Investing costs can be a key factor in your net return. To minimize those costs, you need to understand how mutual funds assess fees and expenses. Continue reading
Category Archives: Investments
U.S.-China Trade War: Who Pays the Price?
On May 13, 2019, escalating trade tensions between the United States and China sparked a worldwide stock sell-off that wiped out more than $1 trillion in global equity values.1 Continue reading
Is a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA best for you?
A common question when planning retirement funds is “Should I start a Roth IRA or a Traditional IRA?” Your personal goals and circumstances will determine which type of IRA is right for you. Continue reading
How a Fiduciary Affects Your Investments
Many investors assume their financial advisor makes recommendations based on their best interests. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Many advisors are only required to recommend what is suitable, not what is best for their client. Continue reading
After Rocky Year-End, Risks Follow Investors into New Year
In the final quarter of 2018, interest rate and growth fears, along with geopolitical events, sparked volatility in the financial markets and reversed many of the outsize stock gains notched earlier in the year. The S&P 500 posted a loss of about 6.2% for 2018. After falling into bear market territory, defined as a drop of more than 20% from recent highs, the tech-heavy NASDAQ was down 3.9% for the year overall.1-2 Continue reading
How Required Minimum Distributions May Effect Your Retirement Planning
Required minimum distributions, often referred to as RMDs or minimum required distributions, are amounts that the federal government requires you to withdraw annually from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans after you reach age 70½ (or, in some cases, after you retire). Continue reading
When to use a 401(k) In-Plan Roth Conversion
A 401(k) in-plan Roth conversion (also called an “in-plan Roth rollover”) allows you to transfer the non-Roth portion of your 401(k) account into a designated Roth account within the same plan. Continue reading
Why Employers are Switching to Cash Balance Retirement Plans
A cash balance plan is a qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan that has become
increasingly common in recent years as an alternative to (or replacement of) the traditional defined benefit pension plan. Though it is technically a form of defined benefit plan, the cash balance plan is often referred to as a “hybrid” of a traditional defined benefit pension plan and a defined contribution plan. Continue reading
Building Retirement Income with Real Estate Investments
A real estate investment can be a fairly common transaction, such as the purchase of a primary residence, or it can be a complex commercial venture involving multiple investors and/or syndicates. When choosing a real estate investment, think carefully about your objectives for that investment.
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My company has a profit-sharing plan. How do these plans work?
A profit-sharing plan is a defined contribution plan in which your employer has discretion to determine when and how much the company pays into the plan. The amount allocated to each individual account is usually based on the salary level of the participant (employee).
