Five Essential Questions to Ask When Planning Your Retirement
Many of the most common questions that I get from young, married couples concern how to save for retirement. Saving for retirement, like getting married, seems like an adult thing…
Category: Investing
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Three Important Considerations When Planning for Retirement as a Married Couple
On Tuesday I mentioned that married couples have a distinct advantage when it comes to saving for retirement. Yet most couples I meet with haven’t maximized their opportunities because they… -
What do you lose when the stock market goes down?
In all of the recent talk about the market declines, an interesting question came up concerning what you lose when your portfolio goes down in value. It’s a great question,… -
Some Perspective on The Recent Market Events
What a wild ride, huh? Last Friday, we got news of a 531 point dip in the Dow. Yesterday it opened to 1000 “swan dive” as one news outlet put… -
Index Funds 101
I can’t analyze stock indexes without mentioning my favorite investments – index funds. Index funds fit squarely into a low-cost, diversified investing strategy that can help you benefit from the… -
Deciphering the Stock Indexes
Last Friday, I explained what a stock exchange is in response to a reader’s question. Today, I tackle the second part of his inquiry: what do the numbers in something… -
Reader Question: What is a Stock Exchange?
I had an interesting reader question recently that relates to the blackout at the New York Stock Exchange this past Wednesday. What is a stock exchange and what do the… -
What You Need to Know About Investing in a Taxable Account
My friend’s experience purchasing life insurance really struck a nerve with me. It seems very deceptive to 1) compare the returns of a taxable account with a tax-deferred account when… -
Why You Should Be Wary of Those Permanent Insurance Illustrations
I had an experience last week that helped solidify my stance in the permanent versus term insurance debate. One of my friends was getting a new life insurance policy. She… -
Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Your 529 Plan
As a follow up to my overview of 529 plans, I want to offer five tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your accounts. 1. Sign Up… -
Reader Question: Can You Help Me Understand My 529 Plan?
I love sharing useful information. My adrenaline spikes every time a friend asks me about investing, a client needs to know the best approach for tackling her debt, or I… -
Five Situations When it Pays to Get Married
The oral arguments this week in Obergefell v. Hodges caused me to reflect on the importance of marriage equality. As the lawyers for the plaintiffs argued, the right to marry… -
What is an ETF?
Last week I took a mutual fund class to finish up my CFP® Continuing Education requirement. While reading over the materials, I realized that I’ve never talked about ETFs on…