Lee Distad

Using Coupons and Calendars for Big Savings

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Years ago, a friend far more driven by money than I am shared with me this saying: "Pennies become nickels, and dimes become dollars." His point, of course, is that putting together a lot of small savings or a lot of small profits adds up to something big. In order to cultivate a frugal mindset, [...]

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Diversify Your Investments. No, Really, We Mean It

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Diversifying your portfolio is one of the most fundamental pieces of an investment strategy. It's essentially the old aphorism that says you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket. The underlying motive for diversification is to reduce risk: by having your investments spread between different funds, equities, or financial instruments, your portfolio is less [...]

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There Is No Level Playing Field

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In recent weeks, the business media has been host to a rising tide of faux-outrage at perceived injustices in the financial marketplace. A lot of column-inches have been devoted to High Frequency Trading and, more recently, a tempest in a teapot has been brewing over bond-flipping by originators and institutional investors. Arguments like these are [...]

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Leasing a Car? Know the Downsides

For many people, car ownership is the second biggest ticket purchase that they're likely to make (after real estate). No matter how you slice it, a car is a substantial purchase. My late grandfather was fond of pointing out that every vehicle he purchased in his lifetime cost as much as all the previous ones [...]

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When Investing, Stick to What You Know

Warren Buffett can always be counted on for great sound bytes that offer sensible advice for every investor. While not as pithy as some of his other statements, his advice that you shouldn't invest in any business that you don't understand is so obvious that it's easy to lose sight of its wisdom. Buffett is [...]

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Are Your Actively Managed Funds Beating the Index?

We're constantly discussing ETFs/index funds and actively managed mutual funds even though the comparison is so unflattering to actively managed funds. But don't take it just from me. You need to do your own research on the performance comparisons. By and large, what you're going to find is that very, very few active funds consistently [...]

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Keeping ?The Market? In Perspective

I have to admit to an interest in the equities market that borders on the unhealthy. I'm well aware that, over the long term, saving and buy-and-hold investing are the keys to growing personal wealth. But still, like a siren call, the excitement and adventure of short-term trading is a seductive distraction. Like any vice, [...]

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