“Neglect of mathematics works injury to all knowledge, since he who is ignorant of it cannot know the other sciences or the things of the world.” –Roger Bacon If I told you that there were two investment possibilities, one of which had a 100% gain and one of which had a 1% gain, you’d probably [...]
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Do Low Prices Deceive You?
“Give away the razor. Sell the blade.” –Every MBA professor for the past fifty years “IT CHEAP!” That’s my Monkey Brain’s favorite saying. He knows that the soft spot in my heart is finding something on sale or something cheap. This is one of the few places where Monkey Brain and I have our interests [...]
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Fiduciary Duty Isn’t Enough; Your Planner Better Not Suck, Either
“I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence.” –Ayrton Senna A friend of mine once got a chocolate lab and wanted to build an outside dog run so that his dog wouldn’t go crazy from lack of exercise. Apparently, everyone else he knew within a five hundred mile radius must have had other [...]
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Why Paying Assets Under Management Fees is Like Getting a Car Loan From A Used Car Dealer
“Why is it that anyone driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” –George Carlin People hate buying cars from dealerships. The stereotypes abound. The white-shoed salesperson. The slimy process where he has to go “check with his manager” to see “what we can do for you.” [...]
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Why Personal Finance Gurus Are Like Free Schooling
“When you introduce competition into the public school system, most studies show that schools start to do better when they are competing for students.” –Bill Cosby I am a product of public schools through and through. My elementary, middle, and high schools were all public. West Point is a public university. I went to graduate [...]
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Timeshare: A Fancy Term for Flushing Money Down the Toilet
“Oh, you signed up for one of them timeshares, eh?” –Donkey, Shrek A hat tip to the wonderful folks at Control Your Cash for the inspiration. I love travel. I also love cheap things. Sure, I’m more than willing to spend money on things which are important to me, but, hey, why spend more when [...]
