End-of-the-Year Money Moves Here are some things you might want to do before saying goodbye to 2015. What has changed for you in 2015? Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? Did you retire? Did you start a family? If notable changes occurred in your personal or professional life, then you will want to review your finances before this year ends and 2016 begins. Even if your 2015 has been relatively uneventful, the end of the [...]
National Save for Retirement Week Are you on target to reach your retirement goals? October 18-24 is National Save for Retirement Week – a reminder of the importance of saving and investing with the goal of a comfortable future. Are Americans saving enough for tomorrow? All kinds of articles will tell you that Americans are not. Those articles may not be telling the entire story, however. Undeniably, the average IRA balance in this country is smaller than it should be. [...]
Saving Early & Letting Time Work for You The earlier you start pursuing financial goals, the better your outcome may be. As a young investor, you have a powerful ally on your side: time. When you start saving and investing for retirement in your twenties or thirties, you can put it to work for you. The effect of compounding is huge. Most people underestimate it, so it is worth illustrating. We will use reasonable annual return rates to do [...]
The Fed Decides to Wait In a tough time for equities, it elects not to roil the markets. On Thursday, the Federal Reserve postponed raising short-term interest rates. Citing “global economic and financial developments” that could “somewhat” impair economic progress and lessen inflation pressure, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-1 against a rate hike, with Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker being the lone dissenter.1 This spring, a September rate hike seemed probable – but during this past week, assumptions [...]
Riding Out This Volatile Market A major global selloff unfolds. Is a bottom near? When will the stock [...]