2022-02-06 16:21
Whether you work as an employee or you are self-employed you work hard for your money. In spite of what was said on PBS Frontline The Retirement Gamble and elsewhere in the press, in my opin… Read More
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Objective information about financial planning, investments, and retirement plans
2021-08-03 01:58
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? … Read More
2020-12-07 13:05
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… Read More
2020-04-20 12:42
A Roth IRA conversion can be a good idea for many investors. Whether or not they are a good idea for you in 2020 or in any year will depend upon your unique situation. That said, 2020 is sha… Read More
2020-04-18 19:15
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 t… Read More
2020-04-13 13:05
This was already a year of change for those impacted by required minimum distributions (RMDs). The SECURE Act signed into law at the end of 2019 includes some significant changes in RMDs sta… Read More
2020-03-22 18:07
Update 3/22/2020 – This past week the Federal Reserve saw fit to prop-up money market funds in the wake of the economic turmoil from the coronavirus. Its important for investors to und… Read More
2020-03-11 19:36
Update 3/11/2020 – We are in the midst of the worst stock market turmoil since the financial crisis in 2008, due to the coronavirus and related disruptions in the economy. It’s t… Read More
2020-01-06 00:35
Apple (AAPL) stock has been a great investment over the years. Based upon its stock price and the number of shares outstanding it is the largest U.S stock based upon market capitalization. T… Read More
2020-01-01 20:44
With the new year upon us, it’s a good time to be sure you understand the contribution rates and limits for various retirement plan options so you can contribute as much as possible. A… Read More
2019-06-12 20:59
Whether you work as an employee or you are self-employed you work hard for your money. In spite of what was said on PBS Frontline The Retirement Gamble and elsewhere in the press, in m… Read More
2019-03-08 15:06
On March 9, 2009 the market downturn fueled by the financial crisis bottomed out as measured by the S&P 500 Index. On that day the index closed at 677. As we approach the tenth anniversa… Read More
2019-03-05 01:05
One of the big topics this tax season is SALT. This is not a seasoning for food, but rather SALT stands for state and local taxes. The treatment of these expenses in terms of their deductibi… Read More
2019-01-28 13:19
Contrary to what some politicians might say, your Social Security benefits are not an entitlement. You’ve paid Social Security taxes over the course of your working life and you’… Read More
2019-01-15 13:44
In 2018, the stock market reminded investors that it doesn’t always go up and that volatility is alive and well. In fact, the S&P 500 index recorded its first losing year since 200… Read More
2019-01-01 14:05
I hope that 2018 was a good year for you and your families and that you’ve had a wonderful holiday season. For us it was great to have our three adult children home and to be able to s… Read More
2018-12-31 01:31
With the new year upon us, it’s a good time to be sure you understand the contribution rates and limits for various retirement plan options, so you can contribute as much as possible… Read More
2018-12-14 15:06
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December of 2017 marks the biggest overhaul in the tax code in many years. One area that will be impacted under tax reform is charitable giving.
