Does A Quiet Market Spell Trouble?
The VIX, a trademarked ticker symbol for the Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index, is a measure of implied volatility in the market over the next 30 days. Also known as the fear gauge, it represents how people perceive the current markets’ risk. On June 6, the VIX actually went to a recent low […]
Introducing CIA Success Stories
Dear CIA readers, we’ve got something new for you! If you love reading our blog then stay tuned for our monthly feature – The Success Stories series. Each month we’ll be bringing real stories that our advisors have shared client successes. We can all learn a little something from success, so treat the Success Stories […]
The Winning Streak
Ever been a part of a winning streak? Either as a fan or a competitor? They are great. They are fun and we tend to be very superstitious along the ride. We also must conjure up some luck as well. No good winning streak goes without some real good luck. I remember multiple streaks as a […]
Would You Pass this Money and Happiness Quiz?
I’ve recently released a new book called, “You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think,” and in it, I analyze the financial bare minimums needed for retirement, along with the different traits and habits between happy retirees and unhappy retirees. I have actually answered the question that we have all heard, “can money buy happiness?” Though […]
How Do You Define Happiness?
I’ve recently written a book about money and happiness called You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think (McGraw Hill Education, $18) which gives you a step by step guide to finding the right balance between money and happiness, so that you can retire early and happy. My book ultimately answers the question, “Does money buy happiness?” […]
Choosing to Retire Happy
Times have changed. The pensions we once knew don’t exist as they once did. Even for pensions that do still exist if you took on a role with a company years ago; many of them have been changed, and only a lucky few get grandfathered in to old pension systems. 401k plans are the new […]
Can You Sell Your Life Insurance Policy – For Cash?
I’ll tell you right out of the gate – this might be the creepiest financial topic I’ve ever researched. But, just like any financial option that you have available to you, I feel like it’s my job to shed some light on the subject. Life Settlements, formally known as Viatical Settlements, elicit a great deal […]
Real Life Monopoly
Remember playing Monopoly? I loved the game (at least for the first hour or so of play)! Everyone had a different strategy, but the flow of the game was pretty similar every time we played. Early on in the game, people were buying properties left and right at market price. As properties became scarce, each player […]
Apple & Beats: If you can’t beat ’em, buy ’em
I have been fascinated these past few weeks wondering why Apple is reportedly buying Beats, a “low tech” company that’s only been around for three years — for 3.2 Billion! (The deal isn’t “official” just yet) Everyone seems to hate the Apple &Beats deal: CNN Money – “Apple & Beats is just a bad deal” […]
A New Car, That’s More Than Free
Seriously, that’s not a typo. Here’s why the Nissan Leaf is essentially “free” in Georgia, and this isn’t even accounting for what you’ll save on gas (I’ll explain that part in a minute, but it just makes the Leaf an even better deal). Here’s the math: A Nissan Leaf in its basic form (and with […]
