Wednesday Reading List
ICYMI:
A Big July – Thank you for making July the biggest month yet on The Boston Advisor! Here’s what your fellow readers found most popular over the past month.
Your Money This Week – In Your Money This Week, we’re looking at this week’s market volatility and the right and wrong ways to react to it, mortgage rates dropping and how to determine if it’s time to refi, and how you can learn enough about the economy to avoid bad financial decisions.
Avoid the ‘Social Security Torpedo’ and 3 Other Tips to Slash Your Tax Bill in Retirement by Barron’s
People mistakenly assume that tax planning isn’t important for retirees, or that there aren’t options to lower your ongoing tax bill. Consider Roth IRA conversions in lower tax years before Social Security and RMD’s kick-in. Place tax-efficient investments in brokerage accounts and spend those down first.
Small Caps, Large Caps, and Interest Rates by CFA Institute
There’s been a narrative that small caps are more interest-rate sensitive than large caps, and as such do better in expected falling rate environments like these. The data indicates otherwise, which is important because if it didn’t, you could become convinced that you could time your ownership of small caps and large caps based on the rate environment (you can’t).
FAFSA: Is It Income? by the College Financial Lady
It’s getting close to FAFSA season. Here’s a list of things that are considered income.
What to Watch as the 2024 Election Approaches by Charles Schwab Asset Management
Investors are focused on the presidential race, but presidential elections have historically had little market impact. They should be watching the House and Senate instead. “The main reason that investors should keep an eye on Congressional races is that which party controls the House and Senate will have a major influence on the 2025 policy agenda. Congress next year will be confronted with two massive issues that are critical to the markets: a debt limit fight and taxes.” The Republicans have an advantage in their quest to flip control of the Senate and are the favorites to do so. The House battle will be extremely close.
The Value of WallStreetBets Investment Research Recommendations by Larry Swedroe
Retail investors are using Wallstreetbets as an investment research source. They shouldn’t be. The content gears toward speculative names with lots of short interest and there’s little quality control.
Book Recommendation
Saving Freud: The Rescuers Who Brought Him to Freedom by Andrew Nagorski
A dramatic true story about Sigmund Freud’s last-minute escape to London following the German annexation of Austria and the group of friends who made it possible.
Boston Corner
Finally, tap-and-pay for the MBTA
Mass. outpacing nation in economic growth, report shows
Things to Do in Boston This Weekend
Things to Do This Week in Boston