Blog Posts

How many of your financial choices are based purely on logic?

It could be fewer than you think.

That’s because most of us make money decisions with our emotions in play.¹

With that, certain biases can follow. When they do, those biases can lead even the smartest, best-intentioned investors astray.

Here’s how to recognize three common biases - hindsight bias, fear of missing out (FOMO), and survivorship bias - and avoid their traps.

When are you going to retire?

How did you make that decision?

Many of us look at finances and health when we’re deciding when to retire.

Whether or not we realize it, we’re also considering our emotions and what we imagine for the future — we compare how we feel in our current circumstances to how we expect to feel in our anticipated retirement.¹

With that, we tend to overestimate our future emotions, thinking we’ll be a lot happier as retirees.¹

Watching your portfolio take a hit can be unsettling, but staying focused on the long game is crucial. Even in uncertain times, a long-term strategy helps you navigate market ups and downs more effectively.

Here, we’ll explore why market corrections are normal, how understanding historical trends can offer reassurance, and why sticking with your strategy benefits your financial future.

What money topics are the most taboo to talk about?

Earnings, debt, inheritance, or net worth?

For most of us, many financial topics are simply off-limits.¹

That means that many of us are not discussing money as much as we probably should be.¹

Without those talks, myths about money and financial conversations can get a much stronger grip on our perspective and our financial decisions. That silence may end up stunting our financial literacy.¹

If you’re like many investors, the thought of paying capital gains taxes on your successful investments might feel overwhelming. But what if there was a strategy to potentially reduce some of those taxes?

It’s called tax loss harvesting, and while the term might sound complicated, it's actually a fairly simple concept that could save you money.

Let’s break it down.

What’s the first thing you think of when it comes to money?

Are your thoughts more positive or negative?

Whatever’s natural to you can speak to your money mindset.¹

And that money mindset can shape your financial views and habits. It can also reveal more about your values and beliefs, not just about finance but about life in general.¹

With that, understanding your money mindset can start to highlight where it may be weaker — and what you may be able to do to improve it and leverage it better.

Birthday celebrations at 50 and each year after can be meaningful opportunities to reflect and feel grateful for life’s journey. Some also mark important milestones in retirement planning and your financial life.

Here’s a look at why, with a focus on each milestone birthday after 50 and the role it can play in your overall financial wellness.

Age 50: Catch-Up Contributions

When you turn 50, you can start to make "catch-up" contributions to your 401(k)s, 403(b)s, IRAs, and other retirement accounts.

4 Pervasive Myths About Inflation

Inflation can feel inescapable these days.

For most of us, it also feels like inflation is higher and more persistent than it actually is.¹

That could be because we’re seeing higher prices practically everywhere.¹

Despite our experience, though, that misperception can actually harm us. It can also be bad for inflation in general.¹