Matthew Gartland

Hi Ramit:

Just finished your book. Brilliant stuff. Cheers!

Regarding long-term investments, specifically index funds vs lifecycle funds, I’m curious which path you have chosen for yourself. In the book, you clearly seem an ardent advocate for lifecycle funds. Yet, you obviously possess a deep and pervasive knowledge of asset allocation, investing “rules”, etc. which leads me to think you could likely pick a wicked portfolio of your own.

Is there any value (or added value) in having both – a lifecycle fund plus an index fund(s) in your long-term investing portfolio? How about multiple lifecycle funds (e.g. one Vanguard and one T. Rowe Price)?

All the best,
Matt

Priest Willis

Hey Ramit –

I am a big fan and I’ll soon be out of debt personally.

I’m the owner of a computer business (online only) where we build custom computers, sell brand name software and really try to me meet any request a customer may have when it comes to computers.

Question: I’m in no way interested competing against bigger companies like Dell or even newegg, as a matter of fact I try to use
them to my advantage. My niche however is selling custom computers, how do I brand this and sell considering it’s a very competitive market, a down economy where some are less likely to buy computers and when you’re on a shoe string budget. Thanks in advance!

Warmest Regards,

Priest

Charlie

Here are my questions:

Ramit – How can I keep my shirts looking new and remarkably crisp? This Downy Wrinkle Release is pretty good, but there has to be another way!

Ben – If I’m single and ready-to-mingle, what’s a good pickup line that doesn’t end with “Have you seen my blog?”

Richard Brian Penn

Ramit:

I enjoyed seeing your videos on Tim’s site (and commented over there too). I know that Tim advocates leaving comments on other well respected bloggers’ sites, but I wanted to get your take on increasing traffic and just overall getting more traffic to your website.

Also, there seems to be a lot of buzz about SEO’s right now. Could you elaborate more on that in layman’s terms?

Thanks for considering my questions,

Richard Brian Penn

Bob Beresh

I am the creator and producer of a new DVD for preschoolers about airplanes, titled YAY! PLANES. Hosted by Argyle and Jim, two socks who live in lost luggage, we learn about shapes on an airplane, our ABC’s with the original song, “Letters on an Airplane”, and fly over farms, fields, lakes, and houses.
We have had some measure of success directly marketing to my immediate network, mom blogs, and pilot supply stores. We have a distributor to libraries and schools, which has been our biggest customer thus far. I have just signed with a bigger distributor, but orders have been flat.
My question is this:
How do I reach beyond the marketing and sales plateau which we have reached to build greater awareness and sales?

If you want to take a live call and use this as a case study during the webcast, shoot me an e-mail. I’d be happy to follow-up.

Thanks!

-Bob

Malcolm

On Writing –

Did you have most of your book written before you talked to an agent/publisher or did you just have a couple chapters?

What is most common for an unknown author, should you try and have a book complete so they know you’re serious or should you show them early work to get feedback on things like marketability?

Thanks.

RK

My own questions revolve around law and entrepreneurship.
I have interest in starting a yard maintenance business where I connect landscapers and homeowners. I am only the middleman and am seeking to minimize my liability. However, just because 2 parties sign a sub-contracting agreement does not mean the agreement will be upheld in a court of law. How do I get my business going and not start out in the hole with lawyer fees since I have yet to make a penny from the business? Or is my thinking narrow-sighted and should I be ready to fork out lawyer fees to start my business?

If the questions above are not selected, then I would be interested in hearing the following topics discussed.

- What did you do to stand out from the pack to your agent? (Comment #1 above)
- Priest Willis’s post (Comment #4 above)
- Health insurance + a script for finding a mentor (Comment #7 above)
- Producing content for blogs (Comment #9 above)
- Case study for Bob (Comment #10 above)
- Completing a book prior to getting it published (Comment #12 above)

the weakonomist

Looking forward to it. What live stream will you be using?

sfordinarygirl

So much for last question.

What system or method do you use to manage your network and contacts? I’m using a spreadsheet and color coding but wanted to find a more efficient method for tracking each person’s interests. I like sending interesting articles with personal messages but it’s impossible for me to keep track of who’s who.

Chris Sanders

Hey Ramit,

I have a startup non profit that I’ve just gotten off the ground. The goal of the non profit is to provide scholarship opportunities to students from rural areas who are pursuing a career in computer technology, with some more broad long term goals.

Do you have any recommendations on finding funding sources for this? We are targeting IT companies and are writing grants, but I’d love to hear any advice you have on finding funding for non-profits.

Best,

Chris Sanders

Kim D.

I think I have a good idea for an online business. However, I have no training in this area and do not know anyone knowledgeable to bounce my idea off of to see if it is even viable.
Is it possible to get investors with just a well thought dea and a business plan?
Where do I start?
Do I have to worry about someone stealing my idea if I discuss it?
Is SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) a good asset?

Subraya Mallya

Ramit, Big fan and practitioner of most of your ideas.