The Sequence of Returns A look at how variable rates of return do (and do not) impact investors over time. What exactly is the “sequence of returns”? The phrase describes the yearly variation in an investment portfolio’s rate of return. Across 20 or 30 years of saving and investing for [...]
Annual Financial To-Do List What financial, business, or life priorities do you need to address for the coming year? Now is a good time to think about the investing, saving, or budgeting methods you could employ toward specific objectives, from building your retirement [...]
That First RMD from Your IRA When you reach age 70 1/2, the Internal Revenue Service instructs you to start making withdrawals from your traditional IRA(s), 401(k)s and other certain retirement accounts. These withdrawals are also called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). You will make them, annually, from now on. If [...]
Are women saving and investing enough today? How about you? Do you feel financially prepared for the future? Taking control of your financial future is so important, and it starts with saving and investing actively. Here are some of the reasons this is crucial. The earnings gap. Men tend to [...]
Global vs. International: What's the Difference? For investors who are looking to diversify their portfolio with exposure to companies located outside the U.S., there exist two basic choices: a global mutual fund or an international mutual fund. By definition, international funds invest in non-U.S. markets, while global funds may invest [...]
Living Trusts Explained Everyone should have a will. If you die without a valid will in place, state law will determine how your assets are distributed to your heirs. The question is, when do you need more than just a will? You see the ads all the time: “Should [...]
Your Diversified Portfolio vs. the S&P 500 “Why is my portfolio under performing the market?” This question may be on your mind. It is a question that investors sometimes ask after stocks shatter records or return exceptionally well in a quarter. The short answer is that even when Wall Street [...]
A Bucket Plan to Go with Your Bucket List The baby boomers redefined everything they touched, from music to marriage to parenting and even what “old” means – 60 is the new 50! Longer, healthier living, however, can put greater stress on the sustainability of retirement assets. There is no [...]
When Alzheimer’s Disease is Diagnosed Imagine the outlook for your life changing in minutes. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be that stunning. If your parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, how can you help them as they strive to make the most of the years ahead? An Alzheimer’s diagnosis may [...]
Getting a Head Start on College Savings The hows and whys of college savings. The American family with a child born today can expect to spend about $233,610 to raise that child to the age of 18. However, these days, most kids aren’t “out the door” at age 18. Tack [...]
