Where Will You Live as You Grow Older?

Many people would rather not think about the consequences of aging in general, much less that they might eventually need to rethink their living situation.

Housing Market Trends: Are They Helping or Hurting the Economy?

U.S. home values held steady in 2023, even as mortgage rates rose to the highest levels in a generation. What could the current state of the housing market mean for the broader U.S. economy?

ESG Investing in the Spotlight

This article explains environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing and its potential effect on portfolio performance.

New SAVE Repayment Plan Offers Key Benefits

In July 2023, the Department of Education launched a new income-driven repayment plan for federal student loans called the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan.

Market Measures: Beyond the Dow

In addition to the better-known Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 stock indexes, this article provides an overview of some stock indexes that are commonly used as benchmarks.

HOT TOPIC: What Stubborn Inflation Could Mean for the U.S. Economy

This article looks at some of the reasons behind the inflation numbers, the likely effect on Fed decisions, and the potential economic impact.

What’s Required of the Executor of an Estate?

Being named as the executor of an estate is generally an honor but settling an estate can be a difficult and time-consuming job. This article provides an overview of typical executor responsibilities.

HOT TOPIC: International Investing: The Diverging Fortunes of China and Japan

Investing Internationally can help increase portfolio diversification and provide access to opportunities that may differ from those in the United States.

Beware of These Life Insurance Beneficiary Mistakes

Naming a life insurance policy’s beneficiaries should be a relatively simple task, but there are some situations that can lead to unintended and adverse consequences.

Individual Bonds vs. Bond Funds: What’s the Difference?

Individual bonds and bond funds can both provide an income stream, but there are important differences. This article provides an overview of these two types of investments.

How a Family Limited Partnership Can Power an Estate Plan

A family limited partnership is a legal agreement that enables business owners and their heirs to address succession, estate, and tax planning needs, all at once.

Fixed Annuities: Retirement Income for Now or Later

Purchasing a fixed annuity shifts the risk for future investment returns to the insurance company and could help create a pension-like income stream for retirement.

How Savers and Spenders Can Meet in the Middle

Couples who have opposite philosophies regarding saving and spending often have trouble finding common ground. This article offers some tips to learn to work with financial differences.

Small Businesses Could Face Borrowing Challenges

Despite tougher lending conditions and higher interest costs, many people who need capital for business purposes may need to borrow money. This article discusses some common financing options.

Debit or Credit — What’s the Difference?

This article explains why it may be better to use a credit card for certain transactions, as long as the bill is paid on time to avoid interest charges.

HOT TOPIC: Tax Season News and Survival Tips

Taxpayers may want to be aware of important updates as they prepare to file their 2023 federal returns. This article includes information, filing tips, and last-minute opportunities for tax savings.

Don’t Forget About Credit When Planning for Retirement

Credit may not be at the top of the list when it comes to retirement, but good credit can make a big difference for retirees. This article looks at some key factors that lenders consider.

A New Year, A New Opportunity to Save with a 529 Plan

This article explains how a 529 plan can help a family save for college, including recent changes that have made these plans more flexible.

Can Your Personality Influence Your Portfolio? New Research Points to Yes

The findings of two recent academic studies may offer insight into how investors can make more fruitful financial decisions.

Roth 401(k) News: Is It Time to Rethink How You Save for Retirement?

High-income participants will not be allowed to make pre-tax catch-up contributions to a traditional 401(k) or similar plan starting in 2026, but they will be able to contribute to a workplace Roth.

The Federal Reserve’s Key Meeting Dates in 2024

This article outlines the Federal Reserve’s three main objectives and provides the meeting schedule of the Federal Open Market Committee.

Do You Have These Key Estate Planning Documents?

This article provides an overview of four estate planning documents that almost everyone should have: a durable power of attorney, a medical directive, a will, and a letter of instruction.

Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2024

This article presents the IRS’ cost-of-living adjustments for 2024 that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts.

HOT TOPIC: Can Productivity Keep Driving the U.S. Economy?

This article looks at the importance of productivity to the U.S. economy, possible contributing factors to the recent surge, and the prospects for an extended period of strong productivity growth.

How to Kill Your Zombie Subscriptions

With inflation cutting into consumers’ purchasing power, getting rid of a few unnecessary recurring charges could be a painless way to help balance the household budget.

SECURE 2.0 Makes It Easier to Give and Receive

The SECURE 2.0 Act modified the rules for qualified charitable distributions to allow funding a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust from an IRA.

Setting a Retirement Savings Goal

Only 51% of workers or their spouses have tried to estimate the savings they would need to live comfortably in retirement. This article offers a simple worksheet to help calculate a savings target.

HOT TOPIC: SECURE 2.0 Provides New Retirement Savings Options in 2024

The SECURE 2.0 Act made wide-ranging changes to U.S. tax laws related to retirement savings. This article provides an overview of some important provisions that take effect in 2024.

New Medicare Rules Tackle Prescription Drug Prices

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included provisions intended to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare enrollees and slow drug spending by the federal government.

Will You Work Beyond Traditional Retirement Age?

Does your income strategy beyond traditional retirement age include receiving a paycheck? This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of working later in life.