4 Reasons Bonds are No Longer “Safe”
When investors think of “risk aversion,” typically treasury bonds, corporate bonds and municipal debt rank highly on the list. In today’s economic climate, however, it appears there may be more risk in low yielding debt than there is in stocks themselves, which are generally considered to be the most risky.
The Flee to Bonds
With deflation concerns [...]
2010 Brings Lower 401k Contribution Limits - What You Can Do Now
Whether you’re just getting started in your retirement planning or you’ve been a lifelong saver, important and expected news is coming for your 401k program. Chances are high that in 2010, the federal government may actually lower the annual contribution limits of your 401k due in part to nonexistent inflation statistics.
How Will I Be Affected?
Without [...]
How Golden is Your Retirement Plan?
As gold reaches $1000 per ounce and silver pushes its pre-bubble highs, investors have an increasingly vested interest in precious metals. Once ignored for their below-average returns, metals and retirement portfolios are becoming a tried-and-true mix.
Why Buy Metals?
Of all the “speculative” investments, gold and silver are some of the least volatile. The term “speculative” is [...]
Invest in Your Emergency Fund - Instead of Your 401(k)
While a stockpile of cash is unlikely to generate any top-notch returns, for many people, an emergency fund could have prevented the financial and retirement peril created by an on-going recession. According to a recent Monster.com poll, more than 50% of Americans have less than one-month of income saved. After one month, those polled would [...]
Are You Ready for the Next Retirement Investment Revolution?
Investors planning for retirement may finally have an opportunity to keep more of their portfolio profits. As the cost to carry investments over long periods of time evaporates, the investing class will enjoy a higher standard of living, and banks will build a better relationship with their clients.
Not Free, But Nearly
In just a few short [...]
9 Reasons Investors are Staying on the Sidelines
Actions by world governments are steering investment dollars away from the stock markets. In addition to the economic downturn, investors have a variety of other reasons they’re not willing to rush into the market just yet.
What Will Happen Tomorrow?
No one knows what tomorrow will bring in the market. There could be a huge government takeover [...]
401k Stable Funds Experience 2009 Instability
Stable funds, which are investments that can only be bought and sold through various tax-deferred pensions, gained in popularity when Wall Street fell in 2008. Stable value funds, as a whole, were able to edge out the market and produce an average 4.7% return last year compared to near 40% declines for major market indices. [...]
Which SEP IRA is Best For Your Retirement?
SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) IRA accounts are a great way for small business owners and self employed individuals to invest a portion of their company profits for their retirement. You may qualify for a SEP IRA if you own a C corporation, S corporation, sole properitorship, LLC, or joint venture partnership.
SEP IRA Benefits
Easy to Setup [...]
Are Your Retirement Funds Protected from a Layoff?
In an age where virtually every one of life’s biggest expenses are covered by “expendable” company benefits, many investors and employees alike are growing more concerned over their financial future – with good reason. 1.2 million jobs were shed in the first two months of 2009, and the trend is not expected to buck. However, [...]
Why You Should Forget All You Know About Investing
Financial advisors have long recommended that investors tone down their portfolio risk as they age to prevent the chance that falling equity prices will stifle retirement plans. However, as many have experienced over the past year and a half, stock prices have fallen off a cliff and now threaten the retirement of millions of people.
Throw [...]
