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MONEY matters

Mark Zaifman's thoughts on money, global economic trends and politics

Mark Zaifman

Vanguard Founder John Bogle’s Portfolio
Mark Zaifman   |    Thu, May 20, 2010 @ 06:10 PM

Here we go again…The stock market roller coaster ride is back with a vengeance.

Are you wondering what the founder of the Vanguard Group John Bogle, has in his portfolio? Here you go, courtesy of Market Watch.

As for Bogle, he’s plenty happy with his age-based investing formula. “I’ve always had in the back of my mind this incredibly simplistic idea, that your bond position should have something to do with your age,” he said.

In his retirement portfolio today, he’s got two-thirds of his bond portfolio in the Vanguard Total Bond Index fund VBMFX

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Is Gold Losing it's Luster?
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, May 19, 2010 @ 06:15 PM
As stock market volatility continues and the price for an ounce of gold continues to climb, many investors are jumping on the gold bandwagon. For socially responsible investors, the cost to the environment for mining gold is a price too high to pay.

Having a portion of your investment portfolio in precious metals such as gold has traditionally proven to be a good hedge against inflation as well as a hedge against a falling dollar. Most advisors recommend no more than a 5-10% total allocation to precious metals.

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Four Differences in How Men and Women Plan for Retirement
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 06:18 PM

Think there is a difference in how men and women plan for retirement?

I just read this interesting article by Dave Carpenter called Sex Matters When it Comes to Retirement Planning, where he explores the very different approaches men and women take when investing and retirement planning.

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Personal and Financial Success with Think And Grow Rich
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 06:41 AM

As part of my on-going series on presenting excerpts from this seminal book on money, Think and Grow Rich. Here is yet another small slice from Chapter 2 - Desire: The Starting Point of all Achievement.

Throughout the book, you’ll read about people that exemplified many of the characteristics Napoleon Hill talks about so passionately.  The book was revised and updated recently to include stories about people such as Bill Gates. One of the stories on Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, how she got started, is fascinating. Below are some tips she offers from an article she wrote titled: Personal Excellence.

Imagine Yourself Successful

Always picture yourself successful. Visualize the person you desire to become. Set aside time each day to be alone and undisturbed. Get comfortable and relax. Close your eyes and concentrate on your desires and goals. See yourself in this new environment, capable and self-confident.

Reflect On Your Past Successes

Every success, be it large or small, is proof that you are capable of achieving more successes. Celebrate each success. You can recall it when you begin to lose faith in yourself.

Set Definite Goals

Have a clear direction of where you want to go. Be aware when you begin to deviate from these goals and take immediate corrective action.

Respond Positively to Life

Develop a positive self-image. Your image, your reactions to life and your decisions are completely within your control.

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Call it a Spending Plan
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 04:36 AM

As a fee-only financial planner, lately some new clients have asked if I could use a different word besides budget when discussing their cash flow plan. Words do matter and for many reasons, the word budget congers up all sorts of negative thoughts and feelings. So for that reason and many others, lose the word budget and replace it with two words - spending plan.

Before you decide on a spending plan, keep one major goal in mind - your savings plan. Paying yourself first, meaning, putting your savings and investments to work by automatically funding these accounts first before paying your bills is the key to long-term financial success.

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Excerpts from Think and Grow Rich - Part 1
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, May 05, 2010 @ 11:49 AM

How many of you reading this blog have read Think and Grow Rich, written by Napoleon Hill? I heard about this book many times and honestly had the wrong impression of it. Perhaps it was the word rich in the title that threw me or maybe I thought it was a get rich quick book like so many others that end up only making the author rich. Either way, what a gem of a book this is.

Think and Grow Rich was first published in 1937 at the height of the depression. Think about that…writing a book about getting rich when all around there was so much misery and pain. That takes chutzpah to write a book like that during the depression.

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Don’t fear market turmoil — invest safely and save
Mark Zaifman   |    Sun, Apr 25, 2010 @ 05:54 PM

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Your Stone Age Brain on Money - A Case Study
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, Apr 21, 2010 @ 11:54 AM

I came across an article in the Journal of Financial Planning that really opened my eyes to how our brain works in terms of making financial decisions. The title is Money on Your Mind: The Brain’s Role in Financial Decision-Making.

Now you’re probably thinking, it sounds like a pretty wonky publication, but It's really not. If you’re at all interested in the role emotional intelligence plays in your relationship with money and investing, you have to read this case study. If the memory of the DJIA dropping over 900 points in one day is still a vivid memory, this is a must read.

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Coffee Party USA
Mark Zaifman   |    Mon, Apr 12, 2010 @ 02:24 PM
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America's Future Exceedingly Bright
Mark Zaifman   |    Tue, Apr 06, 2010 @ 12:11 PM

If you need a good old fashioned hit of U.S. optimism, check out this article by David Brooks in the New York Times - it made my day.

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