Investment Commentary – February 4, 2015 Dow – 17,666.40 (2/3/15 close) (-0.88% YTD) S&P 500 – 2,050.03 (2/3/15 close) (-0.44% YTD) 10-year Treasury – 1.78% (2/3/15) (-17.97%) · Financial Markets remain highly volatile, with violent swings in the oil price and interest rates adding to the angst. With stocks remaining under pressure, investors continued to [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As you plan for retirement, you may be presented with several different investment options. It can be hard to know which savings vehicles to pursue, but one very important factor you should always consider is the tax benefits of all options. At some point you may consider purchasing an annuity. In [...]
Dow – 17,191.37 (1/28/15 close) S&P 500 – 2,002.16 (1/28/15 close) 10-year Treasury – 1.72% (1/28/15 close) · The Federal Reserve gave no signal yesterday that it’s backing away from plans to raise interest rates this year, noting that it expects unusually low inflation to gradually pick up as the “transitory effects” of tumbling oil [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: If your New Years resolution focused on renovating your financial life, you may be thinking about paying down debts or upping your retirement plan contributions. But your home life can be a major source of money loss, and impact your ability to save money. Take a look at your habits around [...]
Investment Commentary – January 21, 2015 Dow – 17,515.23 (1/20/15 close) (-1.73% YTD) S&P 500 – 2,022.55 (1/20/15 close) (-1.75% YTD) 10-year Treasury – 1.81% (1/20/15 close) (-16.59% YTD) Volatility has reemerged in 2015 with the VIX (Volatility Index – measures stock market volatility) remaining above its long term average of 20 last week as [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Do you imagine what will happen to your estate after your death? Undoubtedly, you want your loved once to receive what you've left them, and you don't want it to take a long time. But if your estate is subject to the probate process, the lengthy process could prove to be [...]
Investment Commentary – January 14, 2015 Dow – 17,613.68 (1/13/15 close) (-1.18% YTD) S&P 500 – 2023.03 (1/13/15 close) (-1.75% YTD) 10-year Treasury – 1.89% (1/13/15 close) (-12.9% YTD) · Despite a strong job report last Friday, wage growth which tends to have an inverse relationship with the unemployment rate declined. This surprised the market [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Whether you're preparing for retirement or you've already begun that chapter in your life, you know that making every dollar count is a major key to your financial success. Before retirement, stretching your budget helps you to find extra money to stash in savings. After retirement, living a thrifty life helps your [...]
Investment Commentary – January 7, 2015 Dow – 17,371.64 (1/6/15 close) S&P 500 – 2,002.61 (1/6/15 close) 10-year Treasury – 1.96% (1/6/15) · With another year in the books, analysts found it important to review returns in 2014. REITS were the top performers, as real estate markets around the world continued to recover. The S&P [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Back in your working days, you looked forward to your annual raise. It helped to offset inflation, and provided you with extra cash to spend on luxury items or save for retirement. Now that you're retired, you may find that your “raises” from Social Security are less exciting. But you still need [...]