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Term insurance is the simplest form of life insurance. It provides temporary life insurance protection on a limited budget.[i] Here’s how it works: When policyholders buy term insurance, they buy coverage for a specific period...

The Week on Wall Street As we noted recently, Wall Street has a wandering eye. Last week, it focused on the new tariff threats in the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute. Stocks fell across five trading sessions: the Dow Jones Industrial...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks were up and down last week, and the three major benchmarks ended up little changed after five trading days. The S&P 500 rose 0.20% for the week; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.22%. The Dow Jones Industrial...

Social Security may be a critical component of your financial strategy in retirement, so before you begin taking it, you should consider three important questions. The answers may affect whether you make the most of this retirement...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks returned to record territory, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite closing at historic highs. The S&P gained 1.20% for the week; the Nasdaq, 1.85%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged,...

Some of us share a common experience. You’re driving along when a police cruiser pulls up behind you with its lights flashing. You pull over, the officer gets out, and your heart drops. “Are you aware the registration on...

The Week on Wall Street A short and relatively placid trading week wrapped up Thursday, with the major indices turning in mixed performances. The S&P 500 retreated 0.08%, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.17%, and the Dow Jones...

The transition to adulthood is an exciting new stage that marks true independence. You may have graduated from college, taken your first job, even rented your first apartment. With this new freedom comes real responsibilities,...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks broke out of a narrow range on Friday following news that two major banks grew their bottom line in the first quarter. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 0.79%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.91%. The Dow Jones...

For many people, retirement income may come from a variety of sources. Here’s a quick review of the six main sources: Social Security Social Security is the government-administered retirement income program. Workers become...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks just posted their second straight weekly gain. Investors were encouraged by the latest jobs report and new signs of progress on a U.S.-China trade deal. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.17% in...

Who among us wants to pay the Internal Revenue Service more taxes than we have to? While few may raise their hands to voluntarily pay more taxes, Americans regularly overpay because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks ended last week higher as volatility slowed, completing their best quarter since 2009. A Friday tweet from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin encouraged investors, referring to “constructive”...

While nature offers four seasons, Wall Street offers only one – four times a year. It’s called “earnings season,” and it can move the markets. So, what is earnings season, and why is it important? Earnings...

The Week on Wall Street Friday, the yield of the 3-month Treasury bill exceeded the yield of the 10-year Treasury note for the first time in 12 years. For some analysts, this “inverted yield curve” may imply a short-term...

An IRA, or Individual Retirement Account, is a tax-advantaged account that is subject to special rules regarding contributions and withdrawals. One of the central rules of IRAs is that withdrawals prior to age 59½ are generally...

The Week on Wall Street The big story last week was the sudden grounding of Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 passenger jets in dozens of countries. The financial effects of this ban could potentially impact the airline industry and segments of...

Knowledgeable investors are aware that investing in the capital markets presents any number of risks – interest-rate risk, company risk, and market risk. Risk is an inseparable companion to the potential for long-term growth....

The Week on Wall Street As in February, investors spent most of the first full trading week of March hoping for new details in U.S.-China trade negotiations. While they waited, stock benchmarks drifted downward. From Monday’s...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks lost a little ground as February gave way to March. While domestic and overseas political developments made headlines, the market stayed relatively calm: from Monday’s open through Friday’s...

You might be initially confused by these terms or even suspect they aren’t that different in terms of what each model offers you as an investor, but they are very distinct approaches, and it’s good to understand these two...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks rallied last week as optimism about a potential U.S.-China trade deal grew. The S&P 500 advanced 0.80% during the 4-day trading week to 2,792.67. The Nasdaq Composite improved 0.86% to 7,527.54, and the...

Social Security has been a pillar of retirement life for several decades, but how much do you really know about it? Here are a handful of facts that might surprise you: The Social Security trust fund exceeds the gross domestic product...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks ended a good week on a high note, as hints of progress in U.S.-China trade talks encouraged investors. When the closing bell rang Friday, the S&P 500 settled at 2,775.60, after rising 2.50% in five days....

The financial uncertainties we face in retirement may risk reducing our sense of confidence, potentially undermining our outlook during those years. Indeed, according to the 2018 Retirement Confidence Survey by the Employee Benefits...

The Week on Wall Street Major U.S. stock benchmarks eked out slight gains last week, with corporate profit reports and news about U.S.-China trade negotiations vying for investor attention over five trading sessions. The big three...

In sports, music, and politics, there are “great debates” that never seem to conclude. In the investment world, one great debate asks a thought-provoking question: which investment approach is better? Active or passive?...

Last week closed out one of stocks’ top January performances in years. In fact, both the S&P 500 and Dow posted their best January results in at least 3 decades.[i] For the week, major domestic indexes were also up. The S&P 500...

Most parents want to give their children the best opportunity for success and getting into the right college may help open doors. According to the latest income-per-education-level data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics,...

Have you ever had one of those months? The water heater stops heating, the dishwasher stops washing and your family ends up on a first-name basis with the nurse at urgent care. Then, as you’re driving to work, giving yourself...

