Notes on Finance and Investments

• Links

  • bogleheads forum
  • etf comparision
  • 4% rule

• Advice / Investing principles

  • Live below your means - do not allow lifestyle inflation to outpace your income
  • Never bear too much or too little risk - balance ambition with security
  • Invest early and often - Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world
  • Never try to time the market - stay invested and let time work for you
  • Stay the course - commit to your plan through market highs and lows
  • Be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy - Warren buffet
  • Simplify your life
    • “Any darn fool can make something complex. It takes a genius to make something simple.” – Pete seeger
    • declutter
    • embrace minimalism
  • Avoid reading news especially clickbaity and fear-inducing ones
  • DCA - Dollar cost averaging - invest steadily over time, regardless of market conditions
  • Invest in your health

• Order of investments should approximately follow:

  1. 401k match
  2. Health savings account (if HDHP is used), LPFSA
  3. 401k pretax
  4. 401K aftertax
  5. Roth IRA
  6. Medium interest debt
  7. 529
  8. Taxable investment
  9. Low interest debt

• Three fund portolio

  • VTI, BND, VXUS

• Do not invest in the low volume stocks/etfs, since they have higher spreads cost.

• Choose low-expense funds.