Investments Resources

Investors who attempt to time the market run the risk of missing periods of positive returns. The image illustrates the value of a $100,000 investment in the stock market from Jan. 2007 to Oct. 2013, which included the global financial crisis and the recovery that followed. The value of the investment dropped to $54,381 by Feb. 2009 (the trough date). If an investor remained invested in the…

The arrival of a baby is an exciting event, but it also brings additional financial challenges and decisions for the whole family. Outlined below are four key financial considerations to help new parents prepare for many of life's unknowns.

Prepare for the Unexpected: Check your individual health insurance policy for specific guidelines on adding coverage for your newborn (most plans…

Do mutual fund investors prefer to invest in funds offering low expense ratios? The answer is yes. Expense ratios are an important factor in choosing a mutual fund, because they affect returns. It seems that the market is taking matters into its own hands and putting more assets in low-expense funds. As of October 2013, the average expense ratio for domestic funds was 1.14%. Investors pooled…

After two financial crises occurring almost back to back during the “lost decade,” investors have every right to be risk-averse, hesitant, angry, or distrustful. The problem with not investing at all, however, is that you may not have sufficient money to achieve your financial goals. An individual saving $100 per month, without investing, would have put away only $52,400 since 1970. By…

“What are the chances that I'll lose my job?” Unless you're a retiree, a tenured college professor, or the owner of a business, that question has probably passed through your mind at least a few times over the recent years. Even if you're confident about the security of your current position, it never hurts to put in place a good safety net. Some of the primary steps are outlined below.

Risk is the chance that you won't be able to meet your financial goals or that you'll have to recalibrate your goals because your investment comes up short. Investors face many forms of risk depending on the kinds of investments they choose.

Market, industry, and company risk: General market fluctuations can affect securities trading in that market. Stocks tend to fluctuate more than…

In the past, retirement planning used to involve two planning stages: the accumulation of assets, and the distribution of assets. Nowadays, there may be three periods to consider: accumulation, transition, and distribution. “Transition” can be defined as the period between full employment and full retirement when a person is working on a reduced or part-time basis.

Even though it's all about dollars and cents, the financial industry runs on percentages; dollar signs are few and far between. The use of percentages is an understandable, and helpful, convention when communicating financial information. After all, a headline saying “Company A’s Net Jumps by 16%" is more helpful than one that reads "Company A’s Net Jumps to $1.02 billion.” Providing…

Women face a different set of financial-planning challenges than men because they tend to live longer, earn less, and take more breaks from the work force. Women may also experience more difficulties if they are widowed or divorced. The good news is that women tend to save more.

According to Vanguard’s “How America Saves 2012” report, women saved at rates about 5% to 10% higher than…

Given the backdrop of economic uncertainty and the rise in both life expectancy and medical costs, prospects look difficult for those facing retirement shortfalls. Fortunately, a financial advisor can show you how pulling these key levers can help your retirement nest egg last.

Work Longer: Working longer is one of the easier solutions for those facing retirement shortfalls, allowing…