The equity markets are generally forward-looking. That’s why you have price movements that seem incompatible with the latest economic (backward-looking) data. The equity market today, as seen through the eyes of the S&P 500, has been flirting with all-time highs while the economic data indicate that the economy continues on feeble legs. So, just as the “forward-looking” market has predicted 25 of the last 8 recessions, so too, it can …Read More
Tag Archives: retirement plan
Possible retirement account changes on tap
Originally published in Tahoe Daily Tribune’s website, http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/opinion/15083209-113/tahoe-truckee-market-beat-possible-retirement-account-changes-on-tap Estimating future events is part of the financial planning process. Planners estimate things like life expectancy, inflation, stock market returns and interest rates. We don’t know exactly where any of these factors will be in the future. Another uncertainty are the rules that we follow as we plan. Just because the rules are written one way today doesn’t mean that they can’t …Read More
What women need to know when they retire
Originally published on Marketwatch.com’s website http://www.marketwatch.com/story/retirement-planning-considerations-for-women-2015-02-02?link=mw_home_kiosk Young people entering the workforce need to educate themselves about the retirement-planning process. Women in the early stages of their retirement planning should be aware that they will face some different challenges than their male coworkers. One of the key differences is life expectancy. On average, women live longer than men do. Girl babies born today will live almost 81 years, while boys are …Read More
Why dividend growth is important for young workers
Originally published on Marketwatch.com’s website http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-dividend-growth-is-important-for-young-workers-2015-01-09?dist=countdown Young people entering the workforce should start contributing to their retirement plans as soon as possible. They need to invest early and save frequently. When investing in stocks, it’s important to understand the role that cash dividends play. Over long time frames, dividends have been responsible for more than 40% of the total return of some of the major indexes. Dividend paying stocks also …Read More
Understanding your 401k plan
Ever since the Revenue Act of 1978, when the 401k plan was established by congress, 401k plans have played a major role in most Americans retirement planning. Even though over 60 million employees take advantage of their employer’s retirement plan, a surprising number don’t fully understand some of the important details in how their plans work. A study done by AARP found that 83 percent of plan participants don’t know …Read More
