Darwin's Finance » Weekly Links

Weekend Reading: Hello iPad Edition

Darwin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 01:25:47 +0000

This week’s Best in Money and Investing edition coincides with the launch of the iPad which probably made Tiger Woods happy (a little less press for his debut). While some analysts were literally pulling numbers out of their butts touting 700,000 units on opening day, it was more like half that sold. Nonetheless, Apple shares are at an all-time high (which makes me happy – see my portfolio) also on news of a new iPhone 4 and a software upgrade that will allow for simultaneous apps. Anyway, back to what’s really important – great articles in Money and Investing.

Here were my favorite reads from bloggers I follow:

Finance for a Freelance Life shares some great advice she’d give her little sister – it covers some great topics, namely – just know that you can’t afford it. Too many people act like they CAN afford it, when they CAN’T.

Weakonomics takes on the question of Why Interest is Tax Deductible. I find it interesting that many western countries either don’t allow or recently eliminated mortgage interest deductions and their real estate didn’t implode. I know I’d miss the deduction though!

No Debt Plan warns to Watch for Teaser Rates on Checking Accounts. Why do you think that rate’s so attractive?

Financial Samurai shares an interesting way to defer unnecessary purchases – Play Games To Save Money And Achieve Your Goals! I also want to thank Sam for starting up the Yakezie Challenge which has prompted several bloggers to help each other improve their Alexa scores (some fellow Yakezies are included this week). I’m now in the 100K club, which was a major goal of mine. Thanks!

20s Money has sage advice for everyone – Where Public Policy Fails, You Must Fill The Gap. He’s right. While the US may be turning into a nanny state, don’t assume “everything’s going to work out” or the government’s going to take care of you. Look out for yourself and plan ahead!

Bargaineering shares a list on the Richest Counties in America. Neat list.

Recent Top Articles By Yours Truly:

Personal Finance

Did Your Raise Suck This Year? Mine Kinda Did.
Free FICO Score with 7 Day Trial from Equifax- Why Not?
My Effective Tax Rate is Under 5% Ã¢â‚¬â€œ That’s Just Wrong
Doing a Tax Refund Loan? Ask Yourself This 1 Question

Investing

Dividend ETFs to Rally Next?
Biotech ETFs Hitting New Highs Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Which Fund is Best?
Playing Emerging Markets Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Without Stocks
PEG Ratio: Why It’s More Relevant than P/E for Stocks
ETF List Extreme Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 894 Funds Ranked by YTD Return

Carnivals that Featured my Content Recently:

Carnival of Personal Finance

Carnival of Financial Planning

Personal Finance

Best in Money and Investing: Health Care History Edition

Darwin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:45:54 +0000

So much has been said about the recent health care reform bill – what’s good about it, what’s not, and just how divided the country is over it, that I thought it would be best to share a few perspectives that were both for and against to contrast with my article this week on What’s Wrong with the Health Care Bill.

My Journey to Millions questions whether the bill is constitutional?

Len Penzo says this Redistribution of Health is going to make him sick

However, the Financial Samurai says Insuring the Uninsured is worth it

My top posts from the past 2 weeks:

In Personal Finance and Economy

Doing a Tax Refund Loan? Ask Yourself This 1 Question
Getting Real About Your Emergency Fund Ã¢â‚¬â€œ How Much is TOO Much?
101 Ways to Cut Expenses Ã¢â‚¬â€œ The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Chase Freedom Cranks Up Rewards to 5% Cash Back
If You’re Getting Ahead, isn’t Splitting Hairs Counter-Productive?

Investing

Can a 130/30 Fund Beat the Market? You Bet!
OptionsHouse 100 Free Trades Ã¢â‚¬â€œ $2.95 from There

ETF Base – Make Sure to Subscribe Free to ETF Base if you haven’t already. Check out these articles:

6 Precious Metals ETFs to Play a Weak Dollar Secular Trend
Hedge Fund ETF Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Main Street’s Ticket to Performance or Marketing Hype?
Beating the S&P500 with Equal Weight ETF
High Yield Junk Bond ETF: Risk/Reward Spectrum Favor Buying?

