Posts by Rachel Cautero:
Divorce always presents financial issues, and that can be especially true later in life. A gray divorce refers to couples who get divorced late in life – usually after 40 years or more of marriage. Also called silver or diamond splitters, gray divorcees have a unique set of financial challenges to contend with. Learn how to prepare financially for a so-called gray divorce. Read more
So you’ve got a few thousand extra dollars in the bank. Maybe you got a bonus at work, or a small inheritance, or a tax refund. Or maybe you’ve just been saving more than you’ve been spending lately. Regardless, you want to invest your extra money. Smart move! If you’ve got about $5,000 to invest, what you do with it depends a lot on your age, goals and financial situation. Let’s take a look at your options. Read more
Do you dream not only of an island getaway but of getting away to your very own island? Good news. It’s actually possible to buy an island, and it may not be as difficult as you think. However, you’ll have to jump through some hoops. Here’s how to buy and island and make it yours. Read more
There are numerous savings options for retirees, from 401(k)s to IRAs, and even HSAs. But there are other savings vehicles worth considering. A fixed annuity provides retirees with regular payments.… Read more
The work of a financial risk manager (FRM) and a chartered financial analyst (CFA) can overlap, but they have their own specialties. FRMs identify, price and mitigate risk, while CFAs generate… Read more
Socially Responsible Investing and Environmental, Social and Governance Investing have both risen in popularity among socially conscious investors. Learn the basics of each, how they differ and which… Read more
People often use yield and return interchangeably, referring to what you’ll earn from a fixed investment. However, there are some important differences to note for yield vs return. Learn the basics… Read more
If you qualify for unemployment benefits, you’ll likely receive them via the Department of Labor’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs. But someone has to pay for the benefits that unemployed… Read more
Planning for retirement can involve a lot of moving pieces, from saving funds in your 401(k) to building a diversified investment portfolio to – if you’re lucky – managing a pension plan. If you are… Read more
Corporate governance refers to policies and processes that run corporations. A company’s corporate governance is of particular concern to investors. It often reflects a company’s direction and health… Read more
A trade war is a conflict between two countries marked by rising tariffs and other similar protectionist actions. Remember, a tariff is a tax put into place by one country on imported goods or… Read more
Tariffs, which are taxes placed on imports and exports between two countries, have increased in prominence during the Trump administration. We break down the basics, how they work, plus their pros… Read more
The divorce rate in the U.S. has declined since the 1980s, down from 50% to around 39%. However, you may need to prepare for it anyway. It can be financially devastating. Planning working with a… Read more
Social Security benefits can be confusing, even for the most seasoned financial professional. But those advisors who have earned the Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies certification are… Read more
If you’re a socially conscious person, it can affect every aspect of your life, from the car you drive to where you shop. It can also impact which companies you choose to invest in, and many… Read more
Publicly held corporations don’t operate in a social or environmental vacuum. Their policies and practices affect employees, investors and customers, as well as the environment. The growing… Read more
Choosing a financial advisor can be rough. That’s especially true considering the alphabet soup that often follows their names. However, a Master Registered Financial Consultant (MRFC) can be useful… Read more
There are many credentials for financial professionals, and it can be difficult to distinguish one from another. A Certified Financial Fiduciary (CFF) is a relatively new certification that brokers,… Read more
A market maker is typically a large bank or institution. They help ensure the liquidity of a market by offering to both buy and sell securities. As an investor, there are some things you need to know… Read more
The Sortino Ratio helps measure the risk-adjusted return of an investment. Both it and the Sharpe Ratio determine an investment’s return through risk-adjusted methods. However, the Sortino Ratio only… Read more
Hypothecation is the practice of pledging collateral in order to secure debt. This comes up most often in mortgage lending, but it can apply to any kind of debt. It shows up in investing, but… Read more
There are many different strategies for managing an investment portfolio But did you know you can automate trades within that portfolio? Algorithmic trading automatically places stock orders based on… Read more
Investing and financial planning are all about the numbers, so it’s easy to see why economists long assumed people approach these subjects logically. And they do, but only sometimes, which is one of… Read more
As an investor, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your portfolio both limits your risk and maximizes return? Ideally, it will do just that. The efficient frontier is a set of investment portfolios… Read more
Financial institutions and businesses are expanding their operations to a truly global scale, but that scale comes with increased risk. How do banks avoid becoming vehicles for money laundering when… Read more
