May 7, 2012 | Investing & Markets
Looking for a one-stop-shop when it comes to 401(k) plans? Target Date Funds (TDFs) offer just that and have become all the rage with 401(k)s: Assets have ballooned from $71 billion in 2007 to $374 billion at the end of 2011. The folks who run retirement plans expect...
Apr 10, 2012 | College Planning
Let’s face it, the need for financial aid doesn’t magically disappear once a college diploma is earned. New college graduates heading out into the real world will likely come a knockin’ on family doors for some help in the early going. Here’s how to help a new college...
Apr 4, 2012 | Retirement Planning
Around tax-filing season, saving for retirement is probably more front-of-mind than at any other time of the year. After all, stuffing more in a retirement vehicle, such as a 401(k) or Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can reduce your current tax bill. But a recent...
Mar 28, 2012 | Retirement Planning
Chances are, if you were offered a deal that could pay you 30 to 80 percent more income, you’d be mighty interested. But when it comes to the decision about when to start taking Social Security benefits in retirement — which does in fact give you the ability to lock...
Mar 8, 2012 | Investing & Markets
Let’s face it, income investing can be a challenge these days. With the Federal Reserve on record as saying it intends to keep the Federal Funds rate at zero for another 18 months or so, buying treasuries is a losing proposition. Even if you venture all the way out to...
Mar 1, 2012 | Investing & Markets
Financial regrets? You’ve had a few, no doubt. And you’re not alone. According to a recent Merrill Edge survey, the top three regrets among “mass affluent” folks with a sizable chunk of change to invest — between $50,000 and $250,000 in...
Feb 28, 2012 | Investing & Markets
We’re three years past the bear-market bottom and investors are showing no signs of warming up to stocks. From 2009 through 2011 a net $175 billion was yanked from stock mutual funds, while bond funds took in a net $742 billion. The bulk of the flight from stocks...
Feb 13, 2012 | Investing & Markets
Dividend-paying stocks have snuck back into the investing spotlight recently. Many blue chip stocks have current dividend yields higher than their corporate bonds. And plenty of dividend payers are the sort of large caps that do best in a slow-growth economy, compared...
Jan 30, 2012 | Investing & Markets
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke continues to make life very hard for risk-averse savers and investors. Last week the Fed announced it intends to keep its target Federal Funds rate hovering near zero “at least through late 2014” given the fragile and slow pace of...
Jan 25, 2012 | Retirement Planning
There’s no question – a 401(k) is still one of the best ways to save for retirement. They give investors valuable tax breaks and the ability to contribute a hefty $17,000 this year, or $22,500 if you’re 50 years or older. But let’s face it, plenty of 401(k)s offer a...