Did you know that nearly $10 trillion in assets are benchmarked to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index, including about $3.5 trillion in index assets?[i] The S&P 500 is ubiquitous. It is constantly referenced in financial...

IRAs can be an important tool in your retirement savings belt, and whichever you choose to open could have a significant impact on how those accounts might grow. IRAs, or Individual Retirement Accounts, are tax-advantaged accounts used...

Markets Up—And Volatile Weekly Update – January 7, 2019 U.S. markets experienced more wild sessions last week before ending in positive territory as the recent turbulence continued. In fact, we are currently in the middle...

If you arrange a mortgage, your lender will want you to have homeowners insurance. This coverage is critical for protecting your home and personal property against various potential liabilities. A homeowners insurance policy is...

We constantly hear how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. That is not always easy, especially in the face of temptation or the easy option of procrastination. For some, the monetary benefits of maintaining a healthy...

You understand the value of setting financial goals. Goals serve as stepping stones to achieving your dreams. Saving for retirement is a top priority for many people since some analysts suggest you may need as much as $1 million to...

Many retirement planners find that utilizing annuities may be a good way to generate guaranteed income. Annuities allow you to set retirement distributions based on their type and how much you contributed. Like all investment and...

Divorcing later in life is becoming more commonplace among people 50 and over. Divorce among older couples has more than doubled since the 1990s. In 2015, 10 of 1,000 married people filed for divorce. Five of 1,000 married filed for...

The signs of summer are beginning to appear: Air conditioners are humming, pools are opening, and gardens are just starting to show some activity. Nature is unfolding and temperatures are rising—along with the temptation to...

Have a new college graduate? Give your loved one the gift of financial readiness. This is the time of year when college graduates prepare to make their career dreams and goals a reality. Despite their degrees, however, they may be ill...

Understanding complex terminology is important to protecting, sustaining, and growing your investments. Here is a guide to some of the most common financial terms: Annuitant: The person designated to receive annuity or pension payments...

Everyone knows the benefits of a good night’s sleep. But when your mind is on money, sometimes it’s hard to sink into slumber. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans occasionally experience sleep problems due to financial...

Developing a sound retirement strategy requires periodic reviews and analyses of projected income levels in order to maintain the lifestyle you envision. Annuities can serve as useful investments for retirees looking to generate...

Springtime often requires some financial spring cleaning. This is the best time to ensure your accounts are up to date and secure. Here are 3 tips to help keep your finances safe and sound: Update your beneficiaries listing. In the...

For many investors looking to secure their cash flow in retirement, annuities are a common way to receive the guaranteed income they need.[i] Different annuities exist, so knowing which option fits your financial life and goals is...

Paying for health care in retirement is not an easy task. Despite rising costs and increasingly complex coverage requirements, you can take steps today to help ensure you’re not struggling tomorrow. As you explore your own...

Saving for retirement to sustain your standard of living is a continual effort to prevent your quality of life from declining in later years. Unfortunately, for many retirees, this goal can be difficult to achieve. Even with planning,...

If you’re a federal employee, you have financial benefits available to you that are different from other retirement plans. If you directed your annuity benefits to your children, you have specific distribution details to consider...

Saving money before and during retirement so their standard of living doesn’t suffer is important for many retirees. Unfortunately, many Americans aren’t saving nearly enough and are falling short of setting aside adequate...

Before you retired, you may have spent time developing strategies to help you reach your retirement goals. You might have invested for the income you would need, minimized your debt, or protected yourself with long-term-care insurance....

Life insurance policies and annuities can be helpful in providing extra protection and income for you and your family. But you can also increase the value of these benefits with certain tax advantages that each investment provides....

Financial fraud is, unfortunately, a common practice in America that costs individuals and businesses billions of dollars each year. Research shows that people often underreport financial fraud, which is difficult to investigate and...

Losing a spouse is never easy and a difficult topic for many to even imagine. But when you become a widow or widower, moving beyond the grief to address important financial items in your life is essential. Whether you recently lost...

Financial lives are inherently complex and require thoughtful perspectives and strategies for you and your loved ones. Multigenerational households pose additional challenges to heads of households. A multigenerational household has...

Enjoying a comfortable retirement depends on how well you prepared ahead of time to support your desired lifestyle, and how well you keep a pulse on your financial well-being after you retire. You may need to check periodically to...

Life insurance and annuities can bring protection and retirement income that help people meet their financial needs and goals. When you buy these items, you get the opportunity to name beneficiaries who will receive distributions after...

When preparing for retirement, imagining the new lifestyle that awaits you can be exciting. From travel to family time to relaxation, a fulfilling retirement looks different to each individual. Preparing for the quality of life you...

For most of your adult life, you may have had the protection of life insurance to help safeguard you and your family. But as your life changed, so did your family’s needs and financial goals. With every transition and milestone,...

The financial world is filled with industry jargon and lingo. To help you understand common terms, we’ve assembled a quick guide for your reference. From life insurance to annuities, use this glossary to understand the financial...