Setting and Targeting Investment Goals Setting investment goals means defining your dreams for the future. When you’re setting goals, it’s best to be as specific as possible. For instance, you know you want to retire, but when? You know you want to send your child to college, but to an
What Happens to Your Time Horizon at Retirement? In investing, “time horizon” refers to the amount of time you have to pursue a financial goal. Along with that goal and your tolerance for risk, your time horizon is one of three key factors that typically help determine the mix of
Expectations for Rate Cuts Accelerate After months of mixed signals and market impatience, August marked a turning point in the case for rate cuts. At Jackson Hole, Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged the shift, stating, “With policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting
New Senior Deduction Explained Beginning in 2025, seniors can take advantage of a new $6,000 tax deduction that may help them cover the rising costs of housing, health care, and daily living by potentially allowing more of their income to remain untaxed. The deduction, part of the One Big Beautiful
Understanding the New Trump Accounts With the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, Congress introduced a new class of tax-advantaged savings vehicles for minors known as Trump accounts. Here’s a breakdown of the key features. What are they? Trump accounts are custodial savings and investment
June 2025 Market Summary Equities End 1H 2025 with Positive June, Oil Prices Surge, Treasury Yields Fall Stocks closed out the first half of 2025 with gains across the boardas indices continued a rapid clawback out of correction territory from earlier in the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.5%, the S&P
The Roth 401(k) Some employers offer 401(k) plan participants the opportunity to make Roth 401(k) contributions. If you have access to this option, Roth contributions could play an important role in helping enhance your retirement income. What is a Roth 401(k)? A Roth 401(k) is a traditional 401(k) plan that
Alternative Asset Classes: An Introduction What are alternative asset classes? Beyond the three primary asset classes–stocks, bonds, and cash– many other types of investments can be used to diversify investment portfolios. The term “alternative assets” is highly flexible. It may include specific physical assets, such as natural resources or real
The Individual 401(k) If you’re self-employed or own a small business, you’ve probably considered establishing a retirement plan. If you’ve done your homework, you likely know about simplified employee pensions (SEPs) and savings incentive match plans for employees (SIMPLE) IRA plans. These plans typically appeal to small business owners because
Cash Balance Plan What is a cash balance plan? A cash balance plan is a qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan that has become increasingly common in recent years as an alternative to (or replacement of) the traditional defined benefit pension plan. Though it is technically a form of defined benefit plan,