by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Jan 20, 2026 | Blog, Investing, Tax Planning for Retirement
Investors in Schwab prime advantage money fund SWVXX need to know they have better alternatives for large cash holdings. SWVXX is Expensive. The fund costs .34% per year. That is a hefty fee for a low-risk money market investment. SWVXX has Underperformed SWVXX has...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 13, 2025 | Blog, Investing, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning for Retirement
Retiring on stock market dividends is a great way to retire but this approach is not for everyone. This article will review the pros and cons of retiring on dividends. The PROS are: Inflation protection Lower taxes Predictable Income Low volatility of your income....
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 11, 2025 | Blog, Estate Planning, Investing, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning for Retirement
Annuities are bad investments designed to hold you hostage for the duration of your life. Annuities are nothing more than a complicated trap that many investors fall victim to. Here are the four most common ways investors get trapped in annuities. Taxes Death Benefits...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 5, 2025 | Blog, Investing, Retirement Planning
Municipal Bonds, are they right for your portfolio? I am going to show you a process to determine if municipal bonds are a good deal for you. We are going to focus on two areas: Taxable Equivalent Yield Liquidity What Are Muni Bonds? First, let’s quickly go over what...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Dec 3, 2025 | Blog, Investing
SGOV vs CDs, which is a better short-term investment? SGOV beats CDs, easily, in four key areas: Taxes Liquidity Yield Minimums Taxes Both SGOV and CDs are taxed at ordinary income tax rates. The key difference between these investments is that while CDs will be taxed...
