The Laughing Retirement

01/11/2024

OK, very happy to tell you that our email. [email protected] is now working again. Please email me there with any questions. Chip

25/10/2024

Hi everyone, it's Chip. For the last three weeks, we have had email problems that I wanted you to know about. Info@ thelaughingretirement.com needs to be fixed.

We are working on it, and it will be fixed by next week, if not sooner.

In the meantime, if you want to reach me, email me at [email protected].

Thanks for understanding. Chip

26/05/2024

Hello all, No Weekly UPdate this week as my phone display broke, and I cannot get into Schwab with my double security...... bummer, frustration...... Etc SORRY!

16/01/2024

Hi everyone. The PIE Qand A is on line now!

12/09/2023

I read a fair amount. First, I enjoy it, and second, I am very curious. My goal is to read at least five books a year, and has been for a couple of decades. This year, I will finish the bio of Thomas Jefferson, J. Bogle's "Little Book of Common Sense Investing, "1944 to 1945 The War in Italy", and a couple of others, including a re-read or two -
Today, I was reading emails when I came across Marc Lichtenfeld's commentary entitled " "Retirement" Lessons from the Rolling Stones. Besides comparing Mick Jagger (80) to Mitch McConnell (81), He gave 3 lessons he took from the Stones that I agree with:
1. Watch your costs - the Stones never trashed hotel rooms
2. Do what you love - Jagger looks great, McConnell not so much. The lesson here is to stay up all night doing drugs, having s*x, and listening to RR. He also feels compelled to mention eating right, as Jagger stopped smoking and obviously doesn't eat much! Go figure???
3. Get out of your Comfort Zone. I couldn't agree more to travel, read, do, or go places with which you are unfamiliar. Learn a new language. Stumble a couple of times, fail. It's healthy!
Have fun!
PS, a new video on fees will be out next week!

19/06/2023

"It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop."
Confucius.

02/05/2023

I saw this morning on one of the sites I read for information list 7 HIGH DIVIDEND stocks. They went on to say that for purposes of the article, 2% was a high dividend. This is what happens when magazines - to attract and acquire new readers - need to publish something every day or every week. .... the average reader, unless they read the fine print, would not know what they are looking at. One of the stocks is way too high to purchase now. Another has inconsistent dividends; a third lowered its dividend by almost half three years ago and has had no growth since. Yet that is not what the article would lead yo to believe. Worst of all, some will go out and buy these, thinking they are excellent additions to their portfolio. There is only one thing I can say about all 7 stocks. All seven have a low-risk factor when compared to the S&P500. All that glitters is not gold.

11/01/2023

Here is our newest video; we hope you enjoy it!

Retired life in Italy sounds nice…so the next question most people have is: What is Italian healthcare like, and how much does it cost?Italy is fast becoming...