Looking for an investing edge? Try lowering your costs. Beat the stock market professionals at their own game through low cost ETF investing. Despite the cold weather and frigid water temperatures, jump in and join the investing wave. Adopt a low cost ETF investing approach and you may improve your returns and your personal bottom line. For more on Investing on a Shoe String with Low Cost ... Read More
stocks
Deferring Retirement to Salvage 401(k)
Ask the Boston Money Coach Question: Will working longer and deferring retirement allow me to have more money for when I finally retire? I'm 54 now and was originally planning on retiring at 65. My 401K took quite a hit a few years ago and now I'm wondering if I should be postponing my retirement. Financial Planning Response from Boston Money Coach Steve Stanganelli: Time heals all wounds ... Read More
Cashing Out ESOP Stock
Question for Boston Money Coach: Can I cash out my company ESOP? Bob from Portland Response from Boston Money Coach Steve Stanganelli: Thanks, Bob, for your question. First, let's take a step back and review the basics. In the alphabet soup of finance, an ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan. To be clear, this has nothing to do with stock options - those are an entirely ... Read More
Should Investors Worry? Low Stock Dividend Yields and The Future of Stock Prices
A key component of a diversified income-oriented portfolio is dividends. This is what I have noted in the past during my presentations, blogs and online musings. They are a key part of a solid retirement income strategy. The total return from stocks is derived from two key components: price appreciation and the cash flow from dividends. Most investors are certainly familiar with the concept of ... Read More
Ask the Adviser: Why Should I Rollover My 401k From My Old Job?
There are many valid reasons to consider a 401k rollover. Costs While it may not seem like it, you are paying for your funds to stay with your old employer’s sponsored plan. You just don’t see it. Fees for employer plans are not very transparent. While you may not see an actual bill, your employer is probably paying for the administration of the plan through hidden fees assessed on the ... Read More
Watership Down, Thanksgiving Turkey, Retirement, Risk and Modern Finance
What could possibly link the children's story of Watership Down, Thanksgiving turkey and retirement investing risks? Well, my mind works in strange ways (just ask my wife and I'm sure my 15-month old Spencer agrees as well). Buy and Hold - A Broken Promise? After all the troubles in the stock market and in financial markets in general over the past couple of years, I was recently rereading an ... Read More
Ask the Adviser: What are the biggest issues new retirees tend to underestimate?
It's easy to get tripped up in retirement. I'm reminded of the expression by the octogenarian to the recent newlywed fretting about life but rejecting out of hand the advice of his experienced senior: A long time ago I was where you are now. And later you'll be where I am now. But just as you haven't been your age before, I've never been old before. So for new retirees who "not been there or ... Read More
Inflation and the Rising Tide: Protecting Your Assets
For individuals in retirement living on a fixed income, it can devastate one’s savings and lifestyle. As a bond or CD-holder, the purchasing power of regular interest income gets hit. As a stock investor, stock prices can suffer as profit margins and earnings of your equity holdings are hurt by the higher costs for inputs like energy, precious metals and labor. Right now, Wall Street is in a ... Read More
