- 3 Reasons DIY Investors Should Consider Working With a Financial Advisor
The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to a new wave of investors — who suddenly have more time and money on their hands, thanks to lockdowns and stimulus checks. The DIY investors have taken advantage of low trading fees and account minimums on relatively new platforms like Robinhood. In fact, a recent survey of 2,000 American… read more…
- How Much Do Flat-Fee Financial Advisors Cost?
Financial advisors charge fees for their services. Depending on how the advisor gets paid, you may pay fees directly to them or indirectly through the investments they offer. Flat-fee financial advisors earn a flat fee for services instead of getting a commission or a percent of assets under management (AUM). Let’s break down how much it… read more…
- This Simple Step Makes It Way More Likely You’ll Meet Your Retirement Goals
Saving for retirement isn’t easy. How much cash will you need in your coffers once you exit the workforce? How much from each paycheck should you put toward retirement, and how aggressive should your asset allocation be? Trying to make all those often overwhelming decisions as you fly by the seat of your pants can… read more…
- How Fee-Only Wealth Management Works
Financial advisors who are wealth management experts can earn fees in different ways. Fee-only wealth management firms charge clients a flat fee for services with no commissions. Clients pay for financial planning and investment management services. These firms have a pricing structure based on both advisory fees and commission on products, and they may be… read more…
- If You’re Using This Common Investing Tactic, You’re Almost Certain to Fail
After a particularly strong 2021, the three major stock market indexes have gotten off to a rocky start in 2022. While the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average are down 5.92% and 3.43% this year, respectively, the Nasdaq Composite Index has dropped more than 10% in 2022. The recent volatility may have some investors… read more…
- Are Insurance Agents Fiduciaries? Federal Lawsuit Aims to Vacate This Controversial Rule
A federal lawsuit seeks to vacate a U.S. Department of Labor rule under which insurance agents who help clients roll over retirement assets are considered fiduciaries. The Federation of Americans for Consumer Choice, an insurance trade organization, filed a 21-page complaint on Wednesday alongside several Texas-based financial advisors who direct clients regarding the purchase of… read more…
- Ask an Advisor: Do I Really Need a Trust?
I retired a few years ago and have a will and power of attorney, a reasonably good-sized net worth, mutual funds, annuities, cash, a home with no mortgage and a long-term health policy. I’ve read about trusts, but I’m still not clear on the pluses and minuses of setting one up. Why is that better… read more…
- Financial Advisor vs. Accountant
The world of finance can be a complicated and confusing place. Myriad types of financial professionals offer services to help you with the various aspects of finance that affect your life. If you have wondered whether a financial advisor or an accountant is best for your financial planning needs, this will steer you in the… read more…
- What Is Financial Wellness? How Do You Achieve It?
Money is the No. 1 stressor for most adults. You may be struggling with credit card debt, an emergency that involves a large expenditure or whether you are saving enough for retirement. The pandemic has added an extra layer of… read more…
- This $1.4 Billion Robo-Advisor Deal Will Affect 130 Million Millennial and Gen Z Investors
Robo-advisors are poised to grow over $41 billion by 2027. And Zurich-based bank UBS is targeting tech-savvy investors with the acquisition of one of the top robo-advisors, Wealthfront. Financial experts say this is part of a larger industry trend that uses… read more…
- 84 Trillion Reasons Why Having a Financial Advisor May Be More Vital Than Ever
It’s been dubbed the “Great Wealth Transfer” — a massive intergenerational shift in assets that will reshape the American financial landscape. Just how large? Boston-based financial research firm Cerulli Associates projects $84.4 trillion will be transferred to family members and charities by 2045, including $72.6 trillion in assets that will pass to heirs. While the… read more…
- What Is a Certified Financial Therapist (CFT-I)?
