At Life Story Financial, we believe investing isn’t just about building wealth—it’s about building the life you want to live. As women, we approach money with intention, and we invest not just for profit, but for purpose: to create freedom, security, and opportunity. This Financial Literacy Month, let’s talk about how to grow your money […]
You can use Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) to avoid the wash-sale rule in several ways. Here are three, from the clearly legal to the more questionable. Most wealthy people constantly look for legal ways to minimize their taxes, and the rest of us can learn from their tricks. Some expand that to include tax reduction strategies […]
I’ll admit it. I’ve never been a huge fan of bonds. I even suggested once that rental property can be a better way to diversify your stock holdings without giving up most of your return as you do with bonds. Are Stocks or Bonds the Better Investment? This is a somewhat tricky question. Stocks are […]
When investing, many people turn to the S&P 500 for its historical performance and reputation as a cornerstone of the U.S. stock market. The S&P 500 tracks the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. But is it the best or only option for investors? It’s the most prominent index in U.S. markets and […]
IRAs, or Individual Retirement Accounts (or Arrangements per the IRS), are a crucial part of retirement plans for many Americans. Depending on your income, you may be able to deduct your annual contributions to a traditional IRA when filing your tax return. This is the original IRA, enabled by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act […]
Have you ever wondered why some people seem comfortable investing most (maybe all) of their savings in high-flying stocks while others cling to the safe but low returns offered by short-term Treasury securities? We’re not talking about professional money managers who spend their days watching the markets, analyzing financial data, and trying to read the […]
If you’re investing for your future self, this one’s for you… Knowing which way the herd is going is useful information. Because, sometimes, following the herd offers safety (and cost advantages). Other times, playing a contrarian game is better (though usually riskier). That makes the annual Investment Company Institute (ICI) factbook fascinating (if long and data-dense). […]
Real estate has long been considered a reliable and lucrative investment option, offering the potential for steady income, long-term appreciation, and portfolio diversification. However, the traditional approach of purchasing and managing physical properties can be daunting for many investors due to the substantial capital requirements, time commitment, and expertise needed to navigate the complexities of […]
The pandemic affected the wealth of American households… We all (or at least most of us) want to increase our wealth. For some, it’s a matter of survival. For others, it’s a quest for long-term security. For some, especially the uber-wealthy, it seems to have become a game of accumulating ever more riches and power, […]