Page 54 - Kiplinger's Personal Finance - November 2018

LETTERS

interest rates to advance much The art of money. I appreciate
from current levels, meaning Kiplinger’s writers, but how
bonds are unlikely to lose more about a shout-out to the il-
value. That said, yields on cash lustrators, layout contribu-
are ticking up, and putting new tors, photographers and
cash in the bank is reasonable whoever did the imagina-
(see “Income Investing,” on tive graphics for “50 Quick
page 61). And if you have enough & Easy Money Tips” (Sept.)?
capital to last forever locked These visual components
away risk-free, by all means, put are so important in enticing
it all in money funds, Treasury bills the reader, clarifying and
or CDs. highlighting important as-
pects of the written content,
Tax me if you can. I already and increasing the readabil-
pay a sales tax on online ity of the magazine.
purchases for companies BOB DRIES
with a presence in my state WAUWATOSA, WIS.
of Minnesota (“Ahead,”
Sept.). My gripe has been UPDATE
that these companies apply After “Best Online Brokers”
the state tax on every item, (Oct.) went to press, Firstrade
taxable or not. Minnesota, announced it would offer
for example, doesn’t have a free online trading for
sales tax on food and cloth- stocks, ETFs, options and
ing, yet many companies try mutual funds (down from
to charge tax on such items. $2.95 per trade). Also, Ally
I’ve called companies on it, Invest announced it would
but some of them remove offer more than 100 ETFs
the sales tax and replace it commission-free (with no
Hold On to Your Bonds? with a handling fee. sales charge to buy or sell
shares) to customers on its
KENNETH B. JAROSCH
ST. PAUL online trading platform.
Staying in bonds while they Q READER
lose value is not a positive POLL Remodeling rewards. I CORRECTION
strategy (“Income Invest- thought I’d share one proj- Brokerage firms E-Trade,
ing,” Sept.). Why not move How are you ect you may have missed: Merrill Edge and TD Ameri-
such funds to tax-free money preparing a front porch redo (“10 trade offer tools that map out
market funds until bonds Small Projects With Big one’s dividends for the next
recover? Earning something for the next Rewards,” Sept.). Our bat- 12 months. Charles Schwab
positive that’s untaxed by bear market? tered concrete foundation does not (“50 Quick & Easy
your state and federal gov- and rusting railings pre- Money Tips,” Sept.).
ernment is better than gain- Selling stocks; putting money sented us with not only a
in bonds and/or cash
ing taxable income yet los- 9% safety concern but also a fi-
ing overall value. nancial one. “Nobody has a LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
RICHARD L. GONGWER Raising cash to snap up bargains redwood front porch,” my
10%
MARION, IND. wife said. I replied, “Then Letters to the editor may be
Shifting to more-defensive we’ll be the first.” We ac- edited for clarity and space,
and initials will be used on
EDITOR’S NOTE: Market timing stock sectors complished the task for less request only if you include
12%
in bonds is no more effective or than half the cost of replac- your name. Mail to Letters SOURCE: POLL SURVEYED 204 KIPLINGER’S READERS.
achievable than it is in stocks, Nothing. I plan to wait it out. ing the concrete (about Editor, Kiplinger’s Personal
real estate or any other asset 69% $5,500 total). Now that’s Finance, 1100 13th St., N.W.,
class. Bonds are a point or two in a Big Reward! Washington, DC 20005, fax
For strategies on how to dial back to 202-778-8976 or e-mail
the red for 2018, but we don’t ex- your risk, turn to page 48. M.M. to feedback@kiplinger.com.
pect intermediate- and long-term SALT LAKE CITY
Please include your name,
address and daytime tele-
6 KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE 11/2018 phone number.

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