Scott Burns
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Getting your social security money's worthJul 26, 2015 7:37 am - How can you get your money's worth out of all that you pay into Social Security? There are things you can do to increase your benefits somewhat, such as defer them. But...
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Don't pick investments just to avoid taxes on dividendsJul 20, 2015 5:55 am - Q: I am 82 years old. I have been reinvesting the dividends I receive on my equity investments for many years. When interest rates declined, I invested in stocks that co...
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Will our deficit-culture ever stop paying Social Security?Jul 12, 2015 6:25 am - According to last year's Social Security trustees report, the program's trust fund would end 2014 with a stunning balance of $2.784 trillion. Unfortunately, the trustees...
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To create inflation, money can't be dormantJul 07, 2015 6:53 am - Q: The Federal Reserve has printed trillions of dollars to purchase Treasury bonds and mortgages. With so much excess money in circulation, isn't this going to result in...
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Paying down mortgage is more important than tax deductionsJul 05, 2015 8:21 am - Q: in mid-July, I will be getting a job-related lump-sum payment of $175,000 (before taxes). I'm trying to figure out the most responsible use for the money. I max out m...
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Don't dismiss Rand Paul's tax planJul 04, 2015 8:07 am - Most news media dismissed Rand Paul's tax plan, like his candidacy for president, as a non-starter. Reports failed to grasp a gigantic part of the plan. They also wrongl...
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Have limited savings? A planner may not be necessaryJun 29, 2015 6:05 am - Q: I am writing because I may need to make a change in my financial planning. I currently have a financial planner who charges 1.5 percent. My portfolio is a little less...
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Happiness and the Life of Riley IndexJun 29, 2015 5:33 am - The cost of being independently upper-middle class declined a bit in the last year. But just a bit. So don't expect any shouts of joy here - just an ongoing assessment o...
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Best flavor in exchange-traded funds is vanillaJun 22, 2015 6:15 am - Q: My wife and I are both retired. I am a fan of your Couch Potato portfolio and have tried to allocate our retirement funds in a similar fashion, with Vanguard index st...
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Reduce risk: Make new retirement contributions to fixed-income fundsNov 06, 2021 1:06 am - Q: I participate in the federal Thrift Savings Plan. I have my money distributed in these funds: 60 percent in large stocks, 20 percent in small stocks and 20 percen...