- 6 Things That Happen When Interest Rates Rise
As the Federal Reserve increases interest rates to combat inflation and prevent an overheated economy, the effects are felt throughout the economy and household finances. Many things that happen as a result can hurt your finances if you don’t either… read more…
- Where to Put Your Money Before a Market Crash
With increased volatility, rising geopolitical tensions and soaring inflation, some investors see evidence that a tipping point is close by. If you’re concerned about your investments and want to preserve your wealth, here’s where to put your money before a market crash. Consider working with a financial advisor as you seek to create a moat… read more…
- A Recession May Be Coming. But Here’s a Silver Lining
Past economic downturns have shown that we may already be in a recession even before economists can officially tell us. A stock market drop could be an early indicator of a recession. But don’t rush to sell your investments, says investment… read more…
- Can This Bill Protect Retirement Savings for Workers Who Change Jobs?
U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced a new bill called the Advancing Auto-Portability Act of 2022, which aims to allow employees with 401(k)s to automatically roll over their savings from old jobs to new ones. This legislation is intended to help Americans who change jobs often to increase their retirement savings.… read more…
- Schwab Paid $187 Million to Settle a Hidden Fee Charge. Do You Have Hidden Fees in Your Portfolio?
Charles Schwab has agreed to pay $187 million to settle an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that alleged hidden fees were charged by the firm’s robo-advisor product Schwab Intelligent Portfolios (SIP). The SEC says that the financial services company failed to disclose a “cash drag” on client portfolios, which caused them to make… read more…
- This Stunning Statistic Will Make You Rethink Investing in Individual Stocks (Even The Winners)
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors of all types, from retirement savers to day traders, have all come across this disclaimer at some point. But investors with individual stocks in their portfolios may want remind themselves of this axiom. New research from Dimensional illustrates the inherent dangers of investing in single stocks as… read more…
- Is Cash Trash? This Should Be Your Cash Allocation in a Bear Market
Cash serves a valuable purpose in many investment portfolios, but when the stock market dives, many investors turn to cash in a knee-jerk reaction to avoid losses. However, depending on the reason, moving all your investments from equities to cash… read more…
- High-Net-Worth vs. Ultra-High-Net-Worth
Wealthy people often are divided into two categories, high-net-worth individuals (HNWIS) who have at least $1 million in liquid assets and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIS) with $30 million and up. The definitions matter to the financial services industry, which targets different offerings to members of each group. Depending on which category they fall into, wealthy individuals… read more…
- How I Bonds Guarantee a 5.27% Yield
There’s a bond that pays a 6.89% interest rate and is guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Investors should keep some limitations and conditions in mind before investing, but as inflation has continued to grow, this could be an attractive option… read more…
- BlackRock’s New ETFs Aim to Capitalize on Market’s ‘Permanent Changes’
BlackRock has launched two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) designed to capitalize on what the world’s largest asset manager says are permanent changes in the economy and the market. The new ETFs, iShares Emergent Food and AgTech Multisector ETF (IVEG) and iShares Blockchain… read more…
- What Elon Musk’s Twitter Purchase Means for Shareholders
After weeks of drama, Elon Musk has finalized a deal to buy Twitter, the platform on which the world’s richest man frequently makes flippant remarks and employs middle-school humor. Previously the company’s Board of Directors had confirmed receipt of the unsolicited offer and adopted a “poison pill” plan to prevent Musk from accumulating more stock… read more…
- Think Dividends Will Protect You From Inflation? Guess Again
There are various strategies one can take when choosing which stocks to use in building an investment portfolio. One popular strategy is to pick firms that pay shareholders dividends. The logic is simple: no matter what happens in the market a dividend portfolio will at least create some income, which can in turn be reinvested.… read more…
- Schwab Follows Fidelity in Offering Direct Indexing to Investors
Building wealth has grown more accessible than ever thanks to declining trading costs. Many brokerage firms already offer zero-commission online and exchange-traded fund (ETF) trading. Financial giant Charles Schwab just added another weapon to its stockpile, offering one more tool for the masses. Charles Schwab, which administers $380 billion in assets, recently announced the launch… read more…
- What the SEC’s New Climate Rule Means for Your Investments
ESG investing, which stands for environmental, social and corporate governance investing, has soared in popularity as individuals across the globe increase their demand for social accountability. Now, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed for the first time that businesses disclose with their shareholders exactly how they affect the climate–a rule long-championed by environmental… read more…
- Will the ‘Great Resignation’ Hurt My Stocks?
