Before considering any specific investments, we need to set up an overall financial strategy. How will we allocate our savings to achieve a variety of goals? I find that the financial planner’s concept of allocating different “buckets” of money to different financial goals provides a useful starting point. My version of buckets of money follows. Since everyone’s needs and attitudes towards risk differ, I do not provide a one size fits all recommendation for the percentage of money that should fall into each bucket. read more