Thoughts on October 2018 Market Volatility
After a period of relative calm in the markets, in recent days the increase in volatility in the stock market has resulted in renewed anxiety for many investors. From September 30–October 10, the US market (as measured by the Russell 3000 Index) fell 4.8%, resulting in many investors wondering what the future holds and if they should make changes to their portfolios.1 While it may be difficult to remain calm during a substantial market decline, it is important to remember that volatility is a normal part of investing. Additionally, for...
read moreDo You Need to Sign Up for Medicare at 65 if You’re Still Working?
For the past four decades, age 65 marked the time when you would leave your job, start your pension, file for Social Security, and enroll in Medicare. Not anymore. Since then, the retirement landscape has changed. Full retirement age for Social Security is 66 or 67. The traditional corporate pension has given way to the 401(k) plan, which is generally taken as a lump sum upon leaving employment at any age, rather than monthly payments beginning at age 65. Even more significant is the fact that many baby boomers are continuing to work well...
read moreOctober 2018 Monthly Insight: Becoming a Lifelong Student of Investing
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” —Benjamin Franklin Have you ever embarked on a home improvement project? You are confident you can complete the task, but you are unfamiliar with the details. You need guidance from an expert. That is where your local home improvement store comes into play. The employees not only know their craft exceedingly well but are excited to share their ideas. You can see it in their body language and the sparkle in their eyes when they explain the nuances of a project. Plus, they...
read moreSeptember 2018 Monthly Insight: Discipline in the Face of a Record Bull Market
“This is the single greatest challenge long-term investors face: finding new reasons not to sell.” Michael Batnick, Director of Research, Ritholtz Wealth Management On August 22, 2018, the U.S. Stock market celebrated a bull run of 3,453-days. This is the longest bull market ever. That’s right. After nearly 9½ years, the markets are still going strong. They have risen from 677 points during the deep, dark days of the great recession to 2,861.82 on Wednesday, August 22, to become the longest bull market in history. Yet, before the end of...
read more10 Common Medicare Questions Answered
With the baby boom generation entering retirement, many have questions about Medicare. People are confused—both about how the system works, and how these inner workings affect their retirement decisions. These ten questions address some of the most common sources of confusion around Medicare: When to sign up, what to do if you are still working, how much it costs, and more. Click the thumbnail below to read the full...
read more