After a significant drop in March of 2020 in the wake of the pandemic, the S&P 500 has staged an amazing recovery. The index finished 2020 with a gain in excess of 18%. So far in 2021, the index is in record territory and has closed at record … [Continue reading]
Financial Fraud – Tips to Protect Yourself
August 24, 2021 by 7 Comments
While Bernie Madoff passed away in April of 2021, financial fraud is still very much an issue. Along with the "old fashioned" types of fraud, we now have cybercrime to worry about. Financial fraud is all over the news. Whether high-profile Ponzi … [Continue reading]
Managing Inflation in Retirement
August 17, 2021 by 2 Comments
After many years of historically low inflation rates, it now appears that inflation is back. While inflation hits everyone, it can be especially hard on retirees. As we begin to emerge from the economic impact of COVID-19, we have begun to see … [Continue reading]
Choosing A Financial Advisor? – Ask These 6 Questions
August 2, 2021 by 6 Comments
Deciding to hire a financial advisor can be a tough decision for many investors. Once you've made this decision, how do you go about finding the right advisor for you? Here are six questions to ask when choosing a financial advisor: How do you … [Continue reading]
4 Reasons to Accept Your Company’s Buyout Offer
July 7, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Companies will use buyout packages for groups of employees from time-to-time to provide those employees an incentive to leave the company. The company may have a variety of reasons behind their desire to reduce their workforce, such as reducing … [Continue reading]
Required Minimum Distributions – 7 Things You Need to Know
June 11, 2021 by 11 Comments
The first wave of Baby Boomers hitting age 70 ½ began in 2017. This was the age when required minimum distributions had to begin for those turning 70 ½ on or before December 31, 2019. The SECURE Act, passed at the end of 2019 has raised the age to … [Continue reading]
401(k) Fee Disclosure and the American Funds
January 16, 2021 by 45 Comments
With the release and subsequent repeal of the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rules for financial advisors dealing with client retirement accounts, much of the focus in recent years has been on the impact on advisors who provide advice to clients for … [Continue reading]
Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 2021
December 7, 2020 by 2 Comments
With the new year upon us, it’s a good time to be sure you understand the contribution limits for various retirement plan options so you can contribute as much as possible. As you look at your financial planning for 2021, you will want to maximize … [Continue reading]
Review Your 401(k) Account
November 8, 2020 by 3 Comments
For many of us, our 401(k) plan is our main retirement savings vehicle. The days of a defined benefit pension plan are a thing of the past for most workers and we are responsible for the amount we save for retirement and how we invest that … [Continue reading]
4 Benefits of Portfolio Rebalancing
August 22, 2020 by 14 Comments
The past couple of years have been a roller coaster ride in the stock market. The S&P 500 lost 4.38% in 2018 mostly from a poor fourth quarter performance. The market recovered nicely in 2019 with the index posting a 31.49% total return for the … [Continue reading]
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