As Americans get older and the stock market goes through a periodic decline, the temptation to decrease risk over fears of running out of money makes people turn to annuities, according to the recent New York Times article entitled “Annuities as an Alternative to Shaky Markets? Not So Fast.” Single Premium Immediate Annuities (SPIA) are an especially enticing option as Americans near retirement, because by paying an upfront premium, persons can draw a payment periodically for the rest of their lives. Continue Reading …
The Federal Reserve’s Impact on Your Portfolio
Changes in interest rates have a disproportionate effect on your portfolio. Lower interest rates can help boost corporate earnings, and as earnings increase, market prices often do too. This is a key reason why stocks frequently increase in value as interest rates fall. Another reason is that lower interest rates drive investors to seek higher […]
Retro Investing Article from WSJ
The Wall Street Journal recently published a very timely article about the current investment climate. Here’s the link in case you missed it: “Retro Investing – Look Back to Get Ahead.” As the title implies, the author suggests that history can offer important lessons to help us chart an investment path forward. I agree. In […]