You've heard a lot about the wage disparity between men and women. So it probably comes as no surprise that retirement savings differ between the genders as well. A 2014 study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute uncovered a significant gap in the savings of men and women. According to the study, the average IRA [...]
Investment Commentary – June 17th, 2015 Dow – 17,935.74 (6/17/15 close) (0.63% YTD) S&P 500 – 2,100.44 (6/17/15 close) (2.02% YTD) NASDAQ – 5,064.88 (6/17/15 close) (0.18% YTD) 10-year Treasury – 2.32 % (6/17/15 close) Gold-1,185 (6/17/2015 close) Stocks were mixed last week, with China up, the U.S. essentially flat and other developed markets slipping. [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Most of us consider life insurance to be an absolute necessity. In the event of your unexpected death, your family won't be left to suddenly fend for themselves without your income. But what would happen if you become disabled? You could suddenly lose your income, receive high medical bills, and have [...]
Investment Commentary – June 10, 2015 Dow – 18,000.40 (6/10/15 close) S&P 500 – 2,105.20 (6/10/15 close) 10-year Treasury – 2.48% (6/10/15) The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened higher on Wednesday for the first time in five days and returned to positive territory for the year as a selloff in the equities market took [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: The economy shows signs of improvement, and the inflation rate remains extremely low. Even so, many Americans are concerned that their incomes are falling behind the cost of living. Indeed, most of us have noticed fluctuating gas prices and rising food prices over recent years. No matter what the experts say [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Benjamin Graham, considered by many to be the father of value investing, once said, “The individual investor should act consistently as an investor and not as a speculator”. This quote may be simple, but it's a powerful reminder for individuals who are still developing their investing strategies. Speculating involves large risks, [...]
Investment Commentary – 5/28/2015 Dow – 18,162.99 (5/27/15 close) S&P 500 – 2,123.48 (5/27/15 close) 10-year Treasury – 2.13% (5/27/15 close) As it becomes increasingly likely that the 2nd estimate of 1st Quarter 2015 GDP will be revised into negative territory this week, it is important to examine what may have been responsible for this [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: You may already be aware that many businesses offer discounts to senior citizens. These discounts are often well-known and advertised, so you can't really miss them. But you may not know about many of these hidden discounts at common places of business. They aren't advertised, and in many cases you have [...]
In his “Get a 2nd Opinion” interview, Mark Roberts spoke with Frankie Boyer of Biz Talk Radio. He explained our biggest fear in life is “you don’t know what you don’t know,” so it’s wise to always get a second opinion—including when it comes to finding a new financial advisor.
Investment Commentary – May 20, 2015 Dow – 18,285.40 (5/20/15 close) S&P 500 – 2,125.85 (5/20/15 close) 10-year Treasury – 2.25% (5/20/15 close) U.S. equities advanced last week, with the S&P 500 Index notching new record closes on Thursday and Friday. A pullback in bond yields, more mergers-and-acquisitions (M&A) activity and a wave of companies [...]