Posted by Richard on November 18, 2015
Estate planning can be a minefield of potential missteps, some of which could have far-reaching consequences. Many of the poor choices individuals make when planning for their own future or passing assets to their families are caused by “one-size-fits-all” planning strategies or well-intended advice from family or friends. Following are some common and potentially costly […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Stocks and stock mutual funds are often grouped according to size, or “market cap,” a term that represents the total dollar value of a company’s shares.1 Market cap is calculated by multiplying a stock’s price by the number of shares outstanding. For instance, if XYZ Corp. had a price of $25 per share and had […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Global market volatility ramped up last summer as worries about the tenuous state of the Chinese economy shook virtually all major financial benchmarks, indicating once again how interrelated the world’s economies and investment markets have become. Widespread uncertainty has not only heightened anxiety among investors, it was also a likely contributor to the Federal Reserve’s […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Americans are on the move, not only in their leisure pursuits, but in their jobs as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 38% of U.S. workers change jobs every year. If your employment situation changes, do you know what your choices are for managing the money in your 401(k) account? Generally, workers […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on October 14, 2015
Recent stock market conditions in China present a classic illustration of the boom/bust cycle that periodically disrupts financial markets. While bubbles and subsequent busts occur in the investment world from time to time, there are typically some telltale signs to help investors recognize when there is trouble brewing. When Is a Bubble a Bubble? Most […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
For mutual fund investors, earnings come from two sources: fund distributions — dividends or capital gains — and the sale of fund shares.1 Income from these sources may be taxable. Fund companies typically send year-end statements to shareholders that summarize the information used to report investment gains or losses to the IRS. Here’s a look […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Special occasions often call for gift giving: a graduation in May, a wedding in June, an anniversary in July, and birthdays throughout the year. Each event seems to sneak up on us — and our budgets. Retailers plan for holidays and seasonal sales, so why not do a little gift planning of your own? Here […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
With some $30 trillion poised to change hands over the next several decades from parents and grandparents to so-called Millennials — those 90-million-plus Americans aged 18 to 33 — the financial services industry will have its work cut out for it. Popular investing wisdom states that the younger you are, the more time you have […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on September 24, 2015
If I asked you to name the most risky asset class, which would you pick? Emerging markets1 Commodities2 High-yield bonds3 Each investment has unique risks, but volatility of returns is one measure that can be applied to all. At its simplest level, volatility is the likelihood that an investment’s return will change from one period […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Income-oriented investors have had a tough go of it for the past several years. Persistently low interest rates have curtailed traditional sources of yield. Yet, by broadening their search criteria, investors may uncover new ways to diversify their income portfolios with potentially more attractive options. Consider Total Return When evaluating income-generating opportunities investors need to […]
Read More →