025
FIRST: David Mulligan on 8/7/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 8/7/2025
Don't worry, be happy: tripping through the go-go years
9 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/6/2025
FIRST: luvtoride44afe9eb1e on 8/6/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 8/6/2025
Choosing Yes by Saying No
6 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/5/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 8/5/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 8/5/2025
How I Use a Simple Analogy to Teach Investing
6 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/3/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 8/4/2025 | RECENT: Rick Connor on 8/5/2025
Should I Be Concerned?
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 8/2/2025
FIRST: Nick Politakis on 8/2/2025 | RECENT: quan nguyen on 8/4/2025
The Very Last Time? Nope, Just Glad It's All Over!
14 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/28/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 7/28/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 8/2/2025
My First Retirement Report Card
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/31/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/31/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 8/1/2025
The Accidental Stock Picks in Our Index Fund Portfolio
2 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/30/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 7/30/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 7/30/2025
A Personal Encounter with the Psychology of Money
11 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/28/2025
FIRST: 1PF on 7/28/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 7/29/2025
Secure Act 2.0 Reflections From Across the Pond
11 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/27/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/27/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 7/29/2025
From Public Housing to Early Retirement: A Path Forged in Adversity
13 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/18/2025
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 7/19/2025 | RECENT: Catherine Jaffe on 7/28/2025
Pedaling Away From TightnessÂ
35 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/25/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 7/25/2025 | RECENT: Liam K on 7/26/2025
Our Homes, Our Wealth: A Tale of Two Property Paths
34 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/23/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 7/23/2025 | RECENT: greg_j_tomamichel on 7/25/2025
The Bond Fund Crash: What I Learned When "Safe" Investments Tanked
17 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/24/2025
FIRST: Rob Jennings on 7/24/2025 | RECENT: Michael1 on 7/25/2025
A Very Politically Incorrect Ramble With a Potentially Real Point: Is Your Retirement Calculator Sexist?
29 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/22/2025
FIRST: kristinehayes2014 on 7/22/2025 | RECENT: Kevin Lynch on 7/23/2025
The Unsettling Relief of Saying Goodbye
13 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/21/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 7/21/2025 | RECENT: H S on 7/23/2025
Oh Dear, the Accidental Wedding Downgrade
16 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/20/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/20/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 7/22/2025
Wealth, Perspective, and the Company We Keep
12 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/19/2025
FIRST: Tom Tamlyn on 7/20/2025 | RECENT: bbbobbins on 7/21/2025
Flexing the Retirement Spending Muscle
22 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/17/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 7/17/2025 | RECENT: UofODuck on 7/19/2025
Degrees of Doubt: When Higher Education Misses the Mark
17 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/16/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/16/2025 | RECENT: DrLefty on 7/18/2025
Swipe, Click, Invest: Danger in the Crypto Era.
10 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/13/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 7/13/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 7/16/2025
A Grievance Most Fowl: When Golf Ate My Lunch.
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/15/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 7/15/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 7/16/2025
Framed by his Side Hustle?
23 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/12/2025
FIRST: Rob Jennings on 7/12/2025 | RECENT: Ormode on 7/14/2025
A spooky and alarming thing relating to the two AI articles posted
15 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/11/2025
FIRST: kristinehayes2014 on 7/11/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 7/13/2025
A Quick Question about Retirement Vacations
15 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/9/2025
FIRST: luxomatica on 7/9/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 7/13/2025
The Value of Scratch Cooking in Retirement
17 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/11/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 7/11/2025 | RECENT: normr60189 on 7/12/2025
Financial AI: Benefit or Danger? I Don't Know
11 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/10/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 7/10/2025 | RECENT: Rob Jennings on 7/12/2025
My Favourite Day: Retirement Payday Wednesday
30 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/9/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 7/9/2025 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 7/9/2025
Building a Secure Retirement, 10 Years at a Time.
1 reply
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/7/2025
FIRST: Winston Smith on 7/7/2025 | RECENT: Winston Smith on 7/7/2025
Lucky Us and the Generational Divide
19 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/5/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/5/2025 | RECENT: baldscreen on 7/7/2025
The Illusion of Wealth
24 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/27/2025
FIRST: OldITGuy on 6/27/2025 | RECENT: jacknak on 7/7/2025
The Big Garden Dilemma: Aging in Places vs. Future Planning
33 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/3/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 7/3/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 7/6/2025
Inflation, Through a Glass Half Full.
