Check out this 8-page, easy-to-digest consumer guide to 
According to Merrill, four of the most common risks to your retirement strategy are:1 A significant market drop shortly before or early in your retirement Inflation reducing your spending power over time Unexpected medical and/or long-term care expenses Outliving your assets If you are nearing retirement, it might be time to review your current financial…
Three pivotal economic events of 2019 were: (1) the prolonged trade dispute between the U.S. and China; (2) the series of three interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve; and (3) chatter about a possible 2020 recession. It remains to be seen whether a recession is on the way, but if you’re concerned about market…
The Importance of Women Achieving Financial Confidence Married or single, women are finding that taking an active role in their financial futures is critical. About 80% of married women outlive their husbands, and nearly half of all widows say they wish they’d been more involved in managing their finances when their spouse was alive.1 Whether…
The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania has conducted extensive studies on the effects of immigration on America’s economy. In light of heightened policy debates in the U.S., some of the most critical findings are:1 Increasing the number of legal immigrants with a college degree would have little impact on employment and…
Index mutual funds are investment vehicles comprising stocks from a wide variety of companies and track the performance of a specific index, such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Investors are able to spread their assets across many different investments with the convenience of one fund, which can help protect them from market volatility. Index…
Anyone who followed the often-used investment adage, “Sell in May and go away,” is likely pleased with their decision after the markets struggled in the month of August.1 While recent market events may seem dramatic, August is historically the weakest month of the year for U.S. equities.2 By mid-August this year, both the Dow and S&P…
The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) evaluates a plethora of factors before making any monetary policy decisions at meetings, which generally take place eight times a year. One source that helps inform their policy decisions is the “Beige Book,” which is the informal name for the FOMC’s “Summary of Commentary on Current Economic…
In our personal lives, we have a conscience that keeps us from doing not-so-nice things. Sometimes we even get a creepy-crawly feeling when we think someone may be up to no good. Fortunately, there also are some common red flags that warn us about things we should avoid when investing. For example, it’s usually not…
One of the first discussions a young couple may have when starting a family is about affordability. How will they pay for child care? Will one spouse quit their job to stay home and raise the child? Here are a couple of interesting facts that may enter that equation:1 The average income for first-time mothers…
According to IRS estimates, taxpayers collectively pay about 82 percent of taxes they legitimately owe. This amounts to about $458 billion annually in lost taxes, based on data from 2008 to 2010.1 Of course, we do not recommend strategies to avoid legitimate tax liabilities. However, it is important to stay current with the constantly evolving…
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