Ask anyone who knows about financial planning and they'll probably tell you investing is a major part of the blueprint for success. If you want to buy a house, retire early, or just retire in comfort, careful investing can get...
Everyone knows life insurance pays out to your loved ones when you die, so they can keep on living. But did you know there are other reasons, too, for buying life insurance? Here are a few of them. 1. Life...
Financial advisors typically earn an income by charging fees or by earning commissions on the investments they sell. There are several income-generating combinations a financial advisor can choose from to earn his or her living: commission-based fee-based (fees plus commissions)...
When your days are already jam-packed with work, school, family or errands, who has time for examining personal finances to look for ways to tighten up money leaks? But if you think of the potential payoff later on down the...
There's nothing more reassuring than money in the bank. Knowing you have a pile of cash standing by to see you through emergencies helps you breathe a little easier, and of course it makes good financial sense, too. While general...
There’s an uptick in how many of us are choosing to get help with managing our finances. In fact, in the ten years between 2002 and 2012, the amount of money being managed by registered financial advisors more than doubled.¹ ...
The recent popularity of so-called "robo advisors" has left people wondering: how are they different from your average financial planner – you know, a human? Robo advisors and financial planners have some things in common. Both exist to help customers...
The alphabet soup worth of titles in the financial industry weaves a pretty compelling story about financial professionals and the industry at large. Over the last several years, story has gotten longer. There are more financial certifications than there ever...
Fiduciaries have taken an oath of professional standards designed to protect consumers. What exactly does that mean for you? Over the years, people have come to feel wary of brokers. They always seem to be peddling some stock or another...
Understanding Your 401(k) Being smart about investing can befuddle even the most financially savvy among us. But when it comes to understanding your 401(k), there seems to be a special confusion, reserved just for this particular type of retirement investment. Let's see...
With so many financial professionals competing for your business, deciding on the right one can seem impossible. Here are 5 things you should look for to pick the right financial advisor for your needs right now. Your personal finances are...
When it comes to saving for the future, Americans are lagging way behind. The median amount of retirement savings for working-age families in the U.S., those ages 32 to 61, is just $5,000. About a third, or 35%, of all...
To lower the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and financial fraud after the data breach at Equifax, Americans should place a security "freeze" on their credit reports and delete any suspicious emails that could dupe them into...
Your home can't take the place of a retirement or college savings plan. Expecting it to do so will have horrible results. Buying a house is widely considered to be one of the best investments you can make. If you...
In 2007, the federal government created a program that would forgive student loans for people who worked in public service jobs for at least 10 years. Now, the first participants in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) can start...
