Recent content by DesertDweller

I wanted to share this idea for feedback. I have been struggling with the reality that my expenses are still too high and my severance runs out in five months, at which point the drawdowns must begin. I really need to do a drastic downsizing -- specifically in housing expense -- to fund any...

The Fed is keeping interest rates low to prop up our banking system. I think that is the only reason they are doing it, despite whatever else they say. Banks are borrowing at essentially no cost to them, and making money off the unprecedented spread they can now exploit. And they need that...

Even if bonds are at the bottom... Rick Ferri has posted an interesting two-part article ("Fears of Soaring Rates are Overblown") on this issue on his Web site (Rick Ferri).

Carpenter ants are bad, but not as bad as termites. For one thing, they don't eat wood - they tend to take advantage of decaying wood (often caused by moisture) to build their galleries and tunnels. Termites, however, will eat all of the wood in your house - decayed or sound. It's really...

I think it's really sad for folks to face these kinds of difficult choices. We live in a different America than the one I grew up in. So I would not judge anyone.

Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to respond to my post, and especially for your suggestions on gaining more knowledge about investing. I think, however, I need to clarify a few points. First of all, the reason I got hurt by the advice to purchase bank preferreds and Fannie/Freddie stock...

Greetings from Palm Springs, CA! I am almost 62 and retired. I do have separation pay from my employer for about a year and want to work now on picking investments for retirement income. Liquid assets are about $1.5M and I also will have a pension (my company will buy an immediate annuity to...