-
Like Emerging Markets? Look To Luxury Consumers
Tweet Share on Facebook April 18, 2013 CommentIf you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times—if you are long-term investor, you want to be in the emerging markets, particularly Asia. The projected population growth in developing countries is roughly three times that of the developed world. Their middle classes are exploding. And their collective GDP already is half that of the world and growing. But maybe you just can’t shake those visions of currency meltdowns or political dictatorships.
-
4 Tips for Choosing the Right ETFs for You
Tweet Share on Facebook April 17, 2013 CommentIn recent years, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become increasingly popular. ETFs combine many of the traits that investors like in index funds with the ease of trading on the stock market. Choosing the right ETFs for your portfolio can provide you with solid returns—and keep your costs low.
-
Retirement Saving Tips for Couples
Tweet Share on Facebook April 16, 2013 CommentThe retirement investing options open to married couples vary widely, from individual retirement accounts to employer-sponsored plans. Deciding which retirement investing vehicles are most appropriate for you as a couple is a personal choice and should be a big part of your financial planning picture.
-
Should You Sell in May and Go Away?
Tweet Share on Facebook April 15, 2013 CommentWhen it comes to the month of May, there is a trading strategy that puts investors into one of two opposing camps. The first group looks at the stock market in May and is reminded of the traditional festivities associated with May Day: singing, dancing, decorating maypoles and celebrating spring’s arrival. In other words, everything is rosy so there’s no need to change course from an investment perspective. For the second group of investors it’s the exact opposite. For them it’s more like, “Mayday! Mayday! The market is about to plummet! Get out while you can!” The latter group subscribes to the “sell in May and go away” adage, which suggests that a portfolio will have a higher return by avoiding the stock market between May and November than if it was invested for the entire calendar year.
-
Is Insurance An Option If IRA's Are Capped?
Tweet Share on Facebook April 12, 2013 CommentAn recent article in Investment News, an industry publication, looks at a the current proposal to cap the value of IRA accounts at $3 million, and how the possibility of such a rule could be a potential boon for life insurance as an alternative to IRA accounts. It’s an interesting angle.
-
At Tax Time, Check Your 401(k) Fees
Tweet Share on Facebook April 9, 2013 CommentAs April 15 approaches, people become preoccupied with budgeting and finances. Tax time brings out the financial worrywart in all of us.
-
Holding Out for Dividends? Don't
Tweet Share on Facebook April 5, 2013 CommentLooking for dividends is a lot like picking stocks, and Fidelity's Peter Lynch's know-what-you-own rule applies to finding companies with good payouts.
The name Peter Lynch elicits fond memories in the minds of investors throughout the last 30 years. If you aren’t familiar, or like me, weren’t old enough to remember him in his hay-day, Peter Lynch was the fund manager of Fidelity’s Magellan Fund from 1977 to his retirement in 1990. In several of his well-known books, Lynch attributed his success as a portfolio manager to eight fundamental principles:
-
Get Your IRA In Shape By Tax Time
Tweet Share on Facebook April 3, 2013 CommentWith tax season upon us, this seems like a good time to review the IRA as a potential retirement savings vehicle, since you still have a few days to make 2012 contributions.
-
What's Your Risk Tolerance?
Tweet Share on Facebook April 2, 2013 CommentSelf-knowledge is one of the best tools you have when you invest. Understanding yourself can help you build a portfolio that works for you, and it can keep you from acting impulsively in a way that damages your long-term returns.
-
Defining Your Investment Risks
Tweet Share on Facebook April 1, 2013 CommentThe term “risk management” is a bit like the term “happiness”—everyone wants it, but few can define what it really means.