Carnivals that graciously included my content recently:

Money Hacks

Carnival of Financial Independence

Money Stories

Tax Carnival

Carnival of Personal Finance

Carnival of Financial Planning

Money Hackers

Personal Finance

Weekend Reading – iPad Cometh Edition

Darwin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:03:17 +0000

With Apple’s stock at an all-time high on anticipation of blockbuster iPad sales with an estimated 20,000 units sold per hour on opening day today, it makes you wonder whether such a hot item is completely recession-proof. People need that iPad! It’s quite amazing, and I’m holding plenty of Apple stock (see Darwin’s Portfolio Ã¢â‚¬â€œ The Full Monty). But as far as buying one myself, I’m gonna have to wait it out. I’ll wait. And watch. And see if I’d actually be able and willing to use one of these devices to its potential. And then I’ll buy a second generation when they make it better. Enough on Apple though, here are some great reads for the week with a couple new blogs I’m following as well as some usual suspects:

A new favorite blog I read is by “the Mish“. With a title like this, how can you not read this article?
“Hardball In New Jersey, No Balls In Virginia; Brass Balls In Las Vegas”

The Dividend Guy shares essential tips for the struggling investor.

My Journey to Millions rightly points out that comparatively speaking, a Million Dollars IS a lot of money

Consumerism Commentary meanwhile, says I Might Need $3,000,000 To Retire: What’s Your Number?

Wealth Pilgrim shows us How To Teach Kids About Money

Len Penzo on the Deadbeat Generation

Simple Dollar on Convenience Foods: What They Really Cost

Steadfast Finances on Why it’s Important to Buy during the Doom & Gloom News

And check out this Yakazie Challenge where bloggers are teaming up to increase their Alexa rankings (see this week’s challenge). Impressive!

Stuff You Might Like from Yours Truly:

in Money:

Investing:

Carnivals that Featured My Content Recently:

Money Hacks

Money Stories

Fast Swings

Carnival of Personal Finance

Festival of Frugality

Personal Finance

Weekend Reading: I’m A Plutus Award Finalist Edition

Darwin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:56:55 +0000

I thought I’d dedicate this weekend reading edition to a shameless plea for votes in the Plutus Awards, as I was nominated for Best Investing Blog of 2009. I spend so little time actually trying to promote myself vs. keeping up with posts, emails and life in general, that I figure I’d throw this one out there asking for your help since I’m up against 4 other great blogs I respect and admire – ABCs of Investing, Amateur Asset Allocator, The Oblivious Investor and Good Financial Cents).

Why Vote for me?

Here are just a few neat Investing Posts I Hope You’d Find Worthy of a Vote (especially this first link as I shared a personal investment strategy that is absolutely astounding in my opinion):

Make Money in ANY Market ***
How Stock Options Work – Puts and Calls
How to Hedge Your Own Energy Costs
Employee Stock Option Hacks
EVERY ETF on Earth (List of 800+)
The 25 vs 35 Year Old Starting Investor (Amazing Outcome)
How to Short the US Treasury
Investment Club? Think Again
Leveraged ETFs are Evil (Hence, I short them!)
Advanta’s 11% Yield Notes – Too Good to be True

With that in mind, here’s the link to the Plutus Awards. If you’re not familiar with other categories, you can easily find my entry by doing a F and search “Darwin”.

Enough shameless pandering though; here are my favorite reads from the week.

Favorite Reads:
No Debt Plan – Video: How to Set up a Monthly Budget/Spending Plan

Weakonomics – The Hollywood Stock Exchange (neat concept)

TaxVox - Why so Few Pay Income Tax

Steadfast Finances – Do you Know Your Leverage Ratio?

The Mish – Detroit Union Troubles Microcosm of US Debt Equation

Dividend Guy – 3 Questions Every Investor Must Ask

Political Calculations – A Better Way for Detecting Housing Bubbles

QuickSprout – Why I’ll Never Live in a Rich Neighborhood

Carnivals that Featured My Content Recently:

Carnival of Personal Finance

Best of Money

Money Hacks

Money Stories

Carnival of Personal Finance

Festival of Frugality

Road to Financial Independence

Money Hacks

Festival of Frugality

Personal Finance

Money Stories 2

OneMint Economy and Your Finances

Weekend Reading – “There Will Be Blood” Edition

Darwin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:05:11 +0000

This week it was announced that New York Attorney General’s office is filing civil charges against the former CEO of Bank of America Ken Lewis, saying he misled investors about Merrill Lynch when it acquired the bank in late 2008. Whether this is politically motivated or there is legal merit, it is evident that after over a year of populist simmering over the fallout of the financial crisis, this is probably just the first in many such announcements. There Will Be Blood.

