The Means AND the Ends

The Means AND The Ends is the recognition that "getting there" is at least as important as where you're going. These posts are a curated collection of articles I've written as well as interesting finds that can be serious, humorous, and sometimes skeptical about investing and saving for retirement while being mindful that we must enjoy the ride all along the way.

I’m Back… Well, I Never Really Left

Authored by Jeff

It’s been a while since everyone’s heard from me in this format. I’ve received a lot of feedback in the past about how much everyone enjoyed my occasional comments (Thank You!) as well as the new posts of articles that I’ve found of interest this week.

I’ve tried several other formats thus far this year (as I’m sure most of you are aware… sorry about that) and I’ve been less than impressed with the feel, the content itself, or just the general “impersonal” -ness of the communications. My bad all the way. Thanks for your patience.

And so I’m back! There’s so much that I read and want to share with everyone each week that I keep coming back to this “weekly-new-posts-with-occasional-comments-by-me” format.

I hope you like it.

And if you don’t, there’s always the link at the bottom of this and every issue to unsubscribe.

I expect that I will be consistently using this space to either make weekly comments about the articles that I’ve clipped, or maybe some machinations of interest in the financial markets.

So, these “lead posts” of our weekly content will likely be a substitute for the long-form types of newsletters that I’ve written in the past.

Thanks for sticking around and I hope you enjoy the future posts. ~jrs

I’m Back… Well, I Never Really Left Read Post »

The Most Picturesque Places in the U.S.

Travel

 

 

 

 

Want to stare at something truly beautiful? Then, it’s time to head outside and take a good gander at Mother Nature’s offerings — specifically, those found in California and Nevada. To help travelers discover the most picturesque landscapes in America, the experts at Storyboards, a photo printing company specializing in helping people create unique wall art, analyzed Instagram hashtag data

Read the entire article: The Most Picturesque Places in the U.S.

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Good News About RMDs in 2023 | Morningstar

Financial Planning, Retirement

Not so long ago, the age for required minimum distributions was 70.5. It moved out to 72, and now 73 is the starting age for RMDs. That age is set to go all the way to 75 eventually, so people may be able to push off that date at which they need to take those distributions.Before Secure 2.0, people would need to roll their assets into a Roth IRA to skirt RMDs.

Read the entire article: Good News About RMDs in 2023 | Morningstar

Good News About RMDs in 2023 | Morningstar Read Post »

Congress Adds New Option To Move Assets From IRA Tax-Free | Seeking Alpha

Financial Planning, Retirement

New option called Legacy IRA QCD allows for up to $50,000 in charitable donations in one tax year.

This option has its own unique rules and must be coordinated with regular QCDs.

Donor must be at least age 70½, and funds can be used to create a Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust.

Other options to meet IRA withdrawal requirements or reduce future RMDs include QLACs, QHFDs, and CGAs.

Read the entire article: Congress Adds New Option To Move Assets From IRA Tax-Free | Seeking Alpha

Congress Adds New Option To Move Assets From IRA Tax-Free | Seeking Alpha Read Post »

Oscar Mayer Offers Hot Dog Fans Their Dream Wienermobile Wedding

Lifestyle

Last July, on an otherwise unremarkable Saturday night, five couples waited in line to get their marriage licenses at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. One couple had driven from Victorville, California to tie the knot on their daughter’s birthday; another couple lovingly “held hands and held each other” as they waited their turn; and the two people at the back of the line were, uh, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.

Read the entire article: Oscar Mayer Offers Hot Dog Fans Their Dream Wienermobile Wedding

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Artist Harley Langberg Creates Celebrity Portraits Out of Food — Including Al Roker

Lifestyle

An artist is creating one-of-kind works of art using his fridge like a crayon box.On TODAY March 16, Al Roker caught up with Harley Langberg, a 34-year-old father and partner at an investment company who has a unique side hustle: making food art

Read the entire article: Artist Harley Langberg Creates Celebrity Portraits Out of Food — Including Al Roker

Artist Harley Langberg Creates Celebrity Portraits Out of Food — Including Al Roker Read Post »

10 Ways To Improve Your Retirement Routine According To A Retirement Coach | TravelAwaits

Lifestyle, Retirement

The idea of kicking back with “nothin’ to do” in retirement sounds fabulous in young adulthood or middle age when life can feel overloaded, so it comes as something of a surprise that a major complaint about retirement is having “nothin’ to do.”

Read the entire article: 10 Ways To Improve Your Retirement Routine According To A Retirement Coach | TravelAwaits

10 Ways To Improve Your Retirement Routine According To A Retirement Coach | TravelAwaits Read Post »

I’m a Longevity Doctor. Here Are My 7 Healthy Habits To Live Longer

Lifestyle

Living a long, healthy life may seem like it requires winning a genetic lottery, but there’s so much more under your control than you realize.

Only 25% of our probability of living a longer life is due to inherited genes, while 75% is due to environmental factors, says Dr. Luigi Fontana, professor of medicine and nutrition,

Read the entire article: I’m a Longevity Doctor. Here Are My 7 Healthy Habits To Live Longer

I’m a Longevity Doctor. Here Are My 7 Healthy Habits To Live Longer Read Post »

Stock Market Loses The Fight; Bank Shutdown Affects Whole Sector | Investor’s Business Daily

Markets

The stock market’s major indexes are feeling more pain, falling to session lows in afternoon trading Friday. Investors were shaken by the Silicon Valley Bank closure, which is hitting the entire sector.

Read the entire article: Stock Market Loses The Fight; Bank Shutdown Affects Whole Sector | Investor’s Business Daily

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Travel Checklist: Do You Pack Your Carry-On the Right Way? – CNET

Travel

A carry-on bag is one of the most vital pieces of luggage you can have while traveling. It cushions your valuables, gives you access to entertainment during a long flight and prevents you from going bare if your checked baggage gets lost. But that’s only if you pack it the right way.

Read the entire article: Travel Checklist: Do You Pack Your Carry-On the Right Way? – CNET

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Nice News

Lifestyle

A beautiful image of a pink dolphin poking its nose out of the Amazon river under a pastel-hued sunset earned California resident Kat Zhou the title of the 2023 Underwater Photographer of the Year. Over 6,000 entries from photographers in 72 countries were submitted for

Read the entire article: Nice News

Nice News Read Post »

6 Retirement Planning Mistakes To Avoid

Retirement

With the many financial obligations that we have, many of us put off planning for retirement, thinking that it is very far away in the future. Yet, retirement planning is crucial to a healthy retirement, especially considering that the rising average life expectancy of Singaporeans will mean that the vast majority of us will have a longer retirement period than previous generations.

Before you get started on your retirement planning journey, here are six mistakes to be aware of so that you can set yourself up to be in the best position to enjoy the lifestyle you desire in your golden years.

Read the entire article: 6 Retirement Planning Mistakes To Avoid

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