The TWA blog
Every article we have published on retirement, markets, taxes, federal benefits, and the decisions that connect them.
Blog01
It’s been an interesting half year in the market. I heard a podcast listener ask: If there are no iron laws in markets and nothing works forever as an indicator, perhaps studying the stock market is u…
August 18, 2025 3 min read
Blog02
We’ve spoken about this topic a few times, but it’s worth revisiting from time to time. There were 90 changes to this act last year. And per usual, the acronyms given often represent the opposite of w…
August 18, 2025 2 min read
Blog03
Following up on yesterday’s festivities: The (H.R.1, 119th Congress) was signed at 5pm Eastern by the Presi…
August 18, 2025 2 min read
Blog04
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll just let that IRA (401k, 403b, ESOP, etc.,) sit and grow forever,” I’ve got some news that might wrinkle your retirement dreams just a bit… Uncle Sam has other plans. See…
August 18, 2025 2 min read
Blog05
If you’re receiving Social Security benefits, you’ve now had a couple of months to get used to your new checks since the 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) took effect in January. Under normal circ…
August 18, 2025 5 min read
Blog06
We’ve mentioned before how a sailing ship is a good metaphor for retirement planning. In both cases you chart out where you want to go, and carefully estimate what you’ll need to complete each leg of …
April 17, 2024 2 min read
Blog07
Younger generations are often unfairly characterized by their elders. In the late 1960s the Greatest Generation, who grew up during the Depression, accused baby boomers of being anti authority. Some w…
April 17, 2024 2 min read
Insight & News08
According to Gallup, this Christmas individual Americans intend to spend an average of $932 on gifts. That’s up nearly $100 over last year. Are people planning to spend more because they have more mon…
December 27, 2023 2 min read
Insight & News09
You’ve just been seated at a restaurant and while you’re waiting for your server, you see a little sticker on the tabletop that says, “Scan me for today’s lunch specials.” It would be great to save a …
December 13, 2023 2 min read
Insight & News10
As we’ve mentioned numerous times, temporary declines in stock market prices become permanent only when you sell out of those positions. If a stock or fund loses value, it’s best to fight the urge to …
December 6, 2023 2 min read
Insight & News11
Do people really make dumb decisions…. on purpose?! That would actually be called ‘cognitive dissonance’. And certainly, people can often work against their own best interests because they follow the …
September 12, 2023 5 min read
Insight & News12
DO YOU KNOW HOW YOUR TSP DOLLARS ARE BEING INVESTED? What is Blackrock you ask? In January 2022, West Virginia Republican State Treasurer Riley Moore announced that the state would no longer be using …
September 10, 2023 2 min read
Blog13
It’s always a good idea to have a will, regardless of your situation (financial, medical, etc.). In fact, I’d say it’s imperative to have a will because it’s the set of instructions or directions you’…
February 14, 2023 2 min read
Insight & News14
Warren Buffett is credited with saying, “It’s good to learn from your mistakes. It’s better to learn from other people’s mistakes.” When we’re young, it seems like we have an easier time with the firs…
February 7, 2023 2 min read
Blog15
Amanda Mull’s father was a smoker for 20 years. When he became convinced that cigarettes were harmful, he simply quit smoking them. Later, when he decided he should take up running, he got up at 4:30 …
January 31, 2023 3 min read
Insight & News16
A long time ago, when Woody Allen was known for writing funny books, he described a character named Weinstein who lay in bed feeling depressed about his age. “Next year I will be fifty-one. Then fifty…
January 10, 2023 2 min read
Insight & News17
When the Studebaker car company ceased production in 1966, it wasn’t just their business that failed. Auditors found that the company’s pension fund also had serious problems, leaving thousands of wor…
December 20, 2022 2 min read
Blog18
Recently, a number of folks have asked me: So… we know you’re a pretty optimistic person. But what’s the most bearish or worst-case scenario for the stock market right now? There is a lot of bad news …
October 17, 2022 3 min read
A conversation is a good place to start