Author: Harold Sasnowitz

The Magic Number

As of this writing, April 5, 2024, a number of news outlets are reporting that “the magic number is $1.5 million”.  This is supposed to...
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Where Wall Street and Monte Carlo Meet

There’s a class of problems that have no straightforward and definite mathematical solution.  A simple example is what is the number that is going to...
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The Media and the Market

The Media and the Market In our daily lives, we need and use information.  We regard it as essential to go about our day to...
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How the Consumer Price Index (CPI) directly affects you

How is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Calculated I’ve often wondered how the CPI is calculated.  I know that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)...
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Market Dips

  A recent Avantis Field Guide article focused on market dips.  It got me thinking about how these occurrences often cause us angst.  And our...
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What is a “Safe” Investment?

Consider money you’re putting away for a long term (think twenty years away – say for retirement or a young child’s college expenses) expense.  Often...
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To Buy or Not to Buy, That is the Question (Maintenance Contracts)

When buying almost any appliance the salesperson asks if you want to “protect your investment” with a maintenance contract.  Even Amazon offers maintenance contracts on...
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What Does APR Mean, and Why You Should Care?

If you are about to buy a house, a car, a mattress, or nearly anything on credit you are presented with an interest rate.  Often...
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What Goes In a Safe Deposit Box

Things that are valuable often are kept in a safe deposit box at a bank or credit union.  However, the definition of value is different...
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How is Need Based College Aid Determined – Part 2

While part 1 of this blog outlined how need-based aid is determined from the FAFSA, this part talks about things to do long before getting...
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