“Now that the money’s gone, investors and regulators say there were red flags flying all around Bernard Madoff’s enterprise. Here’s how you can avoid potential scams. Imagine trusting your hard-earned money — such as your retirement savings — to a financial adviser only to lose it all in a fraudulent Read more…
“In a time of market turbulence, with stocks losing altitude, it’s only natural to feel compelled to buy and sell according to your own forecasts of whether a stock — or the market as a whole — will rise or fall in the short term. My advice: Resist! Unfortunately, the Read more…
“One of the biggest mistakes long-term investors make is getting out of the stock market at the wrong time. We’ve all heard the saying “buy low, sell high,” but mom-and-pop investors have a tendency to panic during market declines and sell when stock prices are down, locking in losses. U.S. Read more…
“My husband spends a fortune on cars,” she says. “My wife never stops shopping. Look at these credit card bills,” he laments. Financial advisers often hear these complaints. What happens in many homes is two otherwise responsible adults who are both making good salaries have finances that are a wreck. They realize that, after years of marriage, they have little net worth and lots of debt.
“After age 45, many folks get serious about saving and investing as big-ticket items, such as retirement and tuition, loom ahead. But, as we live our busy lives, it can be tough to find time to ask ourselves a vital question: What do we really want to do with our Read more…
“These truths for financial life planners form the foundation of their integrity. As financial life planners, we hold these truths to be the basis for everything we do: • All advice and recommendations should only be made after we thoroughly understand our clients’ values, attitudes, money histories, goals and dreams. Read more…
(MONEY Magazine) — “What’s the most I can pull from savings each year without running short of money later in life?” It’s the single most frequent question I get from retirees and near retirees. A formidable challenge anytime, turning one’s savings into lasting income is especially daunting today. Slowing growth Read more…
“Choosing a financial professional-whether a stockbroker, a financial planner, or an investment adviser-is an important decision. Consider the tips below as you make your choice. Also the third page of this document has a list of questions you can ask a financial professional whose services you are considering. Tip 1. Read more…
“The number of second marriages in the U.S. has nearly doubled in the last three decades to 42 million adults, according to Pew Research Center. Marriage do-overs often stir estate planning challenges for blended families that should be addressed early on. “Memories fade and intentions change,” warns Derek Hamilton, a Read more…
“When crafting their estate plans, some people neglect to pay much attention to how best handle their retirement accounts. And that lack of attention to detail can create potential problems–such as higher estate and income taxes–for their heirs. Many people often assume an estate plan is as simple as naming a beneficiary. In fact, it can include a trust to protect spendthrift kids or a spouse. Or a well-developed plan may have provisions to get a tax advantage by giving an account to charity.