Learning
Financial NewsExplore the latest financial news and insights locally and around the globe.
Market Commentary – May 20, 2019
Trade war trade-off. There was some good news on trade, last week. The United States took steps to reduce trade friction with the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.“The United States on Friday reached an agreement with Canada and Mexico to remove...
read moreMarket Commentary – May 13, 2019
Trade talk trouble took a toll last week. Major U.S. stock indices moved lower when trade talks between the United States and China broke down. The Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Index all finished the...
read moreMarket Commentary – May 6, 2019
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is off to its best start in 20 years. Despite the exceptional performance of U.S. stock markets year-to-date, and data that suggest economic growth remains steady, some analysts and investors have been pecking at Federal...
read moreMarket Commentary – April 29, 2019
It wasn’t an ‘Avengers End Game’ spoiler, but there was big news last week.Economic growth in the United States was strong during the first quarter. The Bureau Of Economic Analysis (BEA) announced gross domestic product (GDP), which is the value of all...
read moreMarket Commentary – April 22, 2019
And the answer is…A Jeopardy! contestant captured the nation’s attention last week by setting multiple records for the most money earned in a single episode. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has been setting some records, too.Michael Mackenzie of...
read moreMarket Commentary – April 15, 2019
Investors took an intermission.The curtain appeared to close on the first act of 2019 last week – and what an impressive act it was. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index delivered some dramatic returns and is less than 1 percent away from a new all-time...
read moreMarket Commentary – April 8, 2019
The first quarter of 2019 brought a welcome reversal.Last year, Barron’s published a group of market strategists’ expectations for 2019 performance. The article came out in mid-December, before the steep year-end stock market decline. At that time, all of...
read moreMarket Commentary April 1, 2019
“Fascinatingly counterintuitive…”That’s how Michael Arone, an investment strategist, described the U.S. market environment to Avi Salzman of Barron’s: “‘Stocks are rallying, but bond yields are reflecting much lower growth.’ Stocks rose during the quarter...
read moreMarket Commentary – March 25, 2019
Wonder what the Federal Reserve’s 40-yard dash time is?On Wednesday, the Fed juked like an NFL running back and left investors wondering whether they should buy or sell. Heather Long of The Washington Post reported the U.S. central bank:Lowered its 2019...
read moreMarket Commentary – March 18, 2019
Stock and bond markets rallied.Last week, major U.S. stock indices finished higher for the 10th time in 12 weeks. Bond markets moved higher, too, with the yield on 10-year Treasuries dropping just below 2.6 percent, reported Randall Forsyth of Barron’s....
read moreMarket Commentary – March 11, 2019
Markets were rattled last week.The market hates surprises, especially when the surprise comes from a central bank. Last week, the European Central Bank (ECB) unexpectedly reversed course and took a more accommodative stance on monetary policy in an effort...
read moreMarket Commentary – March 4, 2019
Is it a soft landing?Economists use aviation metaphors to describe the results of central banks’ efforts to manage rapidly growing economies. If the Federal Reserve lifts rates enough to prevent the economy from overheating without jolting it into...
read moreMarket Commentary – February 25, 2019
Investors were pleased with the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) new approach to its balance sheet.The Fed delivered its semi-annual Monetary Policy Report to Congress last week. The report recapped the events of late 2018 and reiterated the Fed’s intention to “…be...
read moreQuestions To Ask A Financial Advisor
The recent volatility in the stock market has again become a wake up call to many investors.
Read more >>
Advised Brokerage Accounts Are Better Diversified, Reports Schwab
The report highlights the benefits of working with an advisor. In general, participants who had professional help were more diversified across all of their holdings
Read more >>
Six Steps To Financial Independence For Women
Financial independence: Whether you enjoy it or dream about it, it’s a common term that you’ve probably seen in magazine ads, TV commercials and billboards. But what really does financial independence mean, exactly?
Read more >>
Understanding Credit Reporting
To qualify for the best loans at the lowest rates, borrowers must qualify financially and are scored by lenders using a computerized model for evaluating credit risk, developed by Fair, Isaac, and Company, known as the FICO score. Learn more
Read more >>
Documenting Your Possessions in Case of Disaster
It’s better to protect yourself now and document your possessions rather than trying to do it after something has happened. A home inventory will give you an accurate recording of your assets for insurance purposes and give you a better idea of how much homeowner’s insurance you need to ensure proper coverage.
Read more >>
Organizing Your Financial Records and Emergency Forms
Would someone be able to find your important papers during a crisis if you became ill, injured, or incapacitated? It’s a good idea to make sure a trusted family member or friend knows where to find your personal documents.
Read more >>
5 Benefits of Working in Retirement
In the past, retirement has been portrayed as an ending, a grand exit from your years in the workplace. But the rules are shifting.
Read more >>
The Drawback Of Target Date Mutual Funds
If the majority of fund management won’t even invest in their own target-date retirement funds….why should you?
