Investing
3 Reasons Why Target Date Funds May be Off Target
Target Date Funds Are Popular, But Then Again, So Was Smoking The use of Target Date Funds has become one of the most popular 401(k) options for retirement savers. According to this article, 71% of 401(k) plans offered a Target Date Fund option by the end of 2013 and 15% of all 401(k) assets are…
Read More5 Steps to Getting Started in Investing
I follow a number of online discussion boards and a question that I see come up over and over again is, “How do I start investing?” It’s a complex question not only in terms of your money mindsets, but also dependent upon your personal financial goals and the myriad of options available in terms of…
Read MoreWhen Safe Investments Aren’t Very Safe
Investors had a rough start to 2016. Stocks plummeted in January and February, then completely reversed course in March, promptly erasing all their losses and finishing the first quarter right about where they started the year. As I monitored various online discussion boards during that period, I saw time and again people looking for…
Read MoreUse Patience to “Guarantee” Investment Returns
This year’s markets have been characterized by high levels of volatility. Couple this with last year’s lackluster returns and you may be asking, “How can I get a guaranteed positive return on my investments?” Here’s How Not to Do It Many people opt for the guaranteed return associated with annuities. Over $200 billion is…
Read MoreHow Do Employee Stock Options Work?
Employee stock options (or ESO’s) have long been a means to lure senior executives to corporations. However, more and more companies are granting these options to rank and file employees as well. As a result, the question, “How do employee stock options work?” is coming up more and more frequently in the online financial discussion…
Read MoreSaving for Retirement – Does the 50-30-20 Rule Really Work?
How Much of My Paycheck Should I Save? The question, “How much of my paycheck should I save each month?” is probably on your mind when you think about saving for retirement. It’s a complex question that depends on many variables. And like many complex questions, it’s natural to look for rules of thumb to…
Read MoreShould I Sell My Bonds Now?
Bonds Go Down When Interest Rates Go Up, Right? With the Fed’s decision in December to raise interest rates 0.25%, I’m seeing the question, “Should I sell my bonds now?” pop up in online discussion forums and other conversations among investors. On the surface, you would think that the answer would definitely be “Yes!” given…
Read More