Our Financial Planner is a CFP for Rick Edelman who has authored several best selling books on investing. She was recommended to us by a business associate of the Plant Pixie (aka Barbara). One of the things that was attractive to me is that we can pay her a annual fee for advice that is independent of anything that she does. She has helped my re-balance my 401K several times for example. On the stuff that we have invested with her she has done well, even over the last couple of years when the market has been like a roller coaster.

Every one has 20/20 hindsight. But my advice to the younger ones that troll here. Even though it is easier said than done, save and invest as much as you can as young as you can.

 

Levi, That's not the story that I got from Karla....

 

I love it when I can start a thread, go away, and see some great productive content almost 24 hours later....

 

I agree. Turning over bill paying to my wife was one of the smartest things she ever insisted on! She thought I was doing a bad job. Really it was just a matter of different priorities when money was really tight when we were just starting out. It was a wonderful eye opener for her. Since then neither one of us have been big impulse buyers and we respect each other's needs, even if foolish. I totally agree it needs to be shared. At our house, I make/maintain the budget and she pays the bills/manages the check book. We both know at all times where things stand.

She doesn't have a real desire to jump into the investment or tax thing, so that's left up to me. Frankly, for some strange reason, I don't have any real interest with investments either -- other than I like to see them make money. I've been very pleased with my index and managed funds with Vanguard... after 3-1/2 years of retirement during some down markets, I still have 99% of my money after withdraws for living expenses. I learned the toughest thing was to stay the course when things are going in the crapper but I also learned if the initial plan is sound and balanced it will work.

 

That's a great testimony to indexing and (I assume) diversification, Dave

 

BTW - Matt doesn't own a check book. Need I say more?

 

I handled ALL of our financial responsibilities until just a couple of years ago. I was afraid that he could not do it. I have a little control problem . LOVE IT. NO WORRY! We share 100% of it all. No separate accounts, except for my business account. I keep in touch with what we have, but beyond that, I don't care. I suspended my business so no more corporate taxes for me! Just as someone said earlier, He makes it and I spend it! And I am really good at it, a professional I would say

 

Jerry, I'm so diversified it's unreal: small, medium, large... be it bonds - corp or other, be it stocks - foreign, domestic, growth, blue chip, etc. etc. etc. With all that diversity I know I won't get any great windfalls but having piece of mind along with a reasonable return is fine with me. For anyone approaching that 401k rollover time in a few years, I recommend they look at the Vanguard site and consider the various analysis programs they offer.

 

Nah....I just married one instead! Taska and I have an absolutely wonderful marriage. From the get-go, we'd agreed to two things in our lives: 1) Probably wouldn't have any children, and 2) Our career incomes go into a single pool, and from that each of us receive an equal allowance to purchase "fun stuff"...rest pays bills, invests, etc. From this arrangement, amazingly, we've never had a fight (seriously...15 years of marriage this past August -- 17 years of committment -- not a single argument ). Now as for paying the monthly bills...that's Taska's bag. I take care of it during "Tax Season" for us (she's a workaholic then and I'm a good hubby ). But still, she balances the books and such for us. What was extremely interesting this very year is that she really *does* wear the pants now in our home. This year her salary eclipsed mine. I sincerely doubt that I will ever pass her again either. Nor am I disappointed about it. Still...never seems to be enough money to make us happy yet. But money ain't everything. She has her horses...and I have my S2000 .

- Dave

 

Wow, Dave. Not a single fight? About anything? That's amazing, though I daresay it's due in large part to agreement #1 above.

That is truly astonishing, Dave. Congrats!