Retirement

Everywhere we look, there is media focused on how to have a great retirement. No wonder. 10,000 people a day are turning 65. The emphasis is largely on urging you to get financial advice so you can feel “secure” and “reach your goals” all suggesting that these are the components of a happy retirement. But

Concept growth investment and saving growth stacking coin money with businessman calculate and analysis or financial costs Getty As someone who recommends real estate investment trusts, or REITs, I’m clearly a fan of slow but steady stocks. It’s hard to come to any other conclusion considering how these companies are designed to be safe and

No economist thinks a recession is natural. But very few believe governments can overcome the instability of capitalist markets without policy interventions. Here are rules of thumb for anti-recession policy. Fiscal policy—a tax cut or government spending—can cause a temporary stimulus after about 6-8 months, while monetary policy—the Federal Reserve’s actions to lower interest rates

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin Photocredit: © 2019 Bloomberg Finance LP © 2019 Bloomberg Finance LP This stock market correction has been similar to the prior corrections. The index nosedives, and the sentiment quickly collapses. This leads to a sudden and strong rally. When reading the sentiment numbers, keep in mind

Having lunch at home Getty “I begin my day with a breakfast smoothie with something green in it,” Jen reported proudly. She went on to describe lunch, “I have a salad, then maybe a snack in the middle of the day. For dinner I have one of those kits delivered with a big salad with

I told you GameStop’s (GME) dividend was toast. Did you sell, or better yet, short the stock? Just one quarter ago, we chatted about the inevitability of this paper payout ending in tears: Brick and mortar video game retailer GameStop (GME) is a throwback to yesteryear. It’s survived the rise of digital distribution for video

On June 5, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held a meeting that had four specific items to decide. In the meeting, the SEC approved a debated proposal called Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), holding financial advisors to the best interest standard. Not only did the SEC discuss and approve Reg BI for financial

By Rachel Hartman, Next Avenue Contributor After retiring, the chance to stay in the home where you’ve built up memories and grown comfortable may sound perfect. But to age in place well, you may need to do some renovations. The question is: Which ones are worth the cost? “If you plan on aging in place, there

Most baby boomers will need to make tough choices when planning their retirement: They’ll either need to work longer or reduce their living expenses, or do some combination of the two. So, how can we make this a win-win situation, instead of just being depressed about it? It depends on your perspective. Let’s take a

Getting my Social Security statement every year reminds me of an old Tom Petty lyric: “the waiting…is the hardest part.” When you should take Social Security is informed by this statement: The first thing you see in the statement is your projected benefit. This number is based on lifetime earnings and your “full” retirement age,

In a word… no. Interest rates are plummeting, which is usually “prime time” for mREITs like Annaly Capital (NLY). The “original mortgage REIT” has traditionally held fixed-rate securities, which rise in price as rates decline. Annaly investors remember the “roaring ‘00s” fondly. From 2000 through 2012, mortgage rates ticked down, down, down while the stock

As higher tariffs and the threat of more tariffs slow the economy and rattle financial markets, President Trump is doubling down on what he says are tariffs’ benefits. As Trump recently tweeted, “When you are the “Piggy Bank” Nation that foreign countries have been robbing and deceiving for years, the word TARIFF is a beautiful word indeed!”

I know I don’t have to tell you it’s tough (and very frustrating) trying to get any kind of income stream from your savings these days. The average S&P 500 stock yields just 1.9%. That’s not even enough to cover inflation! Treasuries? The 10-year note yields an almost equally pathetic 2.3%. But there are still

Ask yourself these questions as you prepare for retirement. Getty No matter your age, it’s a good time to think about retirement. Even if you have a retirement plan in place, it doesn’t hurt to review your situation and make any necessary tweaks. One way to get an idea of where you stand — and

Andy Barr, R-Ky., right, speaks at a rally at Alumni Coliseum in Richmond, Ky. In listening to the leveraged lending hearing yesterday led by Gregory Meeks, Chair on the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, I could not help but focus on Congressman Andy Barr’s comments and questions. He appeared to be incredibly passionate

Illinois readers will already be aware of the flurry of activity due to a May 31 deadline for the regular legislative session in Illinois: legalizing pot, passing a budget, and funding a massive infrastructure construction plan with tax boosts and a near-doubling of gambling positions in the state, along with some 300 other bills that

When making the decision to hire a financial advisor, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the massive amount of options in front of you.  Getty When making the decision to hire a financial advisor, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the massive amount of options in front of you. The truth is, “financial advisor” is

It’s that time of year when all red-blooded American teens turn their minds to making money. Sure, they might see it as the opportunity to buy the latest video game download, go to the mall or catch the latest summer blockbuster with their friends. Of course, there’s something else they can do that will give

Navigating the loss of a spouse or partner—whether due to death, mental incapacity, or divorce—is never easy. Major life events like these often require a multitude of legal and financial decisions that can be confusing under the best of circumstances. When combined with the emotional trauma of dealing with such a loss, these decisions can

Forest walk. Delighted happy couple holding hands while walking together in the forest Getty When was the last time you rethought your Social Security strategy? Do you even have a social security strategy? It’s fairly common for people to have a strategy for their 401(k) or IRA, but no strategy for their Social Security. If