While cha… Read More
2018-11-22 00:39
According to Fidelity, the average balance of 401(k) plan participants stood at $104,000 at the end of the second quarter of 2018, just shy of the all-time high level of $104,300 at the end… Read More
2018-10-10 21:03
Today the stock market took a hit. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost 832 points or about 3.2%. The S&P 500 lost almost 3.3%, its fifth decline in a row. Higher Treasury yields… Read More
2018-10-02 02:43
Investment expenses reduce your investment returns. While nobody should expect investment managers, financial advisors or other service providers to offer their services for free, investors… Read More
2018-08-13 12:35
The new tax law (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) passed in December of 2017 marks the biggest overhaul in the tax code in many years. The impact of these changes is far reaching and will impact most… Read More
2018-08-02 00:20
In today’s world of early or semi-retirement, many people wonder when they should begin taking their Social Security benefits. The combination of Social Security and working can compli… Read More
2018-06-27 03:03
Financial advisors are frequently asked some version of the question “Can I Retire?” The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) recently released its 2018 Retireme… Read More
2018-03-05 15:17
The tax reform legislation passed in late 2017 provides the most sweeping changes in the tax code in years. While there are a number of changes that will impact many of us in various ways, t… Read More
2018-02-14 17:43
Inflation has seemed tame or even non-existent in recent years. The threat of inflation, along with the potential for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to combat it, has been at le… Read More
2018-02-06 21:09
A previous post here on the blog discussed 4 Benefits of Portfolio Rebalancing. This post continues on the rebalancing theme and looks at some ways to implement a rebalancing strategy. In li… Read More
2018-02-05 13:36
On Friday February 3, 2018, the stock market suffered its biggest decline in about two years with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping over 600 points. The S&P 500 and other major a… Read More
2018-01-17 19:20
With a new year upon us, it’s a good time to be sure you understand the contribution rates and limits for various retirement plan options, so you can contribute as much as possible. As… Read More
2017-12-07 02:33
The oldest Baby Boomers began reaching age 70 1/2, the age when required minimum distributions must be taken, a couple of years ago and this wave will continue. RMDs must be taken from IRAs… Read More
2017-07-13 15:53
Perhaps you are retiring or perhaps you are moving on to another opportunity. Perhaps you were downsized. Whatever the reason, there are many things to do when leaving a job… Read More
2017-06-11 21:43
We all like to read article with lists that rank things. Top colleges, top new cars, best and worst dressed and the like are just a few lists we see periodically. Mutual rankings have b… Read More
2017-05-31 22:13
Many investors do not understand how their financial advisor is compensated. With the initial implementation of the new DOL Fiduciary Rules mandating that advisors put their client’s i… Read More
2017-03-19 13:50
For most of the past 30 years bonds and bond mutual funds have had the proverbial wind in their sails. Interest rates have steadily headed downwards. Bond prices and interest rates have an… Read More
2017-03-12 20:03
It must be the season for investing and retirement dinner seminars. I’ve received a number of these invitations in the mail recently.
Typical was one from a local investment firm &ldq&hell…Read More
2017-03-05 15:02
I was reminded of the issue of year-end 401(k) matching by employers when I learned that the employer of a close relative was changing their match to the end of the year.
A few years ago, A… Read More
2017-03-01 02:02
Financial fraud is all over the news. Whether high-profile Ponzi Scheme cases via the likes of Madoff, Allen Stanford or many smaller cases, investors are being defrauded out… Read More
2017-02-17 00:16
Are you within a few years of retirement? It’s time to get your financial house in order. We are now almost eight years into a bull market for stocks that has seen the S&P 500 move… Read More
2017-01-29 19:37
It’s Super Bowl time and once again my beloved Packers are not playing. They had a good season and beat the Giants and the top-seeded Cowboys in the playoffs. I attended the game agai… Read More
2016-12-30 15:47
I hope that 2016 was a good year for you and your families and that you’ve had a wonderful holiday season. For us it was great to have our three adult children home and to be able to s… Read More
2016-12-04 15:33
Corporate pension buyout offers have been in the news in recent years with companies like Hartford Financial Services offering lump-sum payment options to vested former employees and with Bo… Read More
2016-11-27 16:03
Annuities are often touted as the “cure” for all that ails your retirement. Baby Boomers and retirees are the prime target market for the annuity sales types. You’ve… Read More
2016-11-09 14:05
The improbable happened last night, we now have President-Elect Donald Trump.
The financial news media is buzzing about the election results and the potential impact on your pocketbook. Ther… Read More
2016-11-07 14:08
With the end of the year in sight it’s time for year-end mutual fund distributions. If you hold mutual funds in taxable accounts, these distributions will be taxable to you.