Reads more >>
Just How Safe Is An Insurance Company, Really?
When you think about the car you drive, the house you live in, the health plan you use and the life insurance policy you have, it’s not a stretch to say insurance is an intrinsic part of our daily lives.
Read more >>
Credit Freeze - You should consider it!
It’s been over a year since Equifax, one of the three largest credit reporting agencies in the U.S., revealed they’d been hacked.
What did you do to protect your data?.
Read more >>
Should Parents Pay for College Tuition?
It’s a pricey question.
College Board estimated the average cost for full-time, in-state students who live on campus at four-year public colleges or universities during the 2017-18 school year is $25,290.
Read more >>
Just Say NO to Pie Charts!!
Pie charts look nice coming out of a color printer, but they can’t help manage investment risk
Read more >>
An Investment Advisor’s Blueprint To Making Solid Financial Decisions
A common mistake people make is to give up what they want most for what they only want right now. Pick which goals in your life are most important to you, and make achieving those goals your utmost priority. Then…
Reasd more >>
Enjoy Life. Hire Someone To Watch Your 401K
Have you ever thought you’d be happier if you could just pay someone else to do watch your company 401K retirement plan account?
Read more >>
The 7 Rules of Investing
From 1977 through 1990, Lynch ran one of the most successful mutual funds ever, posting an average annual return of 29%.
Read more >>
Considering A 401K Rollover?
What to do with an old 401K?
One great thing about a 401K retirement savings plan is that your assets are often portable when you leave a job.
Read more >>
Have You Checked Out Our Retirement Planning Library?
While retirement planning can seem intimidating, it’s never too early or too late to start preparing for the future.
Read more >>
Common Financial Terms
We have compiled a list of important financial terms. If you don’t speak personal finance, don’t worry—we’re here to help.
Read more >>
Memorial Day – 75th D-Day Anniversary
Normandy. D-Day. Operation Overlord. The events of June 6, 1944 are known by many names, and have been commemorated in countless books, dramas, and documentaries. You’ve seen the pictures of GIs wading through rough, freezing water onto a murderous,...
read moreExamining the cause and effect of the new tariffs between the U.S. and China
After months of relative quiet, the trade war between the U.S. and China has erupted again in a big way. The markets are the most immediate casualty, with the Dow plunging over 600 points on Monday alone.1 In all likelihood, you’re probably more focused on...
read moreHave you been watching the markets lately?
“We are now in a bear market – here’s what that means.” – CNBC headline on December 24, 20181 “The stock market rally to start 2019 is one for the history books.” – CNBC headline on February 22, 20192 If you’re like most people, it’s probably not uncommon...
read moreSEC warns investors not to base stock decisions on social sentiment
Social media posts can have hidden agendas, regulators said.The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. are warning investors about using social media data to make investment decisions.In recent years,...
read moreThe USA’s GNP vs China and the World
Open any newspaper or tune in to your favorite news channel and you will find much talk about how China is taking over the world’s economy. They have made incredible strides in building infrastructure, manufacturing and their military during the past few...
read moreWhat Makes Your Mom So Special?
When you think “Mom,” it’s likely your brain conjures up a scent or a story or a song that feels like home. Here are a few inspiring and heartfelt words that have been written about the value and importance of mothers:“A mother enables you to realize that...
read moreUnderstanding Credit Reporting
Historically low interest rates present a welcome opportunity for many homeowners to improve their financial situation by refinancing their mortgage. But, like everything else in the world of finance, there are no free lunches. To take advantage of these...
read moreLetter from Reagan
It was this month, 35 years ago, that a thirteen-year-old boy named Andy sent the following letter to President Reagan: Dear Mr. President, My name is Andy. I am a seventh-grade student in South Carolina. Today my mother declared my bedroom a disaster...
read moreHow Will Rising Healthcare Costs Affect Your Retirement?
We all know it is inevitable. It’s no secret healthcare costs will be going up. For years, medical expenses have been steadily increasing. In 2007, medical expenses rose almost 12 percent. However, the rate of increase slowed to 6 percent during the past...
read moreLessons from March Madness
This year is no exception. Every spring, millions of people tune their televisions to March Madness, the annual tournament to decide the best team in college basketball. If you’ve ever watched before, you know it’s a time of great excitement as underdogs...
read moreDigital Assets and Baby Boomers
How many password-protected accounts do you have?Whether you keep them locked in the depths of your memory, use a password manager, or have a written record of your passwords (which is certainly not recommended), take a quick count. You are most likely to...
read moreThere’s Still Time to Contribute to an IRA
If you haven’t already contributed to an IRA (Individual Retirement Account), there’s still time to do so. Many people don’t know that the 2018 contribution deadline is actually the 15th of April. However, if you do decide to contribute, you must designate the year...
read moreThe 7 Rules of Investing
From someone who is considered one of the greatest investors of all time During the past century, many of the world’s leading economists have studied the science – or art – of investing. A large number of investing systems, models, and theories have been...
read more