Wealth and Wisdom: Week of February 26, 2024

A few things worth knowing right now:

• There might not be a recession after all. The Conference Board’s U.S. Leading Economic Index shows economic growth slowing to near zero in the second and third quarter – but as of last week is no longer forecasting a recession.
• Former St. Louis Federal Reserve president James Bullard says the Fed should not delay cutting interest rates as inflation slides below 3%. Consensus is that the Fed will leave rates unchanged at its next meeting in March.
• The United States government will soon be spending more in interest on its debt each year than it does defending the country.

Sometimes, bad markets are good

If you’re trying to build wealth, you should hope for bad years in the market – early and often. (Reading time: 3 minutes)

Learning how to invest

Explore these 8 free online investing resources designed for investors of any age. (Reading time: 4 minutes)

Planning to retire soon?

Here’s what to think about if you want to retire in the next couple of years – and it’s what I’ll be covering in my workshop series this year. Stay tuned! (Reading time: 3 minutes)

A retiree’s freshman year report card

This couple learned a great deal about spending, travel, and how much to hold in cash during their first year of retirement. (Reading time: 3 minutes)

Maximizing retirement income

Some quick tips for boosting your cash flow – today and in the future. (Reading time: 2 minutes)

Withdrawing from a Roth IRA

To avoid needless taxes and penalties, it pays to know how the IRS looks each dollar you withdraw from your Roth IRA. (Reading time: 2 minutes)

What to keep in your safe deposit box

With today’s cloud-based technology, do you still need a safe deposit box? Probably – and here’s what to keep in it. (Reading time: 9 minutes)

What to do when you inherit money

How would you handle an unexpected financial windfall? This couple decided not to blow it. (Reading time: 5 minutes)

Tightening up your cash flow

There are better places to look for extra cash than under the sofa cushion. (Reading time: 3 minutes)

24 websites for travel deals

Kiplinger’s highlights two dozen online resources that might help you travel for less – regardless of your budget. (Reading time: 5 minutes)

Words to the Wise

“You’re not going to get very far in life on the basis of what you already know. You’re going to advance in life by what you’re going to learn.”

– Charlie Munger

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