Timely newsletters to help you stay current on the markets, tax rules, retirement planning and the wider economy.
-
What Is a Roth IRA?
Roth IRAs are tax-favored financial vehicles that enable investors to save money for retirement. They differ from traditional IRAs in that taxpayers cannot deduct contributions made to a Roth. However, qualified Roth…
-
Watch Out for Scams That Target Businesses
According to a 2018 report by the Better Business Bureau, an estimated 6% of small businesses are scammed each year, suffering an average loss of $4,373. Unfortunately, scam activity directed at businesses…
-
After Rocky Year-End, Risks Follow Investors into New Year
In the final quarter of 2018, interest rate and growth fears, along with geopolitical events, sparked volatility in the financial markets and reversed many of the outsize stock gains notched earlier in…
-
Social Security Income
Estimating your future Social Security benefits used to be a difficult task, but not any longer. For an estimate of your projected benefits, go to www.ssa.gov/estimator. The retirement estimator gives estimates based…
-
Higher Education: College Saving and Funding Strategies
-
What Investment Risks Should I Know About?
Taken by itself, the word "risk" sounds negative. But broken down into what it really stands for in terms of investing, it begins to be a little more manageable. By understanding the…
-
What Stock and Bond Investing Alternatives Do I Have?
Many prudent investors may have at least some of their holdings in stocks, corporate bonds, or both. In fact, when most people think of “investing,” they think of Wall Street and the…
-
May 2014
Monthly Market Monitor – May 2014 Recap Market Indices1 May Year-to-Date S&P 500 2.35% 4.97% Russell 3000 2.18% 4.32% MSCI EAFE 1.62% 3.78% MSCI Emerging Markets 3.49% 3.39% Barclays US Aggregate Bond…
-
Why Americans Are Eating Out Less Than Ever
Sharing meals in your home or out on the town isn’t just about eating; it’s also an opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family. But whether you are a frugal…
-
November 2013
Monthly Market Monitor: November 2013 Recap Market Indices1 November Year-to-Date S&P 500 +3.05% +29.12% Russell 3000 +2.90% +30.12% MSCI EAFE +0.77% +20.97% MSCI Emerging Markets -1.46% -1.17% Barclays US Aggregate Bond -0.37%…
-
August 2013
Monthly Market Monitor – August 2013 Recap Market Indices1 August Year-to-Date S&P 500 -2.90% +16.15% Russell 3000 -2.79% +16.95% MSCI EAFE -1.31% +8.54% MSCI Emerging Markets -1.68% -9.94% Barclays US Aggregate Bond…
-
What Are My Retirement Plan Distribution Options?
When it comes to receiving the fruits of your labor : the money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan : you are faced with a few broad options. Should you take the…
-
Insurance Strategies: Giving Old Life Insurance a New Purpose
Later in life : when your children are on their own, you’ve retired, or you’ve paid off your mortgage : you may think you no longer need to keep your life insurance…
-
2014 Fourth Quarter Market Outlook
Is the pickup in growth for real this time? For years the pattern has been the same. At the beginning of the year forecasters acknowledged that growth has been weak but envisage…
-
1040 Postmortem: Making Sense of Your Taxes and Withholding
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which passed in December 2017, made fundamental changes to the U.S. tax code, and 2018 returns were the first time most taxpayers could see the…
-
Social Security 101
Social Security is complex, and the details are often misunderstood even by those who are already receiving benefits. If you’re looking forward to Social Security, whether in one year or 30 years,…
-
Choosing and Using a College Checking Account
Attending college requires learning about many aspects of life outside the classroom, and one of those is managing a checking account. Even if your student had an account in high school, college…
-
What Is Investment Risk?
How different types of risks can adversely affect your investments