A lot has been made in the press recently of the sudden downturn in the price of gold. Quotes run the gamut from Armageddon (“We've never… ever… ever… seen anything like what we've witnessed in the past two trading sessions - The Gartman Letter) to armchair quarterbacking (Gold's new suitors never understood the fundamental case for gold – Peter Schiff) to unnecessary sarcasm (Eat your gold – Nouriel Roubini). Now, as always, downturns provide for the best in journalism...

  Last time we spoke about the kind of property that a novice real estate investor might want to purchase for his/her retirement fund. A conservative rental, single or multi-family, was offered as a good option because of the cash flow that it generates. However, not all rental properties are created equal. Here are 5 common mistakes that new investors make when deciding upon a property.   1. Underestimating Rehab Costs No matter how nice the property looks, there are always a few improvements that have to be made before the property is renter ready...

A few weeks ago we looked at the case of Rachel: a successful nurse who had $200k in her 401(k) and wants to get into real estate. Rachel had no previous real estate experience and wanted to jump right away into big commercial deals. We explained in Part 1 why that would not be a good idea. That being said, let’s take the time today to explore what would be a better alternative for Rachel’s real estate dreams. The Self Directed IRA and Real Estate Before we jump into real estate nitty gritty, let’s just make sure that you’re using the right platform...

Self directed IRAs certainly have a number of advantages over standard retirement plans. They give you unlimited access to various asset classes, do away with a ton of retirement-crushing fees, and allow you to take a break from the topsy turvy roller coaster known as the stock market. That being said, there are still a number of people who might not be the best fit for a self directed IRA. Here’s a short list of those individuals who might find more success with a standard retirement plan...

What’s better? To live an opiated existence and see the world through rose colored glasses, or to actually get a glimpse of reality with all of its cringe inducing flaws? If we’re talking about Twinkies (R.I.P.), then please leave me alone while I devour the yellow goodness. I don’t want to know what’s in it, and I’m perfectly willing to trade the minor health concern for an exquisite moment of fleeting pleasure. However, if we’re talking about money, then I (like everybody else) want to hear the truth...