If you're a big saver and your significant other is a big spender (or vice versa), you might be surprised to learn that might have been the very trait that attracted you to them in the first place.  According to a paper written by Scott Rick and Deborah Small of the Wharton School of Finance and Eli Finkel of Northwestern University:

"Surveys of married adults suggest that opposites attract when it comes to emotional reactions toward spending."

Interestingly, it's been found that most single men and women state that they would actually prefer a mate with similar spending habits.  To read the full article, click here.

Does your retirement plan take inflation into account?  Since Vietnam, inflation has averaged 4.6% per year.  This may not sound like much, but since 1969 the purchasing power of a dollar has dropped by more than eighty percent.

Moreover, an interesting strand of economic research suggests that a retirement planner should also take into account "keeping up with the Joneses" - that is, spending even more in retirement to keep improving your lifestyle along with everyone else.  The historical rate of inflation, alone, understates the challenge investors face in funding a comfortable retirement.

If you're interested in a technical article that explains the details for you, read on...

International stocks are an important component of a well-diversified stock portfolio. Based on world market capitalization, sixty percent of a U.S. investor’s stock portfolio might be allocated to international stocks. A number of other considerations argue for reducing that exposure, however. While no fail-safe formula defines the best combination of U.S. and international stocks, the available evidence suggests that the traditional portfolio of 70% U.S. stocks and 30% international stocks has historically offered enhanced long-term returns with reduced risk, and probably is at least a well-reasoned starting point for most U.S. stock portfolios. To learn why, click here.