Mutual Funds

If you have sold a business for a significant financial profit, inherited a large sum of money or recently won a very large lottery, you might want to consider the merits of a “family office” in order to manage your financial affairs. A reader, C.P., wants to know how to get started. What Is a

Today’s Social Security column addresses questions about how and when spousal benefits can be available for each spouse in turn, drawing divorced spousal benefits with multiple exes and when first payments can be expected. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc. See

Bruce Feiler is an excellent author whose newest book, Life Is In The Transitions, refutes much of what we have been taught about successfully navigating life, all while cluing us into something that we already know but rarely say: Life isn’t linear. In fact, Feiler puts it even more starkly: “The linear life is dead.

As you celebrate National Hamburger Day (May 28th) this Memorial Day Weekend, retirement is probably the last thing on your mind. But as the sizzling aroma of those grilling burgers captivates your nostrils, consider for a moment how your retirement is like a mouth-watering juicy hamburger. “A hamburger represents all you’ve achieved and accumulated from

Topline Stocks finished higher on Friday—capping off a solid rally this week that saw markets rebound from more than seven consecutive weeks of losses, as recession fears continued to subside in light of positive economic data showing inflation moderated slightly last month. Key Facts The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.8%, nearly 600 points, while

The subject of driving for elders can get quite emotional. It is a symbol of independence and freedom. It can also be increasingly dangerous as we age. At AgingParents.com, where we consult with families of elders, we see many families with a general reluctance to bring up the topic with an aging parent. This occurs

Topline With stocks on track for one of their worst years in recent history amid concerns around persistent inflation, rate hikes from the Federal Reserve and rising recession risks, top firms on Wall Street say investors should turn to defensive stocks with stable margins and cash flow that should be able to weather a bear

Topline With the stock market on one of its worst losing streaks in decades amid a relentless selloff that has pushed the S&P 500 nearly 20% below its record highs, recession risks are rising—but history shows that not all bear markets lead to long-term downturns and stocks can often rebound over the next year. Key

Topline Stocks rallied slightly on Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting showed that the central bank is likely to continue raising interest rates by a half-percentage point each in June and July, amid growing urgency to combat surging inflation and avoid an economic downturn. Key Facts Stocks moved higher as

Topline The retail sector has been hard-hit by a selloff in recent weeks amid warnings from major companies that surging inflation has impacted profits, and despite a rebound on Wednesday, experts predict further challenges ahead as consumer spending becomes increasingly hard to predict. Key Facts Retail and consumer stocks rebounded thanks to reports that Kohl’s

Topline The stock market fell on Tuesday—reversing a comeback rally a day earlier—as the months-long selloff on Wall Street persists with investors continuing to offload shares amid a gloomy profit outlook from Snap, which sent tech stocks plummeting and led to rising recession fears. Key Facts The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.2%, nearly

Topline The Federal Reserve isn’t doing its job fighting runaway inflation—and unless the central bank tightens monetary policy and raises interest rates “more aggressively,” the ongoing stock market sell-off could well turn into a full “economic collapse,” warned hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman on Tuesday. Key Facts The Federal Reserve has lost credibility as it has

Is your traditional IRA or 401(k) down in value this year? Many financial experts are touting this as a good time to convert it to a Roth since you can pay taxes on the lower account value, and when the market recovers, your money can grow to be tax-free. However, here are some reasons why

The editors of Bloomberg recently published a series of editorials on America’s impending “retirement crisis,” which they assert could “under reasonable assumptions … overwhelm state budgets across the country” as impoverished seniors increasingly rely on government handouts to survive. Scary stuff, if true. In fact, the assumptions driving these frigthening claims are anything but reasonable.

