Financial Update – Apr 2025

Another month, another update. A few random comments. Good Reads/Listens/Watches NYT Podcast on how the much anticipated reduction in real estate agent fees has yet to materialize (link). Older Bogleheads on advice they’d give their 45-year old selves (link). WSJ on how to easily delete personal info (address, phone number, etc) from internet (wsj article). … Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Fidelity’s Cash Management Account (CMA)

I’ve used Fidelity’s Cash Management Account (CMA) as my primary “checking,” “savings,” and “cash management account” for over six years. I recommend this setup to my students. I recommend it to my children. I recommend it to you. The default CMA setup is already strong. However, I’ve spent years refining it — optimizing for tax … Read more

Financial Update – Mar 2025

I wrote the majority of this post before markets went to hell on April 3–4. Since then, our portfolio dropped another $250k. We’ll see how this plays out, but I can’t say I’m terribly optimistic about the fallout from what the WSJ called the “dumbest trade war in history.” I wouldn’t be surprised if equities … Read more

Financial Update – Feb 2025

Another month, another update. A few random comments. Good Reads/Listens/Watches The Finance Buff on protecting investment accounts from ACATS transfer theft (link). If I were not currently chasing $7k/year of brokerage bonuses, I’d have 100% of our brokerage accounts at Fidelity with lockdown enabled. Hopefully other brokerages follow suit and enable this functionality.   Life … Read more

Financial Update – Jan 2025

Another month, another update. A few random comments. Good Reads/Listens/Watches I found this YouTube documentary on Malaysian Flight 370 (the Boeing 777 that seemingly disappeared without a trace in 2014) to be fascinating/horrifying (link). Vanguard lowers expense ratios on 87 funds (link). Bogleheads discussion (link). WSJ article (link). Tesla is offering a 10% insurance discount … Read more

2024 Review — State of the Blog & Life

Another lap around the sun.   First, a 40,000 ft overview of 2024: I lost my mom (64) after an excruciatingly long and difficult sickness spanning almost a decade. I rediscovered running after a 25-year hiatus. I dragged the family to Seattle/Whistler where we hiked, kayaked, and four of us competed in a triathlon (Me, … Read more