All Posts
Tips: Max Out Your 401k
4 Things to Keep in Mind if You're Trying to Max Out Your 401k No matter how much you might make, $19,000 is generally considered a good chunk of change. It’s the cost of a base model 2018 Honda Civic. For some, it’s the price tag on a first-class luxury vacation....
Guide to End-of-Year Tax Planning
Guide Sections Donate Appreciated Securities Use Your IRA to Make a QCD Donate Tangible Property Gift To Your Loved Ones Tax-Loss Harvesting Fully Fund Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans Roth Conversions Required Minimum Distributions Fourth Quarter...
Weekly Market Digest: A Week Full of Big Moves
The past week was full of familiar themes and big moves ahead of the shortened holiday trading week. There were flashes of 2015 energy price drops and 2016 Brexit headlines, but it was the continued 2018 themes of tech routs and U.S./China trade agreement concerns...
The Oblivious Beneficiary – Do You Have Unclaimed Life Insurance Money?
There is roughly $7.4 billion of unclaimed life insurance money in the U.S. Many family members are unaware that their loved ones held a life insurance policy and are “oblivious beneficiaries.” Could you be owed a life insurance payout? Why is There So Much Unclaimed...
3 Security Tips to Help Protect You During the Holidays
3 Security Tips to Help Protect You During the Holidays We are sliding headfirst into the holidays, and while that may mean it’s the most wonderful time of the year for some of us, it’s certainly a joyful season for one group: fraudsters. ‘Tis the season...
Weekly Digest: Despite a Noisy Week, Markets Pick Up Where They Left Off
It was a busy week with the midterm elections, the Fed’s policy meeting, as well as ongoing quarterly earnings announcements. There was a strong global rally leading up to the midterms, which continued through Wednesday after most results had been announced. This...
Avoid Emotional Investing for Greater Stability in Your Portfolio
What do we know about the basics of investing? Buy low sell high. Diversify. Invest for the long-term. Sounds easy, but it’s not. Every day I talk to investors who understand these concepts but have difficulty executing them. For many, the gap between the knowledge of...
Capital Markets Review & Commentary: October 2018
Volatility returned to US stocks in October, providing a reminder of the benefits of diversification at both the asset class and sector level. Major US indexes flirted with correction territory before rebounding in the final two days. International stocks, which were...
How to Save for Your Child’s Education…And Your Retirement
Planning and saving for retirement and your children’s education are common financial goals. They are also two of the biggest challenges for families today. How do you plan for an unknown future that requires so much upfront planning? And how do you balance wanting to...
Weekly Market Digest: Stocks Rebound in Final Days of October
Stocks rebounded in the final days of October, softening what was otherwise a rough month. Optimism for a potential trade breakthrough between the US and China at the G20 meeting later this month helped fuel gains. International shares fared best. Corporate earnings...
How Will Midterm Elections Impact the Market?
Midterm elections are coming up in less than a week, and due to the major implications that the midterms can have on fiscal policy, many investors are asking: what effect will the elections have on the market? With the return of market volatility in October, lingering...
Ask These Questions When Discussing Equity Compensation with Your Employer
Many people think that equity compensation is automatically equal to a windfall – the next Facebook or Instagram story. But the truth is, this is usually not the case for the majority of us. Equity can be a great form of compensation, since it aligns incentives...
How to Handle a Large Windfall
With news of the massive Mega Millions lottery prize going to a lucky winner in South Carolina last week, it’s a perfect time to discuss how to handle a windfall. While most of us will never be lottery winners, there are much more common “windfall scenarios” that can...
Weekly Market Digest: Why You Should Avoid Reacting During Volatility
Volatility remained in the global markets this week. Relatively substantial drops in the major US equity indices occurred Wednesday, only to see those same indices rebound significantly the next day on Thursday, with Friday seeing the S&P 500, the DOW, and the NASDAQ...
Weekly Market Digest: Volatility Returns & There is No Predicting Performance
It was another wild week for markets. A strong relief rally on Tuesday helped push global stocks into positive territory, only to be partially offset by steep declines Thursday. Losses continue to be driven by ongoing fears surrounding trade and interest rates, which...
