Trajan's Tactical Tips

A blog for everyday financial tips, Trajan news updates, and more

CarMax, Carvana and the Future of Used Car Retail
Investing

CarMax, Carvana, and the Future of Used Car Retail

Carvana hoped to disrupt used car retailing, but it never established a sustainable brand or cost advantage. We see five lessons from Carvana’s experience, including that tactics aren’t a moat. We prefer CarMax: The company has made aggressive investments in its own e-commerce platform, but with superior scale and omnichannel fulfillment.

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December Market Review
Investing

November 2022 Market Review

Last month’s markets showed signs of improvement, but 2022 will be remembered as a year of sharp corrections. It’s to be expected when you’re investing – but based on historical patterns, they also indicate a bounce back. Let’s review – pencils out!

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New Year's Resolutions
News

Social Security COLA and Medicare

The Social Security retirement and supplemental security income (SSI) benefits are set to increase by 8.7% in 2023 – the largest annual increase since the 1980s. There’s also good news for Medicare beneficiaries regarding inflation.

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Tax Savings Moves to Make Before End of the Year
Taxes

Tax Savings Moves To Make Before 2022 Ends

It’s not over yet. There’s still time left in 2022 for these five cost-saving maneuvers that can significantly lower your taxable income. Any contributions or distributions that are made this year would go a long way toward saving money when you file your return next year.

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Survival Tips for Tough Economic Times
Saving

Survival Tips For Tough Economic Times

Economists suggest that the U.S. economy is not in the clear and may be approaching another recession in 2023. Knowing the signs of a recession is essential to help you determine when to cut spending. You can also look for extra cash by using these tips to help you survive tough economic times.

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