4 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/4/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 7/4/2025 | RECENT: greg_j_tomamichel on 7/5/2025
Holy Cow! Holding The Line in a Market Stampede
10 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/2/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 7/2/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 7/3/2025
Our $1000's Of Dollars Mistake: A Lesson Learned
13 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 7/1/2025
FIRST: OldITGuy on 7/1/2025 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 7/2/2025
Beyond the Party: How Introverts Might Quietly Win at Retirement
55 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/30/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 6/30/2025 | RECENT: kristinehayes2014 on 7/1/2025
More Than Money: Our Holiday Home
21 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/29/2025
FIRST: Mike Xavier on 6/29/2025 | RECENT: DrLefty on 6/30/2025
Beyond the Balance Sheet: Investing in Yourself
56 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/22/2025
FIRST: Nick Politakis on 6/22/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 6/29/2025
You Have My Admiration: A Brit's Thoughts on US Pensions
44 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/27/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 6/27/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 6/28/2025
My Dream: Derailed by Data
20 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/26/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 6/26/2025 | RECENT: DrLefty on 6/27/2025
Extreme Frugality: It Better be Fun
9 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/25/2025
FIRST: Brent Wilson on 6/25/2025 | RECENT: B Carr on 6/26/2025
The Wedding Extravaganza: A Pre-mortum for Future Parents of the Bride
47 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/24/2025
FIRST: jan Ohara on 6/24/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 6/26/2025
Pension Funds are Sus: A Strange Little Post From A Grandparent
7 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/25/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 6/25/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 6/25/2025
The Slumping Deck: A Lesson in Time, Money and Memory
27 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/23/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 6/23/2025 | RECENT: R Quinn on 6/25/2025
A Humble Question From Across The Pond
51 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/22/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 6/22/2025 | RECENT: R Quinn on 6/25/2025
The unexpected detour to deccumulation, finding peace in fixed income
39 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/17/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 6/17/2025 | RECENT: L H on 6/22/2025
Morning Delight
15 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/21/2025
FIRST: David Mulligan on 6/21/2025 | RECENT: Mike Gaynes on 6/22/2025
Is the "Experience Economy" Derailing Millennial Retirement Prospects?
30 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/18/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 6/18/2025 | RECENT: Mark Eckman on 6/21/2025
Missing you....Or not?
24 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/19/2025
FIRST: kristinehayes2014 on 6/19/2025 | RECENT: luvtoride44afe9eb1e on 6/21/2025
The Surprising Gift of Unhurried Time: My Retirement Revelation
34 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/20/2025
FIRST: bbbobbins on 6/20/2025 | RECENT: R Quinn on 6/20/2025
Feeling grateful and paying forward
27 replies
AUTHOR: Mark Crothers on 6/16/2025
FIRST: baldscreen on 6/16/2025 | RECENT: greg_j_tomamichel on 6/18/2025
BEFORE WE GET into it, a brief word. We lost Jonathan last year, and those of us who followed his work felt it more than we perhaps expected. He had a saying that I always liked – that there are really only twenty stories in personal finance, and the financial industry spends most of its time telling them on repeat in slightly different hats. He was right, of course. He usually was.
It struck me that a fitting tribute might be to take his core principles and do something with them,
HAVE YOU GIVEN any thought to what’s about to happen to your S&P 500 tracker?
Three enormous IPOs are expected later this year: SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Based on their most recent private transactions, SpaceX appears to be valued at around $1.25 trillion, OpenAI at roughly $800 billion, and Anthropic at approximately $380 billion. Combined, we could be looking at close to $3 trillion in private market value that wants to go public. To put that in perspective,
I’VE RECENTLY MADE the most significant change to my own portfolio in thirty five years. For the first time I’ve moved away from pure market-cap investing, tilting meaningfully toward Europe and Southeast Asia and bringing my US technology concentration down to around fifteen percent.
I’m retired. I don’t need to chase the outperformance that concentration might deliver, and I don’t need the potential volatility that comes with it. This is a personal position rather than any kind of recommendation;
SOMETIMES WORLD events beyond your control create a hard reset point in your financial life. A before and after. For me, that point was the 2007 Great Financial Crisis (GFC). The psychological scars still reverberate into my current life.
