Did you know there is an index that measures anticipated volatility in the stock market? Well, now you do. The CBOE Market Volatility Index (VIX) commonly referred to as the “fear index” has been around since the 1990’s with the purpose of tracking investors’ sentiment towards market fluctuations. Said another way, this index is a live feed […]
By Walter Green, Founder of the Say It Now Movement How many times have we heard the phrase, “Before it’s too late?” Yet, we neglect to take action until it really is too late to go back in time and change our decision. One might call this phenomenon a definition of regret. For many, regret appears unexpectedly[…..]
We’re all reading headlines telling us that the US stock market has reached all-time highs, something that never happened in 2023 despite the US stock market returning nearly 24% for the year (the S&P 500 index of US stocks was up 23.79%).[1] Many investors who have a worrisome mindset may think these record highs mean that there’s[…..]
Needless to say, we are passionate about women’s wealth and holistic wellbeing. I recently came across several studies and articles about the differences between women and men’s wealth in recent years and the results are worth sharing. What a better way to kick off the year than seeing women reshaping their future! Women are amassing greater wealth[…..]
You have spent years planning your nest egg for retirement, but have you thought about preparing your nest too? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 79% of falls occur in the home, and almost 30% of adults over the age of 65 reported falling at least once in the last 12 months. Whether[…..]
Most of the investing world gets a bit weird around the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings, which is where the nation’s central bank announces its latest interest rate policy. The announcement concerns the overnight borrowing rate for banks that need short-term financing if they run (temporarily) short on liquidity. The idea is that if the Fed[…..]
Understanding the difference between above the line and below the line deductions. I am often asked during year-end tax planning why it is better to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from an IRA as opposed to simply writing a check to charity from a bank account. On its surface, this is a question about[…..]
It’s surprising that this isn’t getting more attention in the press, but the U.S. Commerce Department has reported that the American economy grew by a remarkable 5.2% annualized pace in this year’s third quarter. Corporate profits were up 4.3% for the quarter, following a somewhat anemic 0.8% gain in the second quarter. Consumer spending rose 3.6%, and[…..]
After three years, the TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab merger is officially complete! Along the way there have been account number changes, new logins to create, lots of mail and emails received, and new processes to navigate. With all the accounts now held at Schwab, there are still some questions fresh in everyone’s minds. Let’s highlight some[…..]
If ever there was a time when we would expect “Mr. Market” to suddenly decide that stocks are overvalued and cause a bearish plunge in stock prices, it would be now. The Middle East is in turmoil and seems to be on the brink of a wider war between Israel and its Muslim-led neighbors. The U.S. government[…..]