- Annuities vs. Life Insurance: Key Differences
You may want to consider both annuities and life insurance for your long-term financial plan. Essentially, you purchase life insurance in the event you die sooner than expected and you buy an annuity in the event you live past your… read more…
- Hedge Funds vs. Mutual Funds: Key Differences
Hedge funds and mutual funds seem to confuse investors. Usually, rich investors favor hedge funds, while all different types of investors use mutual funds. Understanding a hedge fund vs mutual fund can help investors select the best option for their… read more…
- Differences Between Short Term vs. Long Term Capital Gains
When you sell something, you’re likely looking to profit from it. Capital gains are profits from an asset sale, like your home, business, or stocks. Capital gains come in two different forms: long-term and short-term. Each faces a different tax… read more…
- Call Option vs. Put Option: What’s the Difference?
Investors can use options to hedge their portfolios against loss. Also, they can help buy a stock for less than its current market value and increase gains. Call vs. put options is the two sides of options trading, respectively allowing… read more…
- What Is the Flight to Quality?
Flight to quality describes how investors react and manage their portfolios during periods of stock market volatility. This strategy favors more conservative investments in lieu of riskier ones. Here’s what flight to quality means and how it can potentially impact… read more…
- What Is an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR)?
An investment advisor representative helps advisory firms offer financial advice to investors. If you’re looking for assistance with your investments, you may consider working with an investment advisor. Such an advisor may assign a representative to work with you directly.… read more…
- Sole Proprietorship Defined and Explained
A sole proprietorship is a simple type of business or enterprise that is owned and run by a single person. Sole proprietorships are subject to different rules than other types of businesses and can protect owners from personal liability while… read more…
- What Is a Long Position? Definition and Examples
A long position is what you take when you expect security to rise in value. Someone who has taken a long position in a given security has purchased that security, or take a long position with a call option. It’s… read more…
- What Is Blockchain, and How Does It Work?
Blockchain, the digital technology behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, is finding profitable applications in more and more industries. Blockchain is often described as a decentralized currency network, which means it is not controlled by a larger entity, like a government. Investors interested in… read more…
- What Is Corporate Governance?
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. Learn the basics of this important business principle, why it matters and… read more…
- What Is a Principal Owner of a Company?
When used to refer to an owner of a business, the term “principal” can be a designation for any of several positions and entail a range of key responsibilities. But the rubric under which all the possible responsibilities of a… read more…
- What Is an Investment Policy Statement?
Financial advisors often prepare for their clients an investment policy statement, which outlines your goals, risk tolerance, time horizon and asset allocation. It may also list specific securities or sectors you want to avoid. Even if you don’t have an… read more…
- What Is The College for Financial Planning?
The College for Financial Planning is a degree-granting institution that has various financial certification programs available for students. It provides graduate degree, non-degree and continuing professional education programs for students. It was founded in 1972 and is now part of… read more…
- What Is a Fund of Funds?
While investing does include stocks and bonds, it also includes many small securities put together. Sometimes portfolios have funds that are pooled, which include stocks, bonds and other securities. That type of investment is called a fund of funds. Before you… read more…
- What Is a Conservatorship, and How Does It Work?
A conservatorship is a way for someone to assume legal guardianship over an adult. Families often use conservatorships to help deal with the mounting medical, financial and mental health needs of a parent. The status of a conservatorship is dependent… read more…
- What Is Active Management and Is It Right for You?
If you’re looking for an investment strategy designed to beat the market, active management could be an option. The goal of active management is to outperform a market index or, in a market downturn, to book losses that are less severe… read more…
- How to Plan Your Finances for a Divorce
Divorce planning involves taking careful steps to manage finances during a significant life transition. By examining assets, understanding joint financial responsibilities, and assessing future income and expenses, individuals can make informed choices that help create stability. In addition to dividing assets, divorce planning may include considerations like retirement accounts, health insurance, and child support or… read more…
- What Is a National Social Security Advisor (NSSA)?
A National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) is a professional designation that signifies expertise in Social Security benefits and strategies. NSSA advisors are trained to help individuals and couples make informed decisions about their Social Security options, aiming to maximize benefits based on unique life circumstances. This designation is earned through specialized training and examination, equipping… read more…
- What Is an Investment Advisory?
When you need financial advice, an investment advisory is one pace you can turn. Generally speaking, an investment advisory is a firm that helps its clients with developing an investment plan to grow wealth strategically. Here’s how investment advisory firms… read more…
- What Is a Financial Planner, and What Do They Do?
A financial planner can help you manage your money with an emphasis on your long-term goals, like retirement or paying off debts. In order to achieve this, a financial planner will help their clients formulate a customized plan for meeting their… read more…
- What Is Secular Stagnation?
More than a decade after the Great Recession, the United States has seen a mixed record of recovery. Despite record-breaking highs in the stock market and an unemployment rate that has fallen every year since 2009, other economic indicators show… read more…
- What Is a Certified Estate Planner (CEP)?
Thousands of people reach retirement age every day, and millions more will turn 65 in the next decade. Many of them, even those who have funded a comfortable retirement, have neglected an estate plan. A Certified Estate Planner (CEP) helps… read more…
- What Is a Fellow, Secure Retirement Institute (FSRI)?
A Fellow, Secure Retirement Institute (FSRI) is well versed in what it takes to retire in a sustainable way. As a result, their knowledge covers a broad range of retirement topics, from investment management to customer experience. To learn more… read more…
- What Is a Fraternal Insurance Counselor Fellow (FICF)
A Fraternal Insurance Counselor Fellow (FICF) is a specially trained insurance professional and member of a national network of counselors. But in order to get the FICF designation, you have to already have a Fraternal Insurance Counselor (FIC) designation. Keep… read more…
- What Is the Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI)?
. The Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) is a 10-course training program that focuses on industry-specific education in the insurance and finance industries. The FLMI also addresses insurance and financial concepts beyond the average consumer’s knowledge threshold and provides a… read more…