Ross Anderson

The broadest answer would be if we don't have really specific thoughts about what we want to own, just buy all of it, right? And so when I say that, that typically means broad-based index funds. The United States, you can buy all of it in basically a total stock market index. You could also buy all of the companies outside of the U.S. in an all-world ex-U.S. index.

The broadest answer would be if we don't have really specific thoughts about what we want to own, just buy all of it, right? And so when I say that, that typically means broad-based index funds. The United States, you can buy all of it in basically a total stock market index. You could also buy all of the companies outside of the U.S. in an all-world ex-U.S. index.

The broadest answer would be if we don't have really specific thoughts about what we want to own, just buy all of it, right? And so when I say that, that typically means broad-based index funds. The United States, you can buy all of it in basically a total stock market index. You could also buy all of the companies outside of the U.S. in an all-world ex-U.S. index.

So with two positions, you could basically own the entire world stock market. To me, that's a great answer for somebody that doesn't have specific things that they've researched and really want to dive into. And that is a completely valid way to invest. And honestly, I think people find it overly simple and they want to fight that. They're looking to make it harder.

So with two positions, you could basically own the entire world stock market. To me, that's a great answer for somebody that doesn't have specific things that they've researched and really want to dive into. And that is a completely valid way to invest. And honestly, I think people find it overly simple and they want to fight that. They're looking to make it harder.

So with two positions, you could basically own the entire world stock market. To me, that's a great answer for somebody that doesn't have specific things that they've researched and really want to dive into. And that is a completely valid way to invest. And honestly, I think people find it overly simple and they want to fight that. They're looking to make it harder.

Fight that instinct as much as you can. We can keep this really, really easy, really low cost and not have to put that much thought into it if we're buying really broad-based, very well-diversified index funds across a bunch of things. You mentioned that it's been kind of a volatile year and you're right in the US. We are down year to date. International stocks aren't.

Fight that instinct as much as you can. We can keep this really, really easy, really low cost and not have to put that much thought into it if we're buying really broad-based, very well-diversified index funds across a bunch of things. You mentioned that it's been kind of a volatile year and you're right in the US. We are down year to date. International stocks aren't.

Fight that instinct as much as you can. We can keep this really, really easy, really low cost and not have to put that much thought into it if we're buying really broad-based, very well-diversified index funds across a bunch of things. You mentioned that it's been kind of a volatile year and you're right in the US. We are down year to date. International stocks aren't.

So if we've been diversified, you could actually have positive gains in your portfolio so far on a year to date basis. And so I do think making sure that you've got some international exposure and not just the United States in your portfolio is a really nice way to make sure that you're balanced out and that we're kind of spreading our eggs into multiple baskets as well.

So if we've been diversified, you could actually have positive gains in your portfolio so far on a year to date basis. And so I do think making sure that you've got some international exposure and not just the United States in your portfolio is a really nice way to make sure that you're balanced out and that we're kind of spreading our eggs into multiple baskets as well.

So if we've been diversified, you could actually have positive gains in your portfolio so far on a year to date basis. And so I do think making sure that you've got some international exposure and not just the United States in your portfolio is a really nice way to make sure that you're balanced out and that we're kind of spreading our eggs into multiple baskets as well.

I think that that's correct. If it's something that you need on the short term, I love your high yield savings account. I think that's a good place to have money parked or even something like CDs or conservative like that. Yes, with anywhere that you're earning money, ultimately, we're going to pay taxes.

I think that that's correct. If it's something that you need on the short term, I love your high yield savings account. I think that's a good place to have money parked or even something like CDs or conservative like that. Yes, with anywhere that you're earning money, ultimately, we're going to pay taxes.

I think that that's correct. If it's something that you need on the short term, I love your high yield savings account. I think that's a good place to have money parked or even something like CDs or conservative like that. Yes, with anywhere that you're earning money, ultimately, we're going to pay taxes.

If you own stocks or index funds in a brokerage account and you hold that in there for more than a year, you're going to move into the long-term capital gains territory. That's going to be a lower tax rate than what you pay on your income always. So for most people, they pay 15%. It goes as high as... 20 or really 23.8, depending on if we're including the net investment income tax.

If you own stocks or index funds in a brokerage account and you hold that in there for more than a year, you're going to move into the long-term capital gains territory. That's going to be a lower tax rate than what you pay on your income always. So for most people, they pay 15%. It goes as high as... 20 or really 23.8, depending on if we're including the net investment income tax.

If you own stocks or index funds in a brokerage account and you hold that in there for more than a year, you're going to move into the long-term capital gains territory. That's going to be a lower tax rate than what you pay on your income always. So for most people, they pay 15%. It goes as high as... 20 or really 23.8, depending on if we're including the net investment income tax.

But it's always going to be lower than what you're paying on your income. And so there's also opportunities in our lives. If you're going to do what you're talking about, and let's say you're going to explore the FIRE movement. The year that you sell those stocks might be a year that you're not earning any income.

But it's always going to be lower than what you're paying on your income. And so there's also opportunities in our lives. If you're going to do what you're talking about, and let's say you're going to explore the FIRE movement. The year that you sell those stocks might be a year that you're not earning any income.