As financial advice becomes easier to access and new technologies threaten to make the traditional advisor model obsolete, many investors are wondering if it makes more sense to go it alone. Providing a universal answer to this question is impossible. It depends on the exact financial situation as well as level of interest -- but we can provide some general guidance. Continue reading →
Many of the mutual funds available to U.S. investors offer exposure to exotic asset classes or sophisticated stock picking strategies. At the far other end of the "complexity spectrum" are retirement target date funds, a unique segment of the fund market that has become popular among investors embracing simplicity and low fees. Continue reading →
Retirement planning has always been a complex and challenging process. There's no real way around that; it involves estimating how multiple impossible-to-predict variables will play out over a lengthy period of time. But rules of thumb and a generally cautious approach have historically been a pretty good combination. Continue reading →
For the last several years, record low interest rates have forced investors seeking current income to get a bit creative. For the most part, this creativity has worked our just fine thanks to a long stretch of positive momentum for stocks and relatively low volatility. Continue reading →
In 1900, the life expectancy for an American woman was 48 years. By 2000, it had climbed to 80. And it continues to inch higher today, thanks to a number of technological and social factors. Continue reading →
In the realm of investing, rules of thumb are everywhere. Save 10 percent of your income. Put at least 20 percent down. Deduct your age from 100 to determine an appropriate stock allocation. Continue reading →
Based on the composition of the financial media, one may imagine that the bulk of American households are consumed with avoiding psychological investing traps and choosing between the various forms of smart beta. Continue reading →
The evolution of the U.S. economy over the last several decades is perhaps best illustrated by the energy sector, which was once the primary driver of the domestic stock market but is now almost an afterthought to most investors. Continue reading →