Diversification is Key to Weathering Market Volatility
We’ve recently experienced a sudden reappearance of big down days and also some big up days, and while it’s natural to try to find what is to blame, volatility often has no obvious cause, even when looking at it in the rearview mirror. While it’s difficult to pinpoint...
Personal Capital Investor’s Guide to Volatile Markets
Guide Sections The Impact of Behavioral Finance Diversification as a Safeguard Prep for the Future: Steps to Take Now Questions to Ask Yourself Guide Sections The Impact of Behavioral Finance Diversification as a Safeguard Prep for the Future: Steps to...
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Equity Compensation?
Not seeing anything on this page? Take the quiz HERE To learn more about employee equity compensation, read our free guide. Read the Free Guide *Disclaimer. This communication and all data are for informational purposes only and do not constitute a...
While-You-Wait Investing: Stock Options
Learn all about stock options in the time it takes to steep a cup of tea: Stock options are probably the most well-known form of equity compensation. A stock option is the right to buy a specific number of shares of company stock at a pre-set price, known as the...
Guide to Tax-Loss Harvesting
Guide Sections What Is Tax-Loss Harvesting? How Does Tax-Loss Harvesting Work? The Capital Gains Tax The Wash Sale Rule & Tax-Loss Harvesting Guide Sections What Is Tax-Loss Harvesting? How Does Tax-Loss Harvesting Work? The Capital Gains Tax The Wash Sale Rule &...
Market Volatility: How Will You React?
As investors across the globe have seen, the market experienced some volatility last week. When markets start to get volatile, it’s important to remember a few basic investing principles. As you monitor your portfolio during volatile times, make sure to keep these...
Guide to Employee Equity Compensation
Guide Sections What Is Employee Equity Compensation? Employee Compensation Restrictions Main Types of Employee Equity Compensation Stock Options Restricted Stock Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) Recommended Exercising & Selling Strategies Employee Equity...
4 Tax Management Tips for Investors
Improper tax management can cost you more than a quarter of your long-term return, severely limiting spending power in retirement. The good news is that taxes can be managed. There are four key areas where investors can place their tax focus: Tax Efficiency Thousands...
Introducing Personal Capital’s “Investor’s Guide to Volatile Markets”
Life is full of uncertainties. We protect our families with life insurance and our cars and homes with auto and homeowner’s policies. But how do we protect our financial futures? Even during times of relative stability in the financial markets, having a long-term...
Weekly Market Digest: Tech Stocks Experience a Volatile Week
The global equity correction picked up steam this week. A hawkish Fed tone caused rates to initially spike, there were concerns over slowing global growth, and trade tensions weighed on markets.
Capital Markets Review & Commentary: September 2018
The end of September marked the end of the third quarter, a strong period for U.S. stocks but lackluster for almost all other major asset classes. During September alone, foreign developed stocks posted gains and outpaced their U.S. counterparts, while emerging...
Education Savings Assessment: How Much Do You Have Saved for Your Child’s Education?
How do your education savings stack up to the average American's? Not seeing anything on this page? Take the assessment HERE. For more information, read our free guide on saving for a child's education....
Guide to Saving for a Child’s Education
Guide Sections Introduction Financing Options - 529 Plans Other Financing Options Education Tax Credits Saving for Retirement & Education There’s no doubt about it – education can be expensive. The cost of college tuition has risen over the past few...
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About 529 Plans?
How much do you know about 529 plans and their potential benefits and drawbacks? Take our quiz to test your knowledge and to learn if a 529 plan might be right for your family. Not seeing anything on this page? Take the quiz HERE To learn more, read our...
Q3 2018 Market Review & Outlook Report: Sector Shakeups and Strong Earnings
The third quarter was dominated by headlines surrounding trade conflicts, continued U.S./ international equity market divergence, and rising interest rates. Amidst a backdrop of strong economic growth and low unemployment, U.S. stocks marched noticeably higher,...
