With high-dividend-yielding stocks feeling the pain as interest rates rise, the author of today’s article argues that, while older investors should not scale back on their dividend holdings, “the challenge is to pick the right dividend stocks and funds” – and the right dividend stocks and funds right now might not be the usual suspects! As such, she proceeds to…
Think you’re financially and emotionally ready to retire? According to today’s article, you may still have to postpone retirement, thanks to the House Republicans’ proposed Obamacare replacement bill – the American Health Care Act – and its provision that would allow insurers to charge older customers five times as much in premiums as younger customers – compared to the three-to-one…
In some (rare) positive retirement news, Wells Fargo’s 2016 retirement study found that the average 401(k) balance is at a new high – $92,000. So, with Americans looking to improve their financial futures and steering more dollars into their retirement accounts, how should they be investing these additional funds? In aggressive stock plans? Conservative bond funds? Low-cost index funds? To…
2016 was a banner year for 401(k)-related lawsuits, as employees felt the need to take legal action in order to have issues with sub-par retirement plans rectified – and, as the author of today’s article acknowledges, the issues that prompted these lawsuits are unlikely to improve under the current regime in Washington. As such, he outlines three things to look…
The author of today’s article notes that Individual Retirement Accounts have become a lot more complicated in a number of critical ways since their introduction in the 1970s. As such, he provides a comprehensive overview of the internal workings of IRAs – including the various types of IRA accounts, funding options and distribution of funds. He then proceeds to outline…
There is no end of lists purporting to identify the best cities or states in which to retire – but, for those planning on relocating to a warmer or less expensive locale in retirement, today’s article cautions there are a number of factors to consider that could lead to unexpected consequences – both financial and non-financial. The big one? Taxes…
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Nordstrom are among the companies that have been targets of a President Trump Twitter attack, and the share prices of the companies Trump goes after almost always drop in the immediate aftermath. But are there lasting effects? Today’s article looks at what the Wall Street Journal’s “Trump Target Index” – which tracks the post-attack performance of…
While many financial firms recommend that U.S. investors have some exposure to foreign stocks, that entails exposure to the currencies of the countries in question, and the author of today’s article notes “that means in addition to the stock’s performance, your total return will include the performance of the foreign currency translated into U.S. dollars.” With a strong dollar, this…
With the average savings account yielding a meager 0.11 percent – far less than the rate of inflation – one financial planner cited in today’s article describes using a traditional savings account for your emergency fund cash as simply being a way of “losing money safely”. As such, the author proceeds to outline other options for your emergency fund that…
Americans are not saving enough for retirement – and if Republican lawmakers have their way (which they presumably will as they now control Washington), this crisis may only get worse. The author of today’s article goes so far as to call the GOP’s current actions and proposed plans a “war on retirement”. What does the author identify as the three…