For Mark Roberts' Use: As the old saying goes, nothing is certain except death and taxes. And while no one loves discussing either of those topics, they both require some advance planning. In particular, once you pass away, your estate could be subject to the estate tax. And because you would probably prefer to leave [...]
Investment Commentary –August 10th, 2016 Market Indices as of Market Close August 10th, 2016 Dow 18,495 (6.14% YTD) S&P 2,175 (6.44% YTD) NASDAQ 5,204 (3.94% YTD) Global DOW 2,436 (2,033 week low/high 2,439) 10-year Treasury 1.50 (1.32 52 week low /2.38 high) Gold 1,352 ($1,053 52 week low /high $1,384) Oil $41.49 ($32.85 52 week [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As you plan for retirement, it's normal and expected to focus on a particular savings goal. Or, perhaps you've already met that goal, and you just want to finish paying down your debts first. These are both worthwhile goals, and you should indeed set a goal based upon the income you [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Each fall, Social Security releases an expected cost of living adjustment (COLA), which takes effect on January 1 of the following year. And each fall, seniors who live on a fixed income anxiously await this news, so they can prepare their budgets and make any necessary adjustments. With the cost of [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Even though it’s a common purchase, life insurance is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make. Just as you wouldn’t purchase a home or invest money without conducting some thorough research, you also shouldn’t select a life insurance policy without arming yourself with complete information. Avoid these common [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Many people set a retirement savings goal early in their careers, and diligently save a specific amount of money each year. But even if you’re on track to meet your original goal, you should still re-evaluate your plan on a regular basis. Many of us watched our parents and grandparents retire, and [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: If you were surprised by the Brexit outcome on June 23, you weren’t alone. Going against polls that predicted Britain would remain with the European Union, voters actually decided to exit. And of course, markets responded negatively to the surprise. Stock prices dropped, rising bond prices caused interest rates to fall, [...]
Investment Commentary – June 29th, 2016 Market Indices as of Market Close June 29th, 2016 Dow 17,694 (1.55% YTD) S&P 2,070 (1.31% YTD) NASDAQ 4,779 (-4.56% YTD) Global Dow 2,285 (2,033 52 week low /2,568 high) 10-year Treasury 1.51 (1.42 52 week low /2.49 high) Gold 1,321 ($1,049 52 week low /high $1,363) Oil $49.51 [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As you plan for retirement, you might view Social Security as the foundation of your long-term stability. Over the years, you have made contributions to this system through paycheck deductions, and you expect your benefits to be there when you need them. But, as you have probably heard, the Social Security [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Your retirement dream is as unique as you are. Some people dream of retiring in the mountains, while others plan to move to Florida. You might even plan to travel the globe on a cruise ship! But some seniors prefer to simply stay in their own homes. In fact, a poll [...]