I spent 6 years in college studying mechanical engineering, and then 7 years working at an aerospace contractor where my colleagues and I designed, built, tested, and launched satellite-based telescope systems. One of the features of all engineering design is the concept of “factors of safety.” Simply put, factors of safety are margins built into […]

Friend of the blog DT wrote in and said: In regards to your recent “When to Take Social Security” article, you left something out. You can take Social Security early (say, age 62), then invest that money, and your investment will end up better than if you had waited on Social Security until age 67 […]

I’m now 30 months into my new career, and I’m loving every single day. As a lifelong learner, I find the nuanced topics of financial planning and investment management to be a limitless sandbox, or perhaps more like an underground cave system. Where’s the bottom?! Nobody knows! Despite that complexity, my colleagues and I help […]

I was recently listening to Michael Kitces and Carl Richards on their podcast, and they posed an amazing question: “What’s one thing that you do regularly that you’d like to stop doing?” What would you stop doing? Each of our answers will vary. It could be a destructive habit, a bad behavior, or the simple […]

Thanks to reader Lynn, who wrote in this week with some specifics about her household’s situation and an overarching question: When should we start taking Social Security? I’ll provide background information below, and then we’ll discuss a few common “if –> then” heuristics to help you with your Social Security planning. Background – The Pros […]

My friend Rocco works for a high-end tailor. A big part of their business model is the idea that a nice-fitting shirt, perfectly tailored pants, or an Italian silk suit will not only look good, but will objectively improve your life. But how? The engineer and humanist in me would balk at the idea. I […]

I don’t watch many live sports these days. Life is busy. But I’ve caught a few quarters of NBA playoff basketball, and I’ll watch game replays while sipping morning coffee.  If you’re unaware, the NBA has been revolutionized by “Moneyball” ideas over the past decade. The main “new idea” affects 3-point shots. The ratio of […]