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For the stock market, last quarter was the roughest we’ve had in some time.  The S&P 500 plunged 20% from its high in September 2018, with the Nasdaq and smaller stocks down even more.  That’s enough to dismay the stoutest of hearts, and may leave you wondering if you shouldn’t head for the exits. 

Benjamin Franklin once said “A penny saved is a penny earned.”    

Unfortunately, the most difficult job I have as a financial planner is to get people to save money. 

As I mentioned in my last article, “What Do You Need to Know About Annuities?” very few topics in the world of personal finance generate as much heat as annuities do.  If you listen to the personal finance experts on TV, annuities are the very devil.  If you listen to many financial advisors and insurance salesman, they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. 

Very few topics in the world of personal finance generate as much heat as annuities do.  If you listen to the personal finance experts on TV, annuities are the very devil.  If you listen to many financial advisors and insurance salesman, they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. 

What are you supposed to do when you turn age 65, or perhaps even age 62?  You’re supposed to retire.  Age 62 is the magical age where you can collect early Social Security benefits.  Age 65 used to be the age when you could collect full retirement benefits, although for those retiring now, it’s age 66.   I’ll admit that getting money from

104 years ago today, the Titanic sank.  I was reading a fascinating story this morning in Our Daily Bread about one of the passengers who died in that tragedy.  He was a journalist named W. T.

Last post, I gave two reasons why the stock market would start rising again.  This week, I’m going to give you my favorite two reasons why the stock market rout isn’t over yet.    

Again, I’m not doing this to predict.  I’m only doing this to demonstrate how you can get the stats to say anything you want them to say. 

Let’s get something straight right away.  My title is deceiving.  I don’t know what the stock market is going to do next.  Neither does anyone else, although there are plenty of people who will try to persuade you otherwise.  Predicting the Super Bowl winner is a lot easier—and most people lost that bet last Sunday. 

85%.  That is the probability that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates after their meeting next Tuesday and Wednesday, according to futures market.  In case you’re wondering, the futures market is rarely wrong one week out.  So what does this mean for you?

On August 11, 2014, I was shocked to hear that actor Robin Williams committed suicide.  Annie and I love watching comedies, and Robin was always one of our favorites.  For some reason, I just assumed that a funny guy like Robin Williams