The so-called Great Resignation is having a wide-ranging impact on our economy and the stock market. To retain and recruit employees, companies are having to pay higher wages. Having more money in their pocket fuels consumer demand for goods and services, which in turn has fueled inflation. The stock market has been impacted by high inflation… read more…
- Fidelity Says Now May Be the Time for Premium Bonds
When building a portfolio, it is important to look for balance in terms of the types of assets you purchase. While stocks are often viewed as more exciting, that doesn’t mean bonds can’t play an important role in building your investment base, even if you’re younger and generally more interested in an aggressive strategy. This… read more…
- Vanguard Is Giving $1 Billion Back to Investors: Are You Entitled to Some Money?
Pretty much everything in life costs money, including financial services. One mutual fund firm — Vanguard, already famous for its relatively low fees — is changing its expense ratios with the aim of returning a total of $1 billion in fees to its customers by 2025. This could impact you if you use Vanguard products… read more…
- 5 Moves Investors Should Make as the Russia-Ukraine Crisis Intensifies
The conflict in Ukraine is evolving rapidly. While the focus is understandably on the loss of life and the geopolitical consequences of the conflict, there is also a significant impact on the global financial system that can’t be ignored. Global stocks and bonds plummeted last week following Russia’s “special military operation” announcement, and several Western… read more…
- How to Prevent These Social Media Financial Scams From Jeopardizing Your Retirement
Social media has brought the world closer together in many ways, some of them wonderful. But there are many dark sides to out modern connectivity, and one that has reared its ugly head increasingly in the past few years is the ability of criminals to use social media to scam people out of their money.… read more…
- BlackRock Says Consider These Alternatives to Gold to Hedge Inflation
The rising price of goods and services has been one of the inescapable realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inflation hit 5.4% in June, a level not seen in the U.S. for nearly 13 years, and remained there in September. Whether today’s inflationary environment is a result of supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, government stimulus or… read more…
- Here’s Why Big Banks Are Going All In On Crypto: Should You Follow Suit?
It’s no secret that cryptocurrencies are an extremely popular asset class. They’re also a cultural phenomenon that has changed the way many retail investors save and plan for the future. In the past, big Wall Street firms haven’t paid much… read more…
- You Need These 3 Investments in Your Portfolio: The UN Climate Summit Shows Why
The eyes of the world are on Glasgow, Scotland, where nearly every nation on Earth is participating in the United Nations Climate Change Conference. While the COVID-19 pandemic postponed last year’s COP26 summit, this year’s conference marks a pivotal moment in the fight to limit the effects of climate change — and there could be… read more…
- Women Outperform Men in Investing: Here’s Why
When it comes to the world of finance, there’s no shortage of male presence. There are far more male CEOs of Fortune 500 companies than there are females, and the financial industry is dominated by men up and down the chain of command. For some, this sends a signal that men must be better at… read more…
- How Do Interest Rates Affect the Stock Market?
Interest rates can have a significant impact on the economy as a whole and your personal financial life. When tracking changes to interest rates, the stock market is often a major focal point, as rates can affect investors directly and… read more…
- What the GameStop Stock Price Surge Tells Us About the Stock Market
The disconnect between a stock’s share price and the company’s performance were writ large during the GameStop (GME) stock price surge at the end of January 2021. The combination of irrational exuberance and a concerted buy effort promoted on the… read more…