Updated: September 1, 2015 You may have heard or noticed that the stock market has been going through a bit of a rough patch. As of Tuesday, January 22, US stocks, as represented by the S&P 500, were down nearly 11% year to date, and over 16% from their most recent high point on October [Learn more…]
After Enron – protecting your retirement nest egg
Updated: September 1, 2015 The highly publicized collapses of Enron and WorldCom destroyed many 401(k) accounts, devastating the retirement hopes and plans of many thousands of people. Especially after the Enron experience, politicians and experts have proposed retirement plan reforms, including a wider range of choice for employee investment and fewer limits on trading. Both [Learn more…]
Mutual Funds vs Separately Managed Accounts
Like what you’re reading? Sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive the latest articles straight to your inbox. Updated: September 1, 2015 Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) are all the rage in the investment business. Investment managers, brokers and investment advisors originally positioned SMAs as direct access to “top” portfolio managers for the most affluent. [Learn more…]
The (Hidden) Costs of Mutual Fund Investing
Updated: September 1, 2015 We humans focus on what we are shown. This tendency makes magic work. The magician fools our eyes by making large and dramatic movements designed to distract us from the small, unobtrusive motions that are the action (hiding extra rope, concealing coins to be “pulled” from volunteers’ hair and ears, etc.).1 [Learn more…]
How much diversification is enough?
Updated: September 1, 2015 Mom told us to dress warmly, eat well, wear clean underwear and always hold a diversified investment portfolio. Well, the first three were certainly right up there on most mothers’ lists of instructions – maybe only financial planners’ mothers mentioned the last one. You can think of diversification (buying several stocks) [Learn more…]
Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Raise
Updated: September 1, 2015 Lots of people are leaving money on the table, turning down money their employers want to give them. They are giving up an opportunity to live better. Are you one of them? A recent edition of the TIAA-CREF Institute’s Research Dialogue (you may have seen it at your local newsstand) has [Learn more…]
Financing College – It’s not just for your kids anymore!
Updated: September 1, 2015 Wait! Before you move on to your next e-mail, thinking “my kids are through college,” consider for just a moment – you may wish to contribute toward the education of a niece, nephew or grandchild. College savings accounts have two fundamental objectives – savings discipline and tax reduction. Even if you [Learn more…]