The last 12 months have brought a change of occupant in the White House, a radical shift in economic policy anchored by a massive increase in import tariffs and a retreat from the global trade consensus that dominated the past several decades – not to mention drastic changes to immigration and other established policies. But, as 2026 arrives, the stock…
A well-planned retirement portfolio should ideally be built around several different income buckets. When combined, those sources aim to produce a sustainable withdrawal rate that supports ongoing living expenses without exhausting savings. For investment assets, whether held in a workplace 401(k) plan or a self-directed Roth IRA, the outcome often comes down to fund selection. Employer-sponsored plans typically offer a…
Despite a U.S. government shutdown that hit the “pause” button on new initial public offerings, the IPO market is expected to finish 2025 as it started, with a flurry of newly minted publicly-traded companies. Data from MicroVentures show that 371 U.S. companies went public through Dec. 4, a significantly faster pace than the 266 nationwide IPOs that went live in…
The Federal Reserve – as expected – lowered interest rates on Wednesday by a quarter point, but the decision included an unusual three dissents. Two of the naysayers favored no cuts at all, while a third wanted a larger decrease of a half point. The move will lead to lower borrowing costs for consumers on many categories of loans, as…
Despite concerns over bloated valuations, macroeconomic uncertainty, tariffs and geopolitical instability, the S&P 500 has rallied to new all-time highs in 2025. Unfortunately, there are plenty of stocks that have been left behind this year. Some of these underperforming stocks may be providing investors with an opportunity to buy the dip. Many, however, are simply struggling with stiff competition, broken…
The best cheap stocks belong to companies that are fundamentally strong but experiencing a brief, temporary setback, says Steven Conners, founder and president of Conners Wealth Management in Scottsdale, Arizona. What you want to avoid are cheap stocks that don’t have a “catalyst to improve their valuation.” The bottom line on low-priced stocks – like the five highlighted here –…
All Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8% increase in their benefit amount next year, but the most any retiree can receive monthly in 2026 is $5,251. That amount will go to those who retired in 2025 with the maximum possible benefit and who are now getting a cost-of-living adjustment. It isn’t easy to qualify for the maximum amount. You’ll need a…
The best long-term exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are different from the quirky and often unknown funds that make headlines because of big short-term gains. Long-term investing is about diversification and the discipline to stick with it, regardless of the latest headlines. And the best long-term ETFs offer distinct yet complementary paths to building lasting wealth, across any market cycle. The following ETFs…
Investments that focus on planet-friendly solutions could be long-term opportunities for patient bargain hunters. Stock market investing has traditionally been about one kind of green, money, but it’s increasingly about another kind: the environment. Green stocks and funds offer the opportunity for people concerned about climate change and pollution to align their investment and environmental priorities. With that backdrop in mind,…
Although you may be used to cryptocurrency headlines being dominated by the likes of Bitcoin (BTC) and other speculative assets, stablecoins play an essential role in keeping the ecosystem afloat. They also carry plenty of benefits for investors. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether (ETH), stablecoins have their values pegged to external assets that exist outside of crypto. These pegs can…