Earlier this month, a dramatic headline appeared at the New York Post: “No kidding: Rearing 3 or more children could make you literally lose your mind, study says.” The dramatic statement from the article, three sentences in? “The scientists found that having three or more kids vs. two children has a “negative effect on late-life

The nearly $100 billion State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio never tires of telling its members of past transparency awards it has received from Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber. The fact that Faber’s office is currently conducting a special investigation into the pension’s transparency practices, prompted by public records lawsuits and numerous member complaints—the results

Today’s Social Security column addresses questions about whether survivor’s benefits reduce full retirement age for all benefits and the earnings test, earning more or paying more to increase benefits and the earnings test and survivor’s benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning,

Did you know May 20th is National Pizza Party Day? Not only is this hot-out-of-the-oven treat delicious and nutritious, but it may be a perfect metaphor for your retirement. Can you picture that? “I envision my retirement plan more like a pizza,” says Jonathan Zacks, CEO & Co-Founder of GoReminders in New York City. “The

Summer travel dreams are in the making. Soon people will be hoping to fill plane seats to travel to destinations delayed during the height of the pandemic. The prices are high but the planes are full — but wait — there is one seat empty. The front left seat. No, not in first class. The

By Nancy Collamer, Next Avenue A reader recently asked about how to go about finding meaningful part-time work after he retires in a couple of years. “I don’t know where to look for meaningful part-time work,” he wrote. “Next to that is how to reach out. To whom and how? How to get started on

By Constance Brossa, Next Avenue General contractor Sandy DeWeese knows what it’s like to operate in the male-dominated construction sector of what’s known as the “skilled trades.” Because of her gender-neutral name, some unsuspecting prospective clients would open the door when she arrived on site and say, ‘Oh, you’re a woman.’ “There was only one

By Lazetta Rainey Braxton, Next Avenue When I decided to write about Gen X and Money, my interest centered on our financial joys, concerns, trends and the opportunities to position ourselves as the next travelers on the road to retirement. Little did I realize that several columns later, I would be grappling with the term

Topline The stock market tanked on Friday, adding to heavy losses this week that pushed the S&P 500 into a bear market, down over 20% from its intraday peak in January as investors continue to get whipsawed by concerns about inflationary pressures and rising rates. Key Facts The selloff on Wall Street continued with a

Topline Amid heightened recession fears, major Wall Street firms now warn that the ongoing market selloff, which is on track for seven consecutive weeks of losses, could get much worse—with stocks set to plunge by another 20% or so if the economy heads towards a looming recession. Key Facts Recession fears have spiked this week,

Topline The stock market moved lower on Thursday, pushing the S&P 500 to the brink of bear market territory as investors continued to offload shares following warnings from major retailers about inflationary pressures, which have added to fears about aggressive rate hikes tipping the economy into a recession. Key Facts The Dow Jones Industrial Average

At long last, a full-length documentary film focused upon the greatest financial challenge facing our aging Baby Boomer population today, as well as younger workers: How to fund a secure retirement that may span decades. For some, retirement may last longer than their working years. The Baby Boomer Dilemma, An Expose of American’s Retirement Experiment

Topline The stock market selloff resumed on Wednesday amid reinvigorated fears about surging inflation weighing on economic growth, as several major retailers have now reported that quarterly profits took a hit due to rising cost pressures. Key Facts The selloff on Wall Street intensified by the afternoon: The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.5%, over

Topline The stock market moved higher on Tuesday in an attempt to bounce back after six consecutive weeks of heavy losses, as investors digested the latest comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who pledged to keep raising interest rates until inflation starts “coming down.” Key Facts Stocks widely rebounded, paring back some of the

Topline Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has used the ongoing market sell-off as an opportunity to buy the dip and add several new major positions as his investing conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway, deployed tens of billions of dollars into stocks during the first quarter, according to new regulatory filings. Key Facts Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway took advantage of

The stock market has taken investors on a wild ride over the past several months. It is during these volatile times that I experience a higher volume of calls from individuals who are concerned about their retirement assets and wondering what they should do. My most concerned callers are those who are getting ready to