Even with… Read More
2016-10-19 01:16
Many of us are in the middle of fall open enrollment for employee benefits or soon will be. This is the time of year when employees get to make their employee benefits choices for the upcomi… Read More
2016-10-09 20:39
Most people should maximize their contributions to their company’s retirement plan. But what if your organization’s 401(k) plan is lousy? Lousy could mean poor investment ch… Read More
2016-09-11 20:51
Personal financial topics are often some of the most difficult topics for people to discuss. But since financial issues often cause significant problems in marriages, you should try to reach… Read More
2016-09-05 21:19
Before buying ANY financial product make sure that this product is right for you in terms of your unique, personal financial situation. Financial products are tools and just like… Read More
2016-08-19 16:26
The past year has been volatile for investors. Between a dip in the markets last year, a shaky start to the current year and the Brexit vote in the U.K. it has been quite a roller coaster ri… Read More
2016-08-08 16:05
One of the best tax deductions for a small business owner is funding a retirement plan. Beyond any tax deduction you are saving for your own retirement. As a fellow small busines… Read More
2016-07-31 23:35
Several years ago finance blogger extraordinaire Barbara Friedberg wrote this guest post for Happy Simple Living entitled Financial Advisors Who Get Paid To Sell Products Bother Me. &nb&hell…Read More
2016-07-13 02:12
Today both the S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit all-time highs. This comes less than a month after a 610 point drop in the Dow in the wake of the Brexit, the v… Read More
2016-07-10 21:05
Investing is at best a risky proposition and sometimes even the best investment ideas don’t work out. However avoiding these 9 mistakes can help improve your investing outcomes… Read More
2016-07-04 23:35
I use social media and the web to interact with financial advisors, financial bloggers and writers and to keep up with the latest financial news. Here are some excellent online financ… Read More
2016-06-26 15:32
As you are most likely aware, the U.K. voted to leave the European Union. The so-called Brexit vote was a surprise to many and caused a swift, severe and negative reaction in the world finan… Read More
2016-06-17 02:38
For those of you who are self-employed it is important that you save for your own retirement. Building a business is hard work. For business owners who work solo, or who have a spouse and/o… Read More
2016-06-02 13:30
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 amo… Read More
2016-05-30 22:53
This is a guest post by Chicago attorney Dan Janich. A little off the normal topic path for this blog, but Dan’s insights are worth sharing. This post is timely with the recent Panama… Read More
2016-05-05 02:53
With the release of the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rules for financial advisors dealing with client retirement accounts, much of the focus has been on the impact on advisors who p… Read More
2016-04-27 20:23
The Department of Labor recently released its final draft of their fiduciary rules mandating that financial advisors place their client’s best interests first when offering advice on… Read More
2016-04-21 01:03
A 2013 New York Times article discussed that a $1 million retirement nest egg isn’t what it used to be. While this is more than 90% of U.S. retirees hav… Read More
2016-04-01 16:19
The big buzz among financial advisors and those who write about them are the new fiduciary rules that have been proposed by the Department of Labor. These rules will have a big impact on fin… Read More
2016-03-24 01:47
This is a guest post by Chris Huntley, President of Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services. All opinions and suggestions are his.
One of the most common misconceptions about life insurance… Read More
2016-03-10 21:58
On March 9, 2009 the market downturn fueled by the financial crisis bottomed out as measured by the S&P 500 Index. On that day the index closed at 677. Yesterday, on the bull market&rsqu&hell…Read More
2016-03-09 13:05
I am very flattered to be included in this list of the 20 Best Investing Blogs of 2016 compiled by Robert Farrington on his outstanding blog The College Investor, with it&rsq&hell…Read More
2016-03-02 14:03
When it comes to 401(k) rollovers, too often the term caveat emptor or let the buyer beware applies. These “toxic rollovers” are often done by financial advisors who seem to be l… Read More
2016-02-15 13:08
One of the best things about being a freelance financial writer and blogger is that I often learn new things in the course of my writing. A reader recently left a comment on a post here on t… Read More
2016-02-08 04:56
The Denver Broncos just won Super Bowl 50 and its looking like Peyton Manning will go out a winner. Good news and a feel good story? Not for investors. The Super Bowl Indicator says a w… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
It’s spring here in Chicago (fingers crossed), the baseball season opened yesterday, and the first quarter of the year is in the books. This means that you will be receiving stat… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) recently published their annual Retirement Confidence Survey. A few highlights from the survey: The number of workers who say they are co… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
It’s a bit of a lazy Sunday here and I am half surfing the web and half watching the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. I’m not the college basketball fan that I… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
Actually both can be a good use of your time in the right amount. Living near a major city like Chicago, the dining choices are innumerable. The worst that can happen is you have… Read More
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