In this interview with Vanguard Eric Tyson, one of my favorite investment companies, Tyson states that most time people are there own worst enemies because they overspend and run themselves into debt.

The number one problem is overspending. Some Americans, frankly, are not savvy consumers. They lack the discipline to live within-or below-their means. They live in the moment, pursuing instant gratification instead of doing what’s in their long-term interest. They abuse credit cards, buy stocks without doing research, and generally have little or no idea how much they should be saving toward future goals.This isn’t especially surprising. We’re all bombarded by advertising 24-7, and it’s difficult to insulate yourself from the pressure to drive the “right” car, live in the “right” neighborhood, own the “right” stock, and so forth. Americans need to learn that giving in to that kind of pressure can have serious consequences to their financial well-being.

It is as simple as that. Easier said then done as well because it takes amazing will power to hold back on spending and to treat yourself or those that you love. So in the retrospect, try to maximize as much as you can the amount of money that you do not spend and constantly try to beat that amount. Then simply invest until your early retirement comes around.

Popularity: 75% [?]

The tax benefits of Exchange Traded Funds (ETF)s are clear once you know. They are an improvement on traditional index funds because they delay capital gains taxes because when the ETF stocks are traded they are not bought and sold over and over. They are instead held in waiting until someone else buys them. So you are not really taxed until the day you actually sell your stocks.

Tax Efficient ETF Investing Benefits

Delayed capital gains taxes – they allow an investor to pay most of his capital gains upon final sale of the ETF, delaying it until the very end.
In this respect your wealth accumulates a lot quicker then constantly being knocked by capital gains taxes from the start to the end.

Simple Balanced ETF Portfolio for high gains that actually can beat the market can make up your entire investment portfolio. ETFs outperform traditional mutual funds by as much as 33% more in realized wealth gains towards your retirement.

Personally I try to invest about 90% in ETFs and I even invest in ETF Bond Funds such as iShares Lehman Aggregate Bond (AGG). They are well diversified, management costs are dirt cheap and they are capital gains optimized. What more can you ask for in headache free investments?

Popularity: 72% [?]