When buying a home, you probably know a lot of the potential risks such as the risk your home will go down in value over time or the risk that your home will require a lot of maintenance after purchase. In the same way, knowledgeable investors are aware that investing in the capital markets presents any number of risks – interest-rate risk, company risk, and market risk. Risk is […]
Spotlight Shift to Bonds
What to know about interest rates and yields.Here’s what you need to know. One principle of investing is, "when bond yields move higher, bond prices tend to move lower." Investors are doing a "double take" on the 10-year Treasury yield, which recently topped 1.5% — its highest level in about a year. With the increase [...]
Should You Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage?
Should You Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage?Market sees historic lows in mortgage rates. On July 16, mortgage giant Freddie Mac announced that the average interest rate for a 30-year home loan had fallen to 2.98%. In addition, the average interest rate for a 15-year home loan had declined to 2.48%.1 A 30-year mortgage at less than [...]
What Are Stock Splits?
What Are Stock Splits?Here’s what you need to know. Two high-profile companies—Apple and Tesla—have announced stock splits in the past few weeks, which makes it a great time to discuss what’s involved when a company announces a stock split. Remember, any companies mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation [...]
Small Business Retirement Plans
How do you pick the most appropriate retirement plan for your business as well as your employees? As a small-business owner, figuring out retirement choices can be a little intimidating.The SECURE Act and CARES Act may complicate the decision. There are three main types of retirement plans for small businesses: SIMPLE-IRAs, SEP-IRAs, and 401(k)s. Read […]
Are Your Beneficiary Designations Up to Date?
Here’s a simple financial question: Who is the beneficiary of your IRA? How about your 401(k) or annuity? You may be saying, “I’m not sure.” It is a good idea to periodically review your beneficiary designations. Your choices may need to change with the times. When did you open your first IRA? When did you […]
Starting a Roth IRA for a Child or Grandchild
Do you have a child or grandchild earning some income? Indirectly, that after-school or summer job might present a savings opportunity for that teenager. You could help your child or grandchild save for future goals by assisting them to create and fund a Roth IRA. So many people wish they had begun saving for retirement […]
Bundle Up? Not When It Comes To Financial Services
For many people subscribing to satellite services or cable television over the last couple of decades, the business model has been “bundling services” like television, Internet and phone together for a single rate. However, in this system, many customers are paying for TV channels that they never watch or for a landline that they rarely use. With the increased popularity of “cutting the cord” to cable and satellite TV in order to watch TV series and films on Over-The-Top (OTT) content devices, there have been calls, even from Washington, for a “pay for what you watch” or “a la carte” approach. Continue Reading …
Annuities: Are They a Good Option in Turbulent Times?
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 …
