Category: Newsletters

Long-term bonds generally provide higher yields than short-term bonds, because investors demand higher returns to compensate for the risk of lending money over a longer period. Occasionally, however, this relationship flips, and…

When you open an account or update an existing account at a brokerage or a financial firm, you may be asked if you want to designate a “trusted contact.” This individual may…

Record-breaking fuel prices may have you thinking about buying an electric vehicle sooner rather than later. All electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), as they’re also called, run on electric…

According to the National Retail Federation, online sales accounted for over $1 trillion of total U.S. retail sales in 2021.1 Online shopping is especially popular during the holiday season, enabling you to…

If predictions come to pass, 2022 will be the biggest year for weddings since 1984, with the culmination of many postponed or delayed celebrations in addition to regularly scheduled events. There are…

The passage of the SECURE Act in 2019 effectively eliminated the stretch IRA, an estate planning strategy that allowed an inherited IRA to continue growing tax deferred, potentially for decades. Most nonspouse…

The U.S. stock market had a banner year in 2021, with the S&P 500 index up almost 27%. Unfortunately, stocks turned downward on the second trading day of 2022 and kept sliding…

Index funds, which try to match the performance of a particular market index, have drawn increasing interest from investors, but traditional actively managed funds still hold more assets (see chart). There is…

COVID-19 kicked off a severe labor shortage : and the most challenging hiring conditions for small businesses in many years. Many owners have had to turn away orders (and revenue), disappoint customers,…

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable account offered by sponsors such as financial institutions, community foundations, universities, and fraternal or religious organizations. Donors who itemize deductions on their federal income tax…

If you worry about your retirement investments during market downturns, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, emotions are often the enemy of sound investing. Here are some points to help you stay clear-headed during…

The use of telehealth skyrocketed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of remote office visits and outpatient services 78 times higher in April 2020 than in February 2020. Usage has…

Life insurance can serve many valuable purposes. However, later in life : when your children have grown, you’ve retired, or you’ve paid off your mortgage : you may no longer think you…

Throughout your life, your financial needs will change, and life insurance can help you meet some of those needs. But how much life insurance do you need? There are a number of…

The importance of proper estate planning cannot be overstated, regardless of the size of your estate or the stage of life you’re in. Nevertheless, it’s surprising how many American adults haven’t put…

By one estimate, the typical 65-year-old couple who retired in 2021 could spend as much as $296,000 on health-care expenses in retirement. This figure includes lifetime premiums for Medicare, supplemental insurance, deductibles,…

In late September 2022, the U.S. dollar hit a 20-year high in an index that measures its value against six major currencies: the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound, the Canadian…

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, signed into law on August 9, is bipartisan legislation that provides more than $50 billion in direct financial assistance for companies to increase U.S.-based semiconductor…

Inflation, roller-coaster markets, global events, and life circumstances can test anyone’s fortitude. You may not feel ready to handle these pressure-filled times and might worry about the potential effects on your financial…

Most areas in the United States are susceptible to some form of natural disaster, whether it’s a wildfire, tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or flood. A severe storm or other catastrophic event often strikes…