Saving and Investing

Most people who are new to investing want to know where to put their money, what the hot stocks are, or how they should choose a broker. But the experts will tell you that before you act, you should educate yourself and define a plan. It’s important to understand where you are financially, and what… Read More

When most people think of stocks, we’re thinking of common stock. Preferred stock is different, and comes with certain privileges. One such privilege is that most preferred stock offers higher dividends than common stock, which is one of the primary reasons that people own preferred stock. They are also less risky and less volatile than… Read More

Buyer beware! Some of the “truths” of the investing marketplace that we have long held onto are changing. The investment landscape today may not resemble that of even a few years ago. A combination of uncertainty in the global economy and the Federal Reserve’s efforts to keep the interest rate near zero have made traditionally… Read More

For many it comes as no surprise that Ronald O’Hanley, president of Fidelity Investments, believes Americans should try to save more money. What is more controversial is O’Hanley’s proposal for the government to start requiring workers to put away 6% of their earnings by default. Is this push to save necessary, especially in light of… Read More

Every day people are increasingly seeking out financial advisors to help them make smart, low-cost investments and to manage their Individual Retirement Account. Having a professional in charge of the retirement plans is seen to be a better alternative to having the individual handle them on his or her own as they are more likely to… Read More

While the 401(k) plan has become a prominent feature for many employees, some argue that they remain inadequate as savings vehicles. A report published by The Center for Retirement Research at BostonCollege (found here) highlights a number of these concerns, concluding that the 401(k) may not be a sufficient means to save for retirement, especially… Read More

The Government’s lawsuit against McGraw-Hill’s S&P unit hinges on the argument the banks were unknowing investors and were duped by the rating that S&P placed on their credit products. The government is seeking $5bn and an admission of wrongdoing in connection with what it alleges as deliberately understating the risk of $2.8 trillion in residential… Read More

Since 2008, the confidence of many investors has been shaken dramatically. The financial crisis, investment bank closures, algorithmic trading errors that swing the market violently, political uncertainty, and a grinding economic recovery have all taken a toll. That said, according to Fred Tomczyk, CEO of TD Ameritrade, individual investors are beginning to come back to… Read More

In what is currently uncommon, IBM announced last week that it will switch to an annual lump sum contribution to its employee 401(k) retirement plans. This change will reduce IBMs retirement contribution expenses by millions. Being one of the largest companies in the world with over 400,000 employees, this change may well spread to other… Read More

Despite the dismal performance of the stock market in recent years, over the long term investing, on average, does produce a return of 7-9%. Many people are intimidated about where to start when it comes to investing. In this article, Kiplinger outlines the three first steps to investing—setting goals and adopting a strategy, making investing… Read More