Get Free Articles!

Proud Member of Yakezie

Year 2013: My Favorite Personal Finance Articles

2014

It is hard to believe but, indeed, year 2013 is in the box. For stock investors, it was a banner year. Nasdaq finally climbed back to its old highs and other indices performed brilliantly as well.

While pundits on the Street may have tried their best to convince us, the mere mortals, that complex world of investment is esoteric, a monkey may have earned a double-digit return for your portfolio. I am not kidding.

I still have passion and thrill to invest in successful companies but I am absolutely convinced that investing in an Index fund is the surefire way to build your financial future. Those who kept their faith in the Index fund — in the midst of the financial storm of 2008 — saw shiny hill in the past year. I salute them.

With that said, the best way to start a new year is to reflect upon the marvelous nuggets of financial articles I read throughout the year. A revolution has already begun as more financial knowledge exists on the Internet today than that was contained in all the books combined until the birth of the Internet. And it’s free!!

While it is impossible to include all the brilliant personal finance articles that were born in year 2013, I have my favorites to share with you.

Before you start trying to pick individual stocks and/or fund managers ask yourself this simple question:  ”Am I Warren Buffett?”  If the answer is “no,” keep your feet firmly on the ground with indexing.  (If the answer is “yes,” it’s nice to have you here, Warren.)

— via Jlcollinsnh.com

One of my objectives as the Mad Fientist is to analyze common investment vehicles and financial advice, focusing on how they pertain to someone pursuing FI, and use what I learn to create optimal strategies to help both you and I reach financial independence as quickly as possible.  

— via Madfientist.com

As always, I suggest throwing out the TV. It’s an easy way to gain a several hours a week for most people. Spend some of those hours learning a new skill and some of them avoiding having to buy the next solution.

– via  earlyretirementextreme.com

You see, it’s easy to understand how to live below your means. It’s easy to formulate a long-term plan that involves you saving a significant portion of your income and investing the difference. You can read a couple of books and have that eurekamoment that truly changes your life. I know I did back in early 2010 as I realized that I didn’t want to be less than broke forever.

via  dividendmantra.com

Life choices are not always about the money, but you should always be clear about the money choice you are making.

— via jlcollinsnh.com

There is no happiness plateau with saving money in the survey because savings gives people peace of mind, pride, and independence. The less fear you have of going broke and the more freedom you have of doing whatever you want should definitely make people more happy!

— via Financialsamurai.com

There are all sorts of people out there quietly making a mint, in occupations that I thought were either nonexistent or low-paying. Some of them have questionable skills and you could easily outperform them in their own job. And yet, many of the university-educated job seekers are stuck on the other side of this easy money divide.

— via MrMoneyMustache.com

Choosing to ignore political chatter will put you on the fast track to a First Class lifestyle. No one likes hearing other people complain. Especially about politics, so why join the conversation in the first place?

— via Johnnymoneyseed.com

In short, accruing excessive debt can severely limit your choices in life as you get older, thereby making you an indentured servant to your lenders.

— via LenPenzo.com

Well, never let it be said that I don’t recognize a good idea when it’s banged over my head repeatedly and by multiple people for extended periods of time.

— via jlcollinsnh.com

Happy New Year!!

Comments (5)

Happy New Year, Shilpan!

Nice to see I made the cut. 😉

Good to see you back posting again.

Jim, it’s an honor to know you and your wonderful world of Index funds. You don’t know that countless folks have learned simple path to riches from you.

Hey Shilpan, I’m honored to have made your best-of-2013 list so thanks for including me!

As Jim said, it’s good to see you posting again so hopefully that continues throughout 2014.

Thanks for the kind words! I certainly want to keep sharing my thoughts going forward. The most difficult part is to balance life with blogging and other consulting venture that I have started recently. :=)

Yes, it is very difficult indeed. Good luck with your new consulting venture!