Which is the better choice for retirees (or any other income investor): building a portfolio of individual dividend stocks or buying a dividend exchange-traded fund? The author of today’s article argues that, “while total return is certainly a very important consideration, there are a number of other factors that can swing the decision one way or the other” – and…
What’s more important (and therefore which should you be focusing on more): saving or investing? The answer, according to the author of today’s article, is that it depends. Specifically, the author outlines how the answer to this question depends on where you are in your investment life cycle. What simple calculation does the author suggest for determining whether you should…
Are your savings working as hard for you as they can? Noting that “if you don’t save diligently, you are highly unlikely to amass a decent-size nest egg,” the author of today’s article proceeds to outline 10 questions to ask yourself in regards to your savings and saving practices – and identifies steps you can take to improve your savings…
The author of today’s article notes that the “standard prescription” for most retirees these days is “a combination of working longer, living on less, and reducing expectations for their retirement dreams.” But for those who either cannot – or refuse to – comply with that dreary prescription, there is a more creative retirement solution to consider: retiring abroad in a…
The current environment is a tricky one for income seekers – whether they be individuals in (or approaching) retirement, or anyone wanting a steady income component to their portfolio – to navigate. To provide some assistance in this regard, today’s article looks to a number of ETF strategists and asset managers for their favorite income-generating strategies – and specific vehicles…
Health savings accounts. More employers offering a Roth option in their retirement plans – and reducing the overall number of investment options employees have to choose from. The growth of index funds – and workplace financial wellness programs. These trends – as well as some additional developments – have the author of today’s article declaring that “it’s a brave new…
There are over 8,000 mutual funds and the average participant in a workplace retirement plan has 28 investment options to choose from. However, the author of today’s article advises that “you can create a smart, diversified portfolio with just a handful of mutual funds” – and she proceeds to highlight some model “lazy portfolios” to do just that. To learn…
While the primary casualty of the fiduciary rule – which began to take effect in June – is intended to be conflicts of interest on the part of financial advisers when it comes to their clients’ retirement accounts, today’s article identifies another potential casualty of the rule: the number of mutual funds offered by brokerage firms as they seek to…
FANG stocks are certainly sexy, exciting and have been incredible performers in recent years. However, if your key investment objective is dividend income, the author of today’s article argues that you should be focusing on a different (albeit far less sexy and exciting) acronym: TRUE. While the FANG acronym represents four specific stocks, TRUE represents the four stock sectors that…
That baby boomers face a retirement crisis is a widely accepted fact. But what caused it? It may seem that the answer to this question must be complicated, but the author of today’s article has a relatively simple explanation, stating that “If I had to point to one variable that could explain why so many are so ill-prepared for retirement…