Few of us would claim to be perfect with our money. We may save less than we planned, overspend on occasion or forgo the monthly budget on vacation. However, there are some financial habits that are much more serious, such as compulsive spending or money-related anxiety. A certified financial therapist, or CFT-I, may be able to… read more…
- What Does Separate Property Mean?
When you get married, you agree to share property with your spouse simply because you’re married. However, there is property that you may have had before your marriage that can remain yours alone, meaning it’s considered “separate property.” There is… read more…
- Check for This Red Flag Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
When selecting a financial advisor, there are a number of things you should consider, including an advisor’s professional credentials, fee structure and investing philosophy, not to mention your personal rapport with this expert. A new study, though, highlights the importance of researching the ownership of a financial advisory firm. Research from the University of Oregon… read more…
- Want Your Dividend in Bitcoin? There’s a Stock for That
Cash dividends are so last year. A blockchain infrastructure company will break new ground in March when it issues its first Bitcoin dividend to shareholders. BTCS Inc. announced Wednesday that it would become the first Nasdaq-listed company to distribute a dividend… read more…
- What Is a Self-Proving Affidavit?
A self-proving affidavit is a sworn document that attests to the validity of a will. While not required, a self-proving affidavit can speed up the probate process and render the court testimony of witnesses unnecessary. A financial advisor who offers estate planning services can prepare a self-proving affidavit and help with other end-of-life needs that… read more…
- If You Have This Much Money, You Should Have a Financial Advisor
Money can’t buy happiness directly, but it seems like paying a financial advisor sure can help. A new survey found people with more than $1.2 million in household assets report higher levels of happiness when working with a financial advisor… read more…
- Ask an Advisor: Should I Get an Annuity Now, or Wait for Better Rates?
I have just turned 60 years old and am interested in a QLAC. Is it worthwhile to wait to see if interest rates increase in the next year or so, or should I start shopping now? Also, if I don’t live long enough to use most of my investment, is a return on death benefit… read more…
- What is Web3 and How Will It Impact Your Money?
Blockchain, the technology that powers cryptocurrencies, may soon be responsible for the creation of an entirely new internet — and it could have an impact on how you manage your finances. “Web3” is the new decentralized, blockchain-based web that’s getting a lot of attention lately. As the name implies, it’s probably thought of as the… read more…
- New ETF Adds Steady Stream of Income to Your Portfolio
Investors looking to add an income boost to their portfolios now have a new option. John Hancock Investment Management announced this week the launch of its Preferred Income ETF (JHPI), an exchange-traded fund that invests 80% of its assets into preferred stocks and other preferred securities. The ETF joins a growing pool of actively managed… read more…
- Big Fund Managers Are Betting on These Sectors in 2022
2021 offered investors a robust recovery from the early economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic. But will it hold in 2022? A survey of 500 institutional investors from around the world by Natixis Investment Managers identified the sectors and asset classes where the biggest gains are expected next year, as well as the biggest risks.… read more…
- What Constitutes a Buyer’s Market?
A buyer’s market occurs when more goods or services are offered for sale than there are buyers to buy them. Buyer’s markets feature low prices and ample selection, which represent advantages for buyers. Sellers in a buyer’s market must confront… read more…
- Grant Deed vs. Deed of Trust
As a homeowner, you may use a deed to transfer ownership or take out a loan on your property. There are several different types of deeds that you may use, but two of the most common are grant deeds and… read more…
- Pros and Cons of Getting Paid in Bitcoin
El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in September 2021, only months after China outlawed mining of the digital currency, neatly captures the controversy and conflict excited by cryptocurrency. Businesses and people considering accepting Bitcoin as payment for goods… read more…
- How the New Infrastructure Spending Package Affects Crypto Investors
Crypto investors better look up from their Coinbase and Gemini apps. Changes are afoot. President Joe Biden signed into law a $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending package on Nov. 15, and though the law was a key achievement as it pertained to infrastructure spending, there were a number of other politically relevant provisions — namely regarding measures… read more…