Looking back, I was aware of something rumbling about in the financial landscape but didn’t take much notice due to being deeply involved in running my business. Little did I realize the impact heading my way.
Comments
Your wish has been granted 😂
Post: Staying Rational
Link to comment from April 20, 2026
Jeremy. A very sharp observation, and it brings to mind that old saying: invert, always invert. To answer your question directly: no, I haven't analysed my wife's portfolio to that extent — and if I'm honest, I probably won't. She's determined to stay with the adviser, and I'm content with what we've achieved: a fee reduction and a new commitment to advise based on our total combined holdings rather than hers in isolation. Sometimes you have to know which hill to die on — and when to retreat with a partial victory.
Post: One Good Call?
Link to comment from April 19, 2026
Yep…home ownership comes with its own unique set of costs. In the last 18 months alone I've had to replace 8 Velux window units, and a 12' x 8' triple-glazed pane that blew its seals and misted up between the glass panels. The flashing where the wood burner flue penetrates the sunroom roof started leaking and needed redoing, and some coping stones on the roof apex worked loose over winter and had to be re-mortared back into place. The expenses just never stop.
Post: The condo, HOA, senior citizen conundrum
Link to comment from April 19, 2026
Your story, while not uncommon as you yourself noted, is genuinely inspiring — a testament to tenacity and a real commitment to building a good life for yourself and your family. Your discipline and principled, dare I say strict, mindset has clearly paid dividends, and stands as a brilliant illustration of what can be achieved when you put your mind to it. I'll confess with some guilt that, beyond the core tenet of spending less than you earn and saving for your future self, my own approach was far more relaxed — perhaps even casually indifferent, a little laissez-faire if I'm honest. I built my life largely by happenstance and a modicum of common sense, yet somehow arrived at the same destination. I suppose there's more than one way to skin a cat if we lay the financial foundation first. .
Post: A Life You Build
Link to comment from April 19, 2026
As I mentioned in DrLefty's home moving piece, we're casually browsing the property market at the moment, but we've decided to steer clear of developments with HOA fees — mainly because of the lack of control over potential increases. That said, if we did end up buying somewhere with an HOA, I'd want the fees to be realistic and properly justified, with a fully funded reserve rather than kept artificially low just to keep residents happy. The same goes for the contingency reserve — fully funded, not sitting at the bare minimum. My father-in-law's experience with his Spanish property is a perfect illustration of why. The HOA board had spent years caving to the loudest complainers and keeping fees unrealistically low for an easy life. When a major issue with the pool eventually needed fixing, there was nothing in the pot — and every owner got hit with a one-time special assessment to cover it. Entirely avoidable, had anyone been willing to do the right thing from the start.
Post: The condo, HOA, senior citizen conundrum
Link to comment from April 19, 2026
My current thinking for cognitive decline and ageing is a little different. Even though I'm only approaching sixty, I'm already planning to use around half my portfolio to purchase a single premium immediate annuity at roughly seventy-five. My wife has her own portfolio, and I'll be encouraging her to do the same. If we both follow that path, we'd cover our future spending needs without worry — while still keeping a substantial sum aside for flexibility and whatever inheritance we might want to leave behind.
Post: One Good Call?
Link to comment from April 18, 2026
Deleted
Post: One Good Call?
Link to comment from April 18, 2026
I was somewhat aware of the bond issue at the time you're describing. If I'm honest, I didn't give the articles I read the weight they deserved — and I paid the price for that. I now see it as a valuable learning experience, and over time I shifted from bond funds towards a bond ladder as a result. On your point about preventing a loss not being the same as making a profit — I take that, and I agree with it. But I'd still rather build from a higher base. Not losing in the first place gives you a stronger foundation to generate future profits from. I think there's value in that alone.
Post: One Good Call?
Link to comment from April 18, 2026
Perfect, that makes things so much easier. Thanks!
Post: Navigating a Turbulent Career
Link to comment from April 18, 2026
Randy, I didn't know you could be notified. Can you let me know how? Thanks, Mark.
Post: Navigating a Turbulent Career
Link to comment from April 18, 2026