Understanding today's realities
Everyone Is Talking About Bitcoin
But when will the cryptocurrency bubble burst? Investors are excited about bitcoin – perhaps too excited. Their fervor is easy to understand. On December 18, bitcoin closed at $17,566. Back on September 22, bitcoin was valued at only $3,603.1 Yes, you read that correctly – the price of bitcoin jumped nearly 500% in three months.Continue Reading
The Equifax Data Breach
Have you been affected? If so, how can you try to protect yourself? On September 7, credit reporting agency Equifax dropped a consumer bombshell. It revealed that cybercriminals had gained access to the personal information of as many as 143 million Americans between May and July – aboutContinue Reading
Good Financial Steps to Take When You Get Married
If you’re going to say “I do,” here are some things you might want to do. Are you marrying soon? Have you recently married? As you begin your life together, it is important for you to start planning your financial future together and putting your finances on the same page. Here are some priorities youContinue Reading
Translating Stock Market Jargon
Have you ever been confused by the jargon used on Wall Street? Perhaps it is time to translate some of those esoteric stock market terms into plain English. Blue chips: This term refers to stocks that have a history of consistently strong dividend payments, issued by large corporations with solid management. In addition, this isContinue Reading
Are REITs Right for You?
These investments let you own real estate without having to be a landlord. What is a REIT? A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a real estate investment company that manages a portfolio of income properties, distributing the lion’s share of its profits as dividends. By getting into a REIT, you can gain an ownershipContinue Reading
The June Rate Hike
The Federal Reserve takes the key interest rate north by another quarter point. On Wednesday morning, futures markets put the odds at 99.6% of a June interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve. Sure enough, the central bank made a move. It raised the key interest rate by 0.25%, taking the target range for theContinue Reading
Keep Calm, Stay Invested
Expect more volatility, but avoid letting the headlines alter your plans. Recent headlines have disturbed what was an unusually calm stock market. The political uproar in Washington may continue for weeks or months, and it could mean significant, ongoing turbulence for Wall Street. As an investor, a retirement saver, how much will this turmoil matterContinue Reading
How to Fix the Infrastructure With an Interest Free Loan
With the discussions going on about how to address the deteriorating infrastructure and how to pay for it, here is a creative solution I sent to our local congressmen. May 1, 2017 Here is an idea how to spend $1 trillion on infrastructure and do it where the cost of money is zero. In factContinue Reading
The Federal Reserve Raises Benchmark Interest Rate
On March 15, the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point to a range of 0.75-1.00%. The increase was widely expected, and it represented a vote of confidence in the economy.1 This was the central bank’s second rate hike in three months, and Wall Street took it in stride, with the S&PContinue Reading
The Many Benefits of a Roth IRA
Why do so many people choose a Roth IRA? The Roth IRA changed the whole retirement savings perspective. Since its introduction, it has become a fixture in many retirement planning strategies. The key argument for “going Roth” can be summed up in a sentence: Paying taxes on retirement contributions today is better than paying taxesContinue Reading
