"Out with the Old, and in with the New" I thought of this well-known quote when I drove my sons across the Eastern span of the Bay Bridge earlier this month during the first few hours of its opening. Making that historic drive was certainly memorable, especially after waiting so many years for the opening! [...]
That depends on many factors, including your time frame and the types of stocks involved. Many retirement planning calculators project a portfolio's future value based on historical returns. However, past performance is no guarantee of future results, and you should take any such assumptions with a grain of salt. You may have heard that stocks [...]
Last year's presidential election, along with the more recent fiscal cliff and debt ceiling negotiations, have put the spotlight on our nation's tax policy, deficit, and entitlement programs. For some, entitlement programs are necessary--a social compact for America in an era of longer life spans, the decline of employer-provided pensions and health insurance in retirement, [...]
What might a 23-year-old recent college graduate, a 45-year-old entrepreneur, and a 60-year-old pre-retiree have in common financially? They may all be hobbled by student loan debt. According to financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz, the student loan "debt clock" reached the $1 trillion milestone last year. And even as Americans have reduced their credit card [...]
It's almost impossible to overstate the importance of estate planning, regardless of the size of your estate or the stage of life you're in. A close second to the need to plan your estate is getting it done correctly, based on your individual circumstances. You might think that those who are rich and famous [...]
When Is Market Volatility Most Dangerous? Though a market downturn generally isn't fun for most people, its timing can have a greater impact on some investors than on others. For example, a market downturn can have greater significance for retirees than for those who are still accumulating assets. And it has the most impact if [...]
We have all heard that old adage that “money can’t buy happiness”! And although I am a financial professional whose job is to inspire people to make sound financial decisions, I think there is a lot of truth to this saying. The pursuit of financial well-being at the expense of other important life goals seems [...]
The best way to pay off credit card debt is with a single lump-sum payment, which would allow you to get back on solid financial ground quickly, without having to pay additional interest. Sources of funds that can be used for a lump-sum payoff include any substantial windfall, such as an inheritance or employment bonus. [...]
Owning a home outright is a dream that many Americans share. Having a mortgage can be a huge burden, and paying it off may be the first item on your financial to-do list. But competing with the desire to own your home free and clear is your need to invest for retirement, your child's college [...]
Many investors whose incomes are suffering from low interest rates have begun to seek investment alternatives to help supplement those incomes. One possibility often suggested is a real estate investment trust (REIT). REITs are a way to invest in commercial real estate without the responsibility of managing a property yourself, and with a much smaller [...]
