Recent content by Merlin

3% of our total spend for the last 11 months was for gasoline.

SS is 26% of our retirement income. Wife has not started receiving SS yet.

My dad was 50 and mom was 30. I have a friend whose father was 70 when she was born and 75 when her younger sister was born.

I bought his newsletter for a year back in the late 80s. It was very interesting reading. I just glanced over to my bookshelf and I still have a copy of The Economic Time Bomb published in 1989. I suppose I would not have ever bought any gold if I had not read Harry's book. I never came...

I am able to buy American's Washington Mutual without a load in my 401k. Washington Mutual is the only American I have any experinece with. Here is the performance record for Washington and Vanguard Value Index, both Large Cap Value Funds: American Funds Washington Mutual A YTD 11.00% 1-yr...

I always thought Bobbie Battista was nice looking.:o

Rebalancing your portfolio on an annual or other basis kind of forces you to buy asset classes that have underperformed. Hopefully they go back up.

Dave gets in wrong when it comes to investment advice. But it is possible that the average listener to his program may need an advisor such as the type that would sell American Funds.

I voted .5 to 1%. I would not be at all surprised if maintenance cost ends up being more than this long term.

Re: Jonathan Clements Article today - Contrary Advice The October issue of Money magazine says that every $100,000 invested in an annuity with inflation protection would kick off $490 per month in income to start with annual inflation adjustments thereafter.

I would not vote for Ann although I enjoy reading her columns from time-to-time. As far as I'm concerned, she is the right-wing counterbalancer for James Carville.

JPatrick, Thanks for the information.

Well, I recently took about a 1% position in this fund.  I like the idea of adding real estate and international diversification with just one fund.  I have a similar position in Third Avenue Real Estate Value.  When REITs and real estate in general correct, I plan to take my total real estate...

5.79% according to Quicken.

The Post Office in my town has a stamp vending machine that accepts change including pennies. About once a month I buy stamps with my change.