With the presidential elections less than two months away, we hear a lot about how the results are likely to affect the stock market. Some believe a Biden win will sink the stock market due to his commitment to higher individual and corporate income tax rates and more regulations. Others believe a Trump win cause […]
COVID has permeated our lives to such a degree that it is easy to miss significant opportunities that are right in front of you. Currently, one of the biggest opportunities is historically low mortgage interest rates. In March of this year, 30-year mortgage rates dropped to an all-time low of 3.25%. The 15-year fixed-rate was […]
With bonds yields currently at historic lows, I am reminded of the 1970’s hit song “War” by Edwin Starr, where he asked, “War, what is it good for?” and his reply, “Absolutely nothing!” As difficult as it is to appreciate bonds, let me attempt to make the case that bonds, even with a seemingly bleak […]
A few decades ago, I was in the life insurance business, so I had an opportunity to see how they make the sausage. Annuities are products sold by sales representatives through life insurance companies. The product is often complicated and laden with both up-front and ongoing commissions, fees, and expenses. Annuities come in many varieties: […]
In this three-part series, I’ve discussed how to adjust your investment strategy depending on whether you are just getting started in your twenties and thirties or have made steady progress towards saving for retirement in your forties and fifties. Investing for the Ages: 20’s & 30’s Investing for the Ages: 40’s & 50’s If you […]
In the second part of this series, “Investing for the Ages,” I want to focus on people in their forties and fifties. At this point, you should have accumulated forty percent to sixty-five percent of your retirement savings goal. Ok, I’m guessing a lot of people are thinking, “I have no idea what my retirement […]
Even under COVID…no, especially under COVID, people need to be focused on their long-term financial future. If you’re in your twenties or thirties and want to create financial independence, you’ll need to begin an investment program. Here are the key actions you should take now: Don’t wait, invest now. Many people postpone investing because […]
A long-time friend who recently retired at age sixty-five emailed me for my thoughts about a retirement strategy he was considering. He plans to live off the interest, dividends, and savings and postpone taking Social Security until age seventy. By doing so, his Social Security benefit will grow to the maximum (an additional 32% over […]
We are all likely familiar with the term “emotional roller-coaster,” and the term is fitting in describing the last several months as we continue to deal with Covid-19 and its second-order effects on culture, family dynamics, and the economy. As humans, emotions aide and enhance our lives in so many ways, but allowing emotions to […]
After months of extreme market volatility due to Covid-19, the stock market finds itself within 10% of all-time highs. While this is a welcome relief for investors, considering market prices in late March, concerns remain with the ongoing economic recovery, Federal Reserve policy, the upcoming presidential election, etc. If you were caught off guard by […]