The Mission Critical Blog
6 Tips for Happy Retirees
When most people think about retirement, they tend to think of it in terms of numbers. “How much money do I need to retire?” “How are my investments doing?” “Are all of my income sources going to cover my expenses?” “Will I run out of money?” And yes, the tangible details are important (it’s the cornerstone of everything I do!) but we can not afford to ignore the intangible. That’s how to make sure that you are happy [...]
When to View Charts and Graphs with Healthy Skepticism
Pictures help us make sense of data. For example, when paleontologists unearth a single tooth, they can tell a lot about the animal it came from, including whether or not it’s a new species. When they publish their findings for their peers, they will include pages and pages of data. But when the discovery is announced to the public, it will likely be accompanied by a highly detailed illustration of the animal in its natural setting. The pictured [...]
When a Crystal Ball is No Advantage
One of the favorite tropes of time travel stories—movies, novels, or TV shows—is the prescient investor. This is a character who becomes fabulously wealthy by traveling to the past and buying high performing stocks before they take off. It’s a handy way to create a character with limitless resources, but it also fulfills the fantasy of every speculator: picking exactly the right stock again and again. Knowing what was going to happen in the future, a character could [...]
Cryptocurrency: a big opportunity or a risky gamble?
In 1995 plush toy maker Ty Warner had a problem. His Chinese supplier could no longer make his top-selling stuffed animal, a lamb named Lovie. Warner was worried that when customers found out they could no longer buy this popular item, they would be upset. He came up with a solution that would make him a billionaire. Instead of telling his retailers about his manufacturing woes, Warner decided to announce the discontinuation of Lovie as a planned “retirement.” [...]
“No thanks”—The 5 Worst Assets to Pass Down to Your Kids
Each generation has different tastes and values when it comes to possessions. And nowhere is this difference more apparent than when it comes time to pass them along. It can be a shock to downsizing parents when they learn that none of their children want grandma’s big, formal dining table and chairs. It may be that the next generation doesn’t decorate with large oak pieces, or they simply don’t have any place to put it. Either way, it’s [...]
Healthcare Costs: A Risk to Your Retirement You Should Be Planning For Now
Saving for retirement has been likened to climbing a mountain. It’s an ambitious goal. It requires long-term effort and an experienced guide. Progress is sometimes slow as you work your way around obstacles. But when you finally reach the summit, you can just relax and enjoy the view. That’s the idealized version, anyway. In real life mountain climbing, the risks don’t stop when you reach your goal. They simply change. And you find yourself facing a new set [...]
