Letters

The following are excerpts from reader letters received after Archie disclosed he was discontinuing the column:

"As an avid reader of your newspaper column for six or seven years, I was heartbroken to read that you will no longer be writing the column."

"Dear Archie, (...but I should say Mr. Richards...yet you seem like an old friend because of my reading your columns so long!) I was sad to read this morning that you will be discontinuing your columns. I always looked forward to your piece in my Sunday paper. Great advice and education. Thank you for the work and experience you've shared with people like me!"

"I don't remember exactly how I found your site, but I figured out pretty quickly that it was in my best interest to bookmark it. Your wonderful column has made a meaningful impact on my life."

"Your continued optimism and long term focus, in the midst of unrelenting pessimism, is what I appreciated the most."

"In setting up my SEP-IRA, I've followed many of your suggestions and been happy with results. Much better than trying to figure out which mutual funds will be 5-star-rated by Morningstar for the coming year. Coming up with a plan, understanding it and then not worrying too much about it is something I feel good about. I am truly amazed how much bad (or inappropriate) financial advice there is out there and how costly it can be. Thank you very much for your ideas and writings. I will miss your column."

"I will truly miss your words of wisdom and common sense. Your website was always visited first for a new column whenever I was away from the computer, just like seeing an old friend."

"Before latching onto your weekly columns I was like a fish out of water when it came to investing. After closely watching your recommendations for several months, I invested in mutual funds exactly as you suggested and have been most pleased. I will continue for the rest of my life using the teaching you shared. (Invest, leave it alone. and rebalance once a year.) Again, I cannot thank you enough. I will truly miss your column."

"I'm a skeptical person by nature, but I've grown to trust you and your advice. I would greatly appreciate receiving all four of your position papers. Thank you for sharing your knowledge - it has been a tremendous help to me."

"As a loyal reader for quite some time, I was very sorry to hear you will no longer write your column. Thank you so much for all the invaluable investment advice you've provided over the years. Your column, as well as your website and book, have all been extremely insightful as well as very entertaining. Thanks again for all your financial recommendations."

"I enjoyed your column and your advice and will dearly miss them."