Yesterday, I pulled up to an automated teller machine (ATM) in my automatic-transmission car, opened my automatic car windows, and withdrew cash that had been automatically deposited in my bank account on payday. I then used some of the cash to take my car through an automatic car wash, and when I arrived home, I used the automatic garage door button to close the door behind me. Then I walked into the house just in time to hear the dishwasher beep to let me know it had automatically shut off after automatically drying my dishes. (I just wish it would automatically empty itself.)
We live in a set-it-and-forget-it world, and in most cases, the convenience of automation is fantastic. But, when it comes to money, I’m a proponent of thoughtful automation, or “thoughtomation.” What I mean by thoughtomation is simple: Use automated investment and payment systems, but keep track of them and routinely reassess whether they’re working well for your financial goals. In other words, when it comes to your money, set it, but don’t forget it.
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In the past, I have expressed frustration with the financial press’s coverage of investment topics (Clearing the air on target date performance), and I’ve also blogged about how I feel investors are best served by ignoring financial pundits (Listening to the markets—not the pundits).
But occasionally, a fleeting glimpse of a longer-term, clearer reality is visible beneath the smoke and ashes of the “financial catastrophe of the week” featured in the headlines. It’s worth pointing it out when it happens—such as in the article Mixed emotions on our anniversary, which ran in the September 11 edition of the Wall Street Journal. The article offered a real-life example of what a long-term investment strategy can mean for an employee who makes a biweekly contribution of $250 to their 401(k) and gets a $125 employer match.
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Many of my fellow bloggers have written about the recent turmoil in the markets. Rather than add my two cents to what has already been very well articulated, I’d like to take a different angle.
Have you noticed anything different about the ads on the radio, on television, or in the papers lately? Not long ago, I heard a radio ad inviting listeners to attend a seminar sponsored by the author of a best-selling “how to” investment book. The ad promised that attendees would be able to “forget about diversification, avoid mutual funds, and eliminate 401(k) contributions.” Another ad played on fears by leading with a “Worried about America?” theme and encouraging readers to send for a report promising to identify the “one sure thing for the second half of 2011.”
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When the stock market sells off, as it did in late July and early August, there is an inevitable surge in commentary on the riskiness of U.S. retirement accounts. The main worry is that retirement investors are taking on too much risk and that retirement assets should be invested in “safer” securities or programs.
From my perspective, many such criticisms seem unduly focused on the short run.
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I have to admit, I can’t live without my smart phone. The ability to be constantly connected to my friends, take care of e-mails in between other tasks, or check the news from anywhere is an incredible convenience. It’s also led me to open random apps almost compulsively throughout the day.
I mean, clearly, everyone needs to know the weather in five random locations each hour, right? And I’m not alone. My generation is addicted to our devices.
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