Sonja Haggert

Comments:

• Such a terrific and helpful article. I went back to your previous one, and they are both a keeper. I thought I was pretty organized. You've just pointed out how much can be missed.

  Post: The Mary Jean List

  Link to comment from May 25, 2023

• Kathy, we have done a great deal of research into CCRs, first for our parents and then for ourselves. Unfortunately, there are many independent and assisted living arrangements where we live, but only a few with a nursing option. That's an important consideration, especially after a hospital stay for rehab. I would rather return to familiar settings than a rehab far from family and friends.

  Post: Continuing Care

  Link to comment from March 2, 2023

• Such an important article, especially for future retirees.

  Post: Juggling for Retirees

  Link to comment from January 21, 2023

• Our spreadsheet sounds very similar, and it is intended as a reality check. I'm with you when it comes to retirement. It's all about freedom and doing what you love. We could probably write a good guide for retirement.

  Post: Best-Laid Plans

  Link to comment from January 10, 2023

• This is such a good article because, for someone like me, it contains concrete examples.

  Post: Vaguely Right

  Link to comment from January 10, 2023

• I, too, found your phrase, "misplaced confidence in their own abilities and feel certain they require no help." very true. We were fortunate that my father-in-law, who introduced us to investing, gave us recommendations for good advice. Your article also points to making your own plans, with help, so someone else doesn't make them for you.

  Post: Too Trusting

  Link to comment from January 10, 2023

• I just had to comment on your flashback descriptions. As someone once said, "you can't make this stuff up."

  Post: Too Trusting

  Link to comment from January 10, 2023

• Christopher, as Olin suggests in his comment, there are times when The Oxford Club runs specials. You may also want to contact them directly for a sample if you're interested.

  Post: A Taste for Junk

  Link to comment from December 22, 2022

• Hi Philip, The 2.5%-3.5% is an average. You can find default rate information in the article referenced in paragraph eight in the Bloomberg link. Default rates peaked during the 2007-8 financial crisis at 12%. In 2021 they were at 0.5%. Yes, the thinking is they would rise again in a recession. Our returns are occasionally affected, but we would only buy junk bonds with advice from Marc Lichtenfeld at the Oxford Club. He has proven to be a reliable resource, finding bonds to buy and telling us when to get out. When a bond is called, the issuer can pay above par. You can find this and other information on the Fidelity Website.

  Post: A Taste for Junk

  Link to comment from December 22, 2022

• Olin, I'm happy to give you my opinion; I've been reading Alex's newsletter for at least 20 years. It was recommended to my husband and me by my father-in-law, who introduced us to investing. We have found it to be very beneficial from the standpoint that his philosophy is to buy and hold. Best of all, he sends an alert to sell when fundamentals change. To us, that is the very best feature of all. It's relatively easy to find a stock to buy, but not so much when to sell.

  Post: A Taste for Junk

  Link to comment from December 22, 2022