With that backdrop, the good news is that I want to share my favorite reads from the past week from around the money blogosphere. Also, I’ve included my top articles from within my network (make sure to check out my new blog ETFBase) as well as outlets that featured my content recently.

Favorite Reads:

Dividend Guy – 7 Warning Signs You Need to Repair Your Portfolio

Financial Samurai – Do Ã¢â‚¬Å“CÃ¢â‚¬Â Students Deserve Ã¢â‚¬Å“AÃ¢â‚¬Â Lifestyles?

Moolanomy – 25 Best iPhone Apps for Personal Finance

Steadfast Finances - Personal Finance Equations You Should Know

Consumerism Commentary – Personal Balance Sheet (I like checking out what other bloggers make – pretty cool that Flexo shares)

Len Penzo – Inflation 101: Why Avatar Isn’t the Biggest Movie of All Time (And What Movie Is)

Within My Network (I’ve been busy!):

Most Incredible Investment Strategy – Yup!
ETFs are Better than Mutual Funds – See Why
Obama’s New Tax Plan: Winners and Losers
Why Pay High Credit Card Rates when You Can…
Option Spread Strategy – It’s In the Money!
Extroverts Do Better? Here’s Why
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished – Charity
New ETF Review: Wildcatters Energy Small Caps
41 Stocks Increasing Dividends EVERY Year
Drill Later, Not Now – and NOT for the Greens
Laid Off? Think Fast! Budget Moves
Innovative Ways to Hedge this Market

Carnivals that Featured My Articles:

Carnival of Personal Finance

Weekend Reading: HealthCare Up in the Air Edition

Darwin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:11:15 +0000

It was a tumultuous week in both the political arena as well as stock market action. With a major upset win in Mass. by the Republican underdog Brown, Dems were still mulling over whether to try and push through a Healthcare reform bill that was nowhere near ready just before Brown was to be seated. To quote one Democrat “it would be better than nothing“. Well, for a Trillion Dollars, I’d like a little more confidence behind the most expensive piece of legislation EVER. So, public outcry over the potential to push through a bill wrought with back-door deals, cost questions, lack of tort reform and strong public dissent to “beat the clock” before Brown was seated seems to have been interpreted by Dems as “we better regroup”. Meanwhile, Republicans are being chastised for just “saying no” to everything and not offering up solutions themselves. So, for now, with Senate gridlock, Healthcare is Up in the Air.

With that, my favorite reads from the week and recognition of outlets that published my content this week:

Financial Samurai - Tax Refunds Are Good For Most People, Because Most People Can’t Save

Five Cent Nickel – Effect of Paying Off Your Mortgage on Your FICO Credit Score

Dividend Guy Blog - Why Most People Fail at Investing

Afraid to Trade - Fallout from Big Bank Legislation May Help Small Banks

Weakonomics – Weakonomics Common Sense Guide To Dying

Within My Network (I’ve been busy!):

Carnivals that Featured My Articles:

Carnival of Personal Finance

Money Hacks

Money Stories

Festival of Stocks

Road to Financial Independence

FMF March Madness Entry

Weekend Reading – Carnival’s Coming to Town Edition

Darwin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:09:44 +0000

The weekend reading’s out a bit early this weekend. Why? I need to prepare for the Carnival of Personal Finance that I’ll be hosting for Monday. If you’re unfamiliar with the Carnival, it’s the premiere roundup of blog posts from top bloggers in Personal Finance, Investing, Career and other topics – see my last Carnival if interested in what’s in store – so, make sure to bookmark or follow via RSS! But, back to our reading list. Since I haven’t seen any Carnival submissions yet, these were my favorite reads from the week from bloggers I follow, as well as a shout-out to other Carnivals that included my content (and please check out my Guest Post I did at Five Cent Nickel – it was a fun one):

Dividend Guy Blog – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Dividend Stocks

Dividend Growth Investor - 2010’s Top Dividend Plays

Oblivious Investor – Spreading (mis)Information

Fiscal Fizzle – 6 Important Tasks After a New Baby’s Birth

Five Cent Nickel – America’s Most Expensive Cities

Weakonomics – Poker Face: The Card Game Visa Is Playing With Your Money

Get Rich Slowly – The Best Time to Buy Almost Everything