Paul B. Brown

I have heard this from three of my friends, and I have experienced it myself, so I think it is true: The nation's banks are beginning to alienate their best customers.

With interest rates down, a lot of us are trying to refinance. But even if you have terrific credit (and I do, he said humbly and so do the friends I talked to) the banks are forcing you to go through any number of additional hoops. More credential checks. More forms. More phone calls to check on things.

Yes, they (finally) are applying higher standards to their lending. But why give people who have the PROVEN ability to pay you back more grief than you have to? It is no way to maintain customers. Read more…

I am a late adapter.

For example, I only just started using my cell phone for just about all my calls, so it is probably not surprising that I haven't ever driven a hybrid car until now.

But, I rented one this week--I didn't seek it out; it is all that the people at Hertz had--and I love it. Yes, sure, I like the fact that I am helping to save the environment, but the appeal to an old cheapskate me is the gas mileage. I am getting about 50 miles to the gallon.

What has this to do with investing? A lot. Read more…

Because I have the world's most annoying accountant--the man has absolutely no sense of humor about meeting deadlines and filing accurately; he is in favor of both--I have already started getting my papers together to help prepare my 2008 tax returns.

Here is something I have noticed in going through my files. I divided by savings/investings into two buckets: Some 90% went to my retirement. The rest to things like my emergency fund and general savings.

I didn't consciously plan it this way, but I think it is a good way to go.

Like you, I am not getting any younger. (I am 54.) And like you, I saw my retirement accounts get hammered last year. (Even with making contributions, I was down 30% year to year.) So, my retirement accounts are a priority. Read more…

For most Americans the New Year really starts today. Everyone is done visiting for the holidays and is returning to work or school.

I am a not a big believer in resolutions, but here is one I plan to keep. I will continue to save aggressively for retirement.

Yep, 2008 on Wall Street was a disaster. The Dow was down 33.8%. The S&P fell 38.5% and the NASDAQ was even worse—off 40.5%.

Even with that dismal performance, over then last 85 years or so, stocks have outperformed every other investment there is. If you want to have enough money to retire the way you want, you have to keep investing in stocks.

I plan to. I hope you will too.

And, of by the way, “Happy New Year.” Read more…