Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Fourth Branch: K Street Government

More Income Tax and More Debt, Too

Monetization of the Debt: Say What?

The Last Biggie: Repeal of Glass-Steagall and Gamblers Gone Wild

Summary

References

Chapter 2: Greenspan and the Growing Bubble

Simple Plans Often Become Complicated

Moving On . . .

The 36-Day Election

My Takeaway Is More than Fries

Summary

Reference

Notes

Chapter 3: Drop the “U” Out of “Housing” and You Get What America Got

2000 to 2006: The Perfect Storm

Oops, Almost Made It

2007: All Fall Down

2008: The Year of Reckoning

The Fat Lady Sings: “It’s Not Over”

2009 to 2012: The Road to Recovery?

Looking Ahead

50-Year Mortgages

What to Do Next? Let’s Buy a House

Summary

Reference

Notes

Chapter 4: Credit Cards

The New Law

Let’s Skip a Payment

The Contract

How Is That Interest Rate Figured?

The Credit Card Tax

Tipping a Hat to Debit Cards

Getting Back

Summary

Notes

Chapter 5: Who Are Target-Date Retirement Funds Targeting?

A Ticking Time Bomb

The Dawdling SEC

What Can You Do?

Chapter 6: Four-Oh-One-Kay Tales

The Truth about Your 401(hey)!

Meet Mr. Uninformed and Mrs. Navigator

Mr. Uninformed and Mrs. Navigator, 10 Years Later

A Little More Sizzle

One Exception

Four Reasons to Invest in After-Tax Accounts

Summary

Chapter 7: Exchange-Traded Funds

Is Mr. Bogle “Indexing” the Problem?

What Is an Index Fund?

Why Invest in an Index Fund?

Giving Up Downside Protection

Giving Up the Ability to Lock In Profits

Why Not Buy and ...

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