Personal finance. Don’t underestimate the adjective. In today’s world, the rise of “robo advisors” have led some to (incorrectly) conclude that managing investment portfolios is simple. As far as they are concerned, as long as you have a software program, you’re set. Within minutes, a computer system can analyze your risk tolerance, determine the best…
Time for a New Financial Plan? The market’s wild ride after the presidential election might have you wondering if a change in leadership should mean a change in your financial strategy. While no one can ever predict with certainty what will happen to the market – or even on Twitter these days – there are…
At the end of each year – and the beginning of the new one – most of us think about things we’d like to accomplish in the coming year. It’s a time we engage in self-reflection, ideas for self-improvement, and new – or ongoing – resolutions and goals. One of the most common resolutions is…
Of the many common sayings in the finance industry, the most popular is undoubtedly “buy low and sell high.” While it sounds simple enough, it’s actually significantly more complex than it seems. Not Following the Herd Buying low comes from an investment philosophy known as value investing. The basic concept of value investing is to…
For years, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has tracked American personal finance knowledge through a survey about saving habits and basic financial principles. FINRA recently released the results of its 2015 survey, which includes the fact that only 37% of those who took the survey could answer four of the five questions on a…
Millennials are nervous about investing. Recent surveys have shown that 70% of millennials keep their savings in cash rather than invest it in the stock market. But by not investing early on, these people in their 20s and early 30s miss out on the key advantage they have at a young age: time. Because your investment…
A new study in the Journal of Finance has found that conflicts of interest in 401(k) plans can lead to serious losses for individual investors. More specifically, the 2,500 funds surveyed were less likely to eliminate underperforming funds that were their own rather than another provider’s fund. This can be very costly to retirement savers….
The White House’s report on conflicting financial advice estimates that there is a staggering $1.7 trillion invested in products that generate conflicts of interest for advisors—meaning products that advisors earn a commission for selling to clients—leading to a loss of 12% in a retirement account’s value over 30 years. To combat this, the Department of…
We live in a fascinating time. The biggest wealth transfer in history is beginning, as Millennials will soon become the wealth bearing demographic in this county. Not surprisingly, as we pointed out in a recent blog post, personal finance is a huge issue for many Millennials. But where can a Millennial turn for advice? Goals,…
Finding a financial advisor who is right for you is an important process. A good financial advisor is there to prevent you from making decisions that would have a negative, unintended impact on you. Who wouldn’t love to have a financial coach to keep you on track to achieve your financial goals? Just like with…