Exchange-traded funds are becoming an increasingly popular vehicle for accumulating assets for retirement. But what should be done with ETFs (which carry a certain degree of risk) as one moves into retirement (where risk aversion is the name of the game)? The author of today’s article notes that “your first instinct may be to edge away from volatility, but there’s…
In this case a race to the bottom is a good thing: In an effort to attract new customers and increase market share in an extremely competitive business, mutual fund companies are battling it out for who can offer the lowest-cost ETF – and the resultant rock-bottom fees are great news for retirement savers. The author of today’s article highlights…
Issues relating to retirement did not receive much focus during the presidential campaign. However, the incoming Trump administration (and the Republican-controlled Congress) are positioned to affect a number of issues of importance to impending retirees – including the fate of the fiduciary rule requiring that investment advisers handling retirement accounts act in the best interests of their clients. So what…
While ’tis the season for spending, the author of today’s article notes that “this is also the time of year when a few simple moves could also save…some coin”, and he proceeds to outline three such moves to consider before January 1st. Move #1? Think about tax-loss harvesting (including how you can take advantage of the IRS’ “wash rule” to…
When it comes to whether personal finances or portfolio management is more important, the author of today’s article is firmly in the personal finances camp. As such, he lays out a list of 20 personal finance rules, or “20 simple ways you can be smarter about your money.” Among these rules, why does he state that your goal should not…
In today’s article the author lays out “an easy way to use the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats – companies that have hiked their dividends for 25 years straight or more – to build a durable income stream you can retire on.” Specifically, he presents a five-stock Dividend Aristocrat portfolio with the potential to generate $112k of retirement income from a…
While alternative investments have the potential to both reduce a portfolio’s risk and boost its returns, the key word here, as today’s article emphasizes, is can: “If done poorly, alternative investments can just as easily take a wrecking ball to a portfolio and destroy years’ worth of gains.” Specifically, the author outlines the real-life example of the Dallas Police &…
With their low default risk, high dividend yields – with some paying yields above 6% – and ability to provide most Americans with tax-free income, the author of today’s article describes municipal bonds as having “the retirement income trifecta.” Recognizing that it can be difficult to buy quality individual municipal bonds, the author recommends seeking out the kinds of municipal…
The current bull market is the second-longest in history and has continued to reach new highs of late, but as today’s article acknowledges, sooner or later all good things must come to an end. As such, it highlights 10 high-quality dividend stocks that retirees might want to have in their portfolios when the good times do end, as they are…
After cohabitating with the financial sector, real estate is moving into its own place later this year – becoming its own sector in the S&P 500 and MSCI equity indexes – and, as today’s article highlights, this move is expected to increase the profile and appeal of real estate investment trusts among investors. Here’s what Barron’s has to say: “Separating…