Don’t Avoid the Pro Rata Rule
“How do I avoid the pro-rata rule in retirement? Can I do X to avoid it?”
I’ve seen this question numerous times.
My general answer – don’t avoid the pro rata rule in retirement.
Investing Our Mortgage – 3 year update
A few years ago we bought a house, paid in full with cash. Then I got a small mortgage as an inflation hedge and to invest for fun and profit.
We used a chunk of the mortgage to fund moving expenses and to acquire all of the typical home accoutrements, put solar on our roof, and pay the medium-sized tax bill that comes with selling enough stock to pay cash for a house. The remainder I put back into the market as a lump sum.
It has now been three years out of thirty. Let’s check in on how this investment is doing.
Choosing our ACA Health Insurance Plan for 2025
Choosing an ACA Health Insurance Plan is one of those sentimental holiday season activities we look forward to each year.
Here is the process I used to choose our plan for 2025.
A Simple Year-End Tax Checklist
The end of the calendar year is quickly approaching, and that means it is time to run through our year-end tax checklist. The simpler the better.
Here are a few important items to review and actions to take.
Debt as a Recession Tool
Shortly after moving back to the US in mid-2021, an extended COVID-19 hangover meant excessive economic angst for large swaths of the population.
People responded to economic woes in a number of ways – some worked extra hours or took on side gigs, others cut back on expenses, perhaps eating out less often or vacationing near home.
We did neither. Instead, I loaded up on debt.
