Blog Posts

It’s been a wild August for markets. Let’s review.

Can you relate to any of the following?

• “I should have bought that stock before the company went public!”
• “What a shame — I wish I had invested in that new tech before it went mainstream!”
• What’s the next “unicorn” that will make a fortune?”

It’s common to feel this way. Many of us experience “fear of missing out” — or FOMO — in our financial lives.¹

As a long-term investor, you’re always thinking about what factors drive your investment returns. Unfortunately, many investors focus on things that cause short-term changes and actually have no impact on long-term market returns. It’s not their fault – these myths are so commonly believed that many so-called “savvy investors” would preach to you of their importance.

To help you make informed investment decisions, let’s look at three investment factors that, contrary to popular belief, don’t drive long-term investment returns.

A lot has happened recently. Let’s review.

How much do you really know about retirement benefits?

If you’re like most Americans, it’s not that much. In fact, most of us have fairly poor “retirement literacy,” especially when it comes to the finer points of retirement benefits.¹

That may not seem like a big deal, but it can give rise to all sorts of landmines in the future, possibly derailing your retirement plans and goals. It could also impact your quality of life and your opportunities to live your best life in retirement.²

First, let’s start by uncovering the most common mistake in estate planning…

Surprisingly, this frequently made mistake might already be on your doorstep. A staggering number of people haven’t yet started an estate plan. It’s a critical oversight that can have far-reaching implications, but this isn’t the only pitfall that can disrupt your planning efforts.

Here’s a breakdown of 4 estate planning missteps and how to fix them:

How do you feel about the state of the economy? In more contemporary terms, what are your "vibes" telling you?

A power of attorney (POA) can grant you certain authority and specific responsibilities. While the extent and limitations of POAs can vary based on many factors, stepping into the role of power of attorney can be unlike anything else. That’s because it puts you in the driver’s seat to make key decisions and oversee vital needs for someone else. That doesn’t mean that POAs come with carte-blanche powers or that one power of attorney will mirror another. Explaining how POAs work, this guide shares more fundamentals, detailing some common types of powers of attorney and the responsibilities you may have as an agent of one of these devices.

How many years will your retirement last?

What are the chances you’ll live past 90?

Most of us answer those questions wrong because we don’t have strong longevity literacy.¹

That means that about 81% of us1 aren’t working with a viable understanding of our own life expectancy.

Let’s explore how understanding longevity could create a positive impact in your retirement planning.

After months of simmering inflation reports, it looks like inflation finally eased slightly in April. Are prices stabilizing? Can we breathe a sigh of relief? Let's dig a little deeper.