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5 Reasons to Consider Hiring a Financial Adviser
Tweet Share on Facebook February 29, 2012 CommentSo far in 2012, I have experienced an increase in the number of inquiries about my services as compared to the past several years through the end of February. Several of my adviser colleagues have had similar experiences. Here are 5 reasons you might consider hiring a financial adviser.
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In Retirement Planning, Knowledge Trumps Confidence
Tweet Share on Facebook February 28, 2012 Comment (1)In my industry, we do a lot of measuring.
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Making the Most of Earnings Season
Tweet Share on Facebook February 24, 2012 CommentEarnings season is when analysts generally start to increase earnings expectations, as a majority of companies tend to beat consensus estimates. As dangerous as it is to say “this time it’s different,” I am going to say it: “This time it’s different.”
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Equity-Indexed Annuities: The Magic Bullet?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 22, 2012 Comment (12)Let’s be clear, while I’m not a fan of these products, I’m not dismissing them either. My major beef with Equity-Indexed Annuities (EIAs) and related products with similar names is the way they are sold. This often involves preying on the fears of investors as a major theme.
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Investing: Tuning Out the Insanity
Tweet Share on Facebook February 22, 2012 Comment (2)Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I don’t know about you, but I think Einstein was a pretty smart guy. While Santayana was no Einstein, he was probably best known for a quote that is complementary to Einstein’s definition of insanity. As he put it, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
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Saving for a Comfortable Retirement
Tweet Share on Facebook February 21, 2012 CommentIn a recent column, I asked you to complete a retirement checklist to create a big-picture strategy. The next step is determining your needs. You may find that your needs and your actual savings don’t come together in a nice package. In that case, knowing there is a gap will help you better prepare.
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Annuities in 401(k) Plans: 5 Concerns
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2012 Comment (3)Recently, the Treasury Department announced regulations meant to increase the prominence of annuities in retirement plans.
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Retirement Contributions: Roth Versus Traditional
Tweet Share on Facebook February 14, 2012 Comment (1)If you’re caught in a no-man’s land somewhere between Roth and traditional contributions trying to figure out whether to pay taxes now or later, you’re not alone.
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Is It Time to Sell Your Stocks and Run For Cover?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 10, 2012 Comment (3)When it comes to investing, it’s hard to know who to follow these days. Since September 2009, the Vanguard Total Stock Market index fund (VTSMX) is up 33.4 percent. The Dow is approaching 12,900, reaching a post-crash high while so much of the debt crisis remains unresolved in Europe as well as here at home. China’s economy is slowing, and signs of inflation may speak of an overheating for emerging markets. And then there are the prognosticators calling for calamity.
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Turns Out This Recovery May Be For Real
Tweet Share on Facebook February 9, 2012 CommentWe’ve had 18 straight weeks of good economic news, and the news from last week was very impressive. Unemployment is down from 8.5 percent to 8.3 percent, non-farm payrolls surged to 243,000 vs. an expected 140,000, vehicle production is up, and consumer confidence is on the rise.
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