Secure Act Changes IRA Rules
In its year-end rush to pass a bill that funds the government, Congress included a significant revision of the rules that apply to company 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts. Some of the...
View ArticleSlept Through It?
The financial world is moving so quickly these days that you might have slept through the latest market shock. Remember the story of the little boy who cried wolf? After a while, no one believed him....
View ArticleAnd now, The Bills!
Consumer spending soared this holiday season – reflecting high consumer confidence and record employment numbers. The MasterCard holiday spending figures show an increase of 3.4 percent, amidst an 189...
View ArticleMedicare’s Expensive 3 Days
In a healthcare emergency it’s difficult to think about finances. But if you or a loved one who is a senior are ever rushed to the hospital, overlooking this one detail could devastate your finances....
View ArticleThe Lure of Personal Loans
Personal loans are the fastest-growing debt category in the country. The outstanding amount has nearly tripled, growing from $55.3 billion to nearly $160 billion in the last decade. Just as in every...
View ArticleCar Insurance by the Mile
Your car insurance is about to get personal. And if you’re willing to let the insurers track how many miles you drive, you can save a lot of money. The concept of paying for insurance based on the...
View Article“Simplifi” Your Finances
Ever since Quicken was first offered by Intuit in a very basic way in the early 1990s, personal finance has been revolutionized by technology. Easy technology lets you see all your financial accounts...
View ArticleBeware of Bonds
The stock market has been getting all the attention in recent months, but the bond market has been getting a larger share of the investment dollars. The attraction is the higher yields and presumed...
View ArticleStock Market — The Bigger They Come . . .
The good news for investors just keeps coming – -and neither political machinations, the fear of a world-wide epidemic, nor warnings from seasoned investment pros have taken a toll. Yet. The stock...
View ArticleWhy The Market Lost its Bounce
The stock market has lost its bounce. After a decade-long stock market boom, investors have been “trained” to buy every dip. They learned the market would soon bounce back and make new highs. But this...
View ArticleMonday pre-opening: UGLY!
Today will be memorable –and ugly. Stock markets around the world have fallen more than 5%, and the US futures are locked “limit down” with a loss of 5%. The Dow itself is likely to fall more than that...
View ArticleTues. Pre-open: Rock, Paper, Scissors!
Pre-markets show a huge bounce – perhaps up 1,000 points on the Dow – after yesterday’s record 2,000 point drop. Governments around the world – from the US to Japan and Europe – are promising they will...
View ArticleA Bear of a Market!
Now, it’s official. We have entered bear market territory, and the market still has an hour to go today. Don’t be paralyzed by the headlines. Here’s a reminder that if you are switching investments in...
View ArticleWhy it’s not over at Dow 21,575
Here’s why I’m pretty sure that the market will go lower — even as I write an hour before the close with the DJIA down more than 1900 points. Today, all in one day, three different people asked me how...
View ArticleWhat a Week!
So glad this week is over — at least for the financial markets. We all need some time to reflect. But while the financial markets can be “turned off” for a couple of days, the threat of illness is with...
View ArticleUgly Opening Despite Fed
At this point, well before the market opens, it looks like an ugly start to the day –and no real reason for a rally. The futures are “locked limit down.” (The maximum that the index futures can move in...
View ArticleMortgage Refi — Silver Lining?
The chance to refinance your mortgage could be the silver lining in the recent financial upheaval. Even before the Fed cut interest rates to zero, rates on 30-year fixed rate mortgages have remained...
View ArticleYou Can’t Hide in Bonds
If you’re feeling safer — or even a bit superior — because so much of your retirement fund is in bonds (or bond funds) paying a nice yield, you might want to take a closer look. Just a month ago, on...
View ArticleDialing for Dollars (pre-open 3/19)
Take a breath. The stock market has reached a level that is “average” for a bear market, a decline of about 30 percent from the peak. Now, we must look at two other numbers that could spiral out of...
View ArticleTerry’s Response to Your Questions
Thanks for all your questions. As you can imagine, I’ve been overwhelmed with individual questions about specific investments. It would be impossible and unprofessional of me to try to answer them...
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