Ask Doc Our readers are too kind...
After last week's Friday Q&A, we received dozens of e-mails thanking us for our "common sense" advice.
Here are just a few of the e-mails we received:
I, for one, really appreciate the wide assortment of topics you have covered in this newsletter – a FREE newsletter at that. The quality of information you provide is exceptional and spot on for me and is what I want to learn and have learned. Life is short and diet and exercise are certainly foundational for good health and wellness, but there is definitely room to learn about other health hazards and areas to be aware of. It is not doom and gloom, it is reality. Thanks for shedding light on so many enlightening topics and having such a wide range with your advice and information! – A.K.
I think Retirement Millionaire, all versions, are great! I look forward to retaining your [publications] down the road, however long that road is. – D.G.
In response to your Retirement Millionaire Daily article, "The Hardest Advice to Follow ," you asked to share some common sense advice... My advice comes from a line in a Meredith Willson musical, "The Music Man." Like myself, I'm sure you've seen it a few times. There was a scene where Professor Harold Hill asks Marian "The Librarian" Paroo to meet him at the foot bridge where couples go to make out. Although she wanted to, Marian was shy and afraid and said "No, maybe tomorrow." Harold Hill responded by saying, "Oh my dear Marian, if you gather up enough tomorrows, all you'll have is a bunch of empty yesterdays." That one line struck a powerful note with me and I have followed Professor Hill's advice ever since I first heard it 50 years ago. So, I tell my family every day that I love them and I keep in touch with my friends and drop a line to the ones I haven't spoken to for a while. Because if I wait until tomorrow, all I will have is a bunch of empty yesterdays! – M.G.
Too true, M.G. And thanks to all who wrote in.
We can't respond to every e-mail we get. But, as we've said before, we do read every single one. If you've suggested a topic or asked a question and haven't seen it in an issue yet, stay with us. We've still got a lot to share.
Send your best tips, tricks, and suggestions to [email protected].
Q: I have read [Doc's] publications for years and a couple years ago he said to go to the bank and buy silver dollar and half dollar coins, looking for dates 1964 and older.
I have had no luck finding those at the bank and I have had no luck any time I get change, looking through my dimes and quarters or any change – EXCEPT on nickels. Are the 1964 and older nickels containing silver, or are they a different material? – T.O.
A: Unfortunately, most of the older nickels won't contain any silver... with exception of "war nickels" minted between 1942 and 1945, which have 35% silver content and are worth about $1 each at current silver prices.
But don't give up on your search. I recommend sticking to pre-1965 dimes, quarters, and half dollars if you're looking for silver. They're easier to find, though the hunt is more difficult than it was a few years ago...
Up through 1964, dimes, quarters, and half dollars were made using silver (as much as 90% silver). In 1965, all of the silver was removed from dimes and quarters. But from 1965 to 1970, half dollars contained 40% silver. After that, silver was completely removed.
I like having these pre-1965 silver coins at hand because:
- 90% silver coins are well recognized – These coins are already well known. The fact is, you rarely find them in day-to-day circulation because people have already gone through their change looking for these valuable coins. And as demand for precious metals increases, even more people will recognize the coins.
- 90% silver coins are easily divisible – Unlike a silver bar or gold coin, junk silver coins are already portioned in smaller amounts should you ever need to use them in everyday transactions.
- 90% silver coins are liquid – There has always been a demand for these types of coins. Thanks to a dealer network and websites like eBay, plenty of buyers are available should you ever want to cash in your gains.
- 90% silver coins do not require verification – The silver content of these coins is so widely understood, you don't need to verify the authenticity and value. Again, there's no collectible value, and everyone understands they're 90% silver.
As you've already done, you can go to your local bank to find pre-1965 dimes, quarters, or half dollars. Or, if you're willing to pay a premium, several coin dealers sell bags of these coins.
Retirement Millionaire subscribers can access our report on silver – "The Free Silver Loophole" – here. If you're not a subscriber, click here to join.
Q: Do you have an index for past topics? I am trying to find info on statins, cholesterol, and memory. Thanks. – T.A.
A: Yes, we have all of our past issues on our website, retirementmillionairedaily.com. You can use our search function for these terms or use the headers on the top ribbon to search by category, like "Building Wealth," "Living Well," or "Food & Wine."
We've written about statins in our Q&A "Busting Three Health Myths." But as this is a popular topic, our researchers are hard at work pulling together all the latest information on statins for a future issue. Stay tuned for more on that later.
Q: Where can you purchase these reusable pods? – R.C.
A: Popular retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and even Home Depot offer reusable cups for Keurig machines. My assistant likes the Solofill brand, which you can also find on Amazon.com.
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