IN 1774, AMSTERDAM businessman Abraham van Ketwich created a new type of investment. After raising money from a group of individuals, van Ketwich built a portfolio of bonds. He deposited the bonds in a metal box in his office, which three people then secured using three different locks.
Van Ketwich’s fund could be considered the world’s first index fund. How so? For starters, the bonds purchased were broadly diversified across industries and geography. Second,

Are we all on the same frugality page?
From what I found, frugal living involves  prioritizing needs over wants, spending less than earned, valuing quality, and embracing resourcefulness like DIY. Common practices include planning meals, buying used items, and seeking discounts.
I read that a cheap person focuses on price and a frugal person on value. Well, that doesn’t make sense. You could spend a lot of money achieving what you value – like a car or a cruise.

I know many folks look down on cruises, and I can understand why. The amount of food and booze that’s consumed is a wonder to behold, the casino is a smoke-filled den of desperation, and the behavior of fellow passengers can be a tad off-putting.
Still, Elaine and I have taken three cruises in the past four years, including one last week, and we thoroughly enjoyed all three. Why? Here are five reasons.
Few hassles.

https://www.morningstar.com/retirement/ed-slott-how-roth-iras-can-help-with-estate-planning?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AdvisorDigest&utm_content=None_62149&utm_id=32158

Our portfolio leans somewhat towards the conservative side.  Our overall target allocation is 45% equities, 45% bonds, and 10% cash.
When it comes to the allocation within bonds I have not seen much in the way of literature that recommends an allocation regarding types of bonds/durations.
Our current allocation in specific funds as a percentage of our entire portfolio is: 15% short term, 8.5% short term tips, and 16.5% intermediate (the rest of the bonds are in a target date fund).

Connie and I were discussing a purchase. “That’s expensive,” she said.  I finally said, “I don’t care what they cost.” A moment of silence. “What happened to you that you don’t care what something cost?” she said. I thought a moment and then said, “I’m old.”
Actually that’s true. Within reason, I no longer care. I don’t look at prices in the supermarket- but I do load digital coupons on my phone. It’s also true I am old.

I have some active managed mutual funds(getting hammered by yearly tax distribution) in one of my brokerage accounts. I would like to know the best tax effective way to sell these funds?

I don’t believe I’ve ever enjoyed life more than I do now. What is there not to like about my life? I have my health, financial stability, plenty of free time to do the things I want, and I have a companion to share my journey with. I wish this stage of my life was never-ending.
But at age 73, I know my life could be turned upside down tomorrow. Lately, I’ve been thinking about what Rachel and I should do if we can’t take care of ourselves.

I recently wrote in a comment on HD that I think the most important, usable, and meaningful tax breaks go to average middle income Americans. Not being a tax expert, I did some digging to find them. 
Perhaps Rick Connor and others know of more I missed.  
Here is what I came up with. 
Child Tax Credit – helps families with qualifying children by reducing their tax liability.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – the EITC can also provide significant benefits to those within the lower end of the middle-class income range,

RDQ’s recent post about seniors paying taxes reminded me that presently only 53% of Americans pay federal income tax.  Many of the remaining 47% are net recipients of money from the treasury.  We all know that everyone working pays payroll taxes, but should everyone pay income tax?
On the Yea side, having all citizens paying income tax would give everyone “skin in the game” when it comes to voting on tax policy and expenditures. 

Henry James is one of my favorite authors.  In the late 1880s He wrote a novel, Washington Square,  which was adapted into a play and an award winning movie, “The Heiress”.  Olivia dehavilland starred as Catherine Sloper, a shy, ordinary looking, socially awkward young woman, who stands to inherit a large fortune.
Montgomery Clift, was Morris Townsend, her handsome, charming but ne’er do well suitor—and a wonderful English actor, Ralph Richardson, as Dr. Austin Sloper, Catherine’s father.

Every day brings me another insurance offer. In today’s mail, I was invited to insure against identity theft for $34.99 a month.
Last week, I was sent a “final notice” to purchase a home warranty. In the same batch of mail, I was offered a $20,000 whole life insurance policy for $132 a month.
My most faithful correspondent is my water company. Every month it invites me to insure the water pipes under my lawn for about $1,000 a year.

There was a time when I probably did- that was many years ago when sailing around the Mediterranean in my luxury yacht was a fantasy. Once, decades ago, I actually explored the cost of renting such a yacht. Back then it was $200,000 a week, plus tips for the crew and the cost of the food you selected. I was afraid I couldn’t afford the tips- but I could bring eight friends to impress.
These days I don’t envy of the billionaires,

I just read about an excellent script to use when one gets a call purporting to be from a financial institution that is, “every time a financial institution calls: “Where are you calling from? Thank you. I’m going to hang up and call back.”
Then go find the institution’s phone number (from a statement, the back of the credit card, or by typing in the URL of the website itself and finding it on the website;

Here is the link to Christine Benz of Morningstar interviewing Ed Slott, who many consider THE expert in the country on the IRS’s interpretation of IRA laws/rules for 2025.
Ed is a gold mine of information as to how to decide on whether to convert traditional IRAs to Roths, and it’s effect on your beneficiaries.
https://app.mscomm.morningstar.com/e/er?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MorningDigest&utm_content=None_62004&utm_id=32087&s=1258972516&lid=91893&elqTrackId=894e84e4e6dd4e4ea71a9bc97420afd2&elq=c1c50cb96d48485491b4d81fbe5a229d&elqaid=62004&elqat=1&elqak=8AF55770D8A5B2AC19A42DE86CB56351215EDD04764F052A1F72EA4FA79B9C459194