Investment Commentary – July 16, 2014 Dow – 17,060.68 (7/15/14 close) S&P 500 – 1,973.28 (7/15/14 close) 10-year Treasury – 2.55% (7/15/14) The Fed sent a signal to the market that it will remain on course in reducing the tapering program when it announced at its June meeting the slowing of monthly bond purchases [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: You have spent years – probably even decades – planning and saving for your retirement. When the time finally comes, it's important to make the most of your golden years. Remember these five ingredients to a fulfilling retirement, and make these years some of the happiest of your life. Avoid regrets. [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As we enter our retirement years, many of us find ourselves facing a fixed monthly income. While it's always best to prepare years in advance, and to plan for as much income as possible in retirement, there are always surprises along the way. If you find yourself with less money each [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: For many people, tax-advantaged investing is an excellent way to reduce their taxes. And while many of the traditional tax-advantaged strategies have been eliminated, there are still alternatives left that can help you reduce your taxes. Some are described below. Real Estate Partnerships Two of the most common types of real [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: When you envision your retirement, do you picture yourself playing golf on a tropical island, playing cards in a retirement home, or simply enjoying your own backyard? A 2012 poll by the National Council on Aging found that 9 out of 10 Americans aged 60 and older plan to spend the [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Bonds are a common investment vehicle, but you may be unfamiliar with the ratings system you often see associated with them. Since a bond's rating tells you a lot about the potential return of your investment, it makes sense to familiarize yourself with the three main ratings systems. These ratings are [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: At the end of each month, do you ever find yourself wondering where all your money has gone? If you're like most people, you sometimes let your spending get out of control. But the good news is that you can easily take back control of your budget, and you will probably discover [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Every election year, one of the most popular subjects debated by candidates involves Social Security. Of course, we all need to pay attention to the problems concerning Social Security in non-elections years as well! You may have heard that Social Security is “running out of money”. While this isn't precisely true, it [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: When we think of estate planning, we tend to think of it as, “what I want to happen after I pass away”. You may be thinking of your finances, your burial wishes, and other final considerations. However, there's another key aspect of estate planning that we all need to consider: What [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: When you're standing in the checkout lane, the option to pay with a credit or debit card may seem like a completely random decision. In other cases, your budget may dictate which card you choose. But even though these cards look identical next to one another in your wallet, they each [...]