Do You Need Some Financial Flossing?

October 31, 2014

Recently I was talking with one of my coworkers and I said the following about something at work “It’s like flossing…I know I need to do it, and I do, but I try to find ways to postpone it as long as possible!” He thought it sounded like a blog topic about the financial lives of so many people, so here we are! What are some things that we KNOW we need to do financially, but they are so “not fun” that we either don’t do them or we keep putting them off indefinitely? Continue reading “Do You Need Some Financial Flossing?”

How to Invest: A Tale of Two Investment Theories

August 06, 2014

My first exposure to investment theories was during an economics class I took in college. I was always sort of a geek when it came to graphs and numbers—which I guess explains my degree in statistics—so I was captivated when the professor drew an example of the efficient frontier on the chalk board. It made perfect sense to me. Continue reading “How to Invest: A Tale of Two Investment Theories”

Online Investment Platforms: Wave of the Future or a Passing Fad?

July 07, 2014

Last week, we looked at how the asset allocation process doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task and that a variety of options exist to create a diversified portfolio.  As we continue to examine different ways to create an investment plan that matches your life goals, it is important to understand where you can turn to for asset allocation guidance.  After all, financial literacy research studies demonstrate that most people do not have the financial knowledge and confidence to manage their own investments. Continue reading “Online Investment Platforms: Wave of the Future or a Passing Fad?”

Are You Choosing the Right Investments in Your 401(k) Plan?

June 30, 2014

It can be hard to figure out if the investment selections within your retirement plan investments are a good fit for your personal goals. The concept of diversification is usually represented by the phrase “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” It makes perfect sense but how do you know which baskets are the best fit and how much do you put in each basket?  Continue reading “Are You Choosing the Right Investments in Your 401(k) Plan?”

Those Were the Days

June 17, 2014

1979 – Happy Days was a popular TV show, disco clothes were in, and a top tune was Y.M.C.A. by the Village People. My husband recently relived all these memories at his 35th high school reunion for the Class of ’79.  I got dragged along, but at least the classic rock and disco tunes were fun to listen to.  Continue reading “Those Were the Days”

Lessons from the World Cup About Diversification

June 16, 2014

The 2014 World Cup started with a bang on Thursday with the host nation Brazil beating Croatia in a somewhat less than convincing fashion.  National pride and hope is growing in the host nation of Brazil and across the globe with 32 nations vying for the World Cup trophy.  Like many American soccer fans, I’ve enjoyed watching other countries play the past few days… but now the real fun, stress, and patriotism begins.  The United States takes on Ghana today.  Continue reading “Lessons from the World Cup About Diversification”

The Risk of Not Taking Risk

April 17, 2014

Back in college in the late 90’s, I learned a valuable lesson about managing risk when I got caught up investing in the dot com bubble. It was so easy to put up two thousand dollars and see it double or triple overnight. But the bubble burst a few years later and I was left with less money in my account than when I started. I cashed out of day trading, fortunately realizing before I had lost too much that this was not a viable long term strategy. Continue reading “The Risk of Not Taking Risk”

What’s All the Fuss About Bonds Being a Lousy Investment?

March 07, 2014

Every time I’ve talked with someone about their investment portfolio recently, the subject of owning bonds or bond funds has inevitably come up.  Most of the time, the conversations about the fixed income (bond) portion of their accounts has been less than hopeful. And the cynicism/pessimism hasn’t been coming from me… Continue reading “What’s All the Fuss About Bonds Being a Lousy Investment?”

The 5 Things That Really Matter When It Comes to Investing

January 23, 2014

One of the most common questions I get asked is how to divide your money between different types of investments. You’ve probably heard that 90% of investment returns can be explained by your asset allocation or how you divide your money between stocks, bonds, and cash.  The problem is that asset allocation guidelines can vary dramatically based on where you look. So how do you decide? Continue reading “The 5 Things That Really Matter When It Comes to Investing”

Some Things to Think About In the New Year

January 10, 2014

As I was surfing the Internet during a snowstorm, I read an article about a plane that skidded off a runway. There was also a plane that landed on a highway in New York recently. Fortunately, there was no one seriously hurt in either incident but as someone who flies a lot for business, seeing these stories always gives me a moment of pause…as does thinking about the loss of friends along the way, at ages that were far too young. Continue reading “Some Things to Think About In the New Year”

Understand the Facts About Target-Date Funds

December 02, 2013

During a recent series of retirement workshops geared toward early and mid-career employees, I received numerous questions regarding the role of target date funds in their 401(k).  This brought up an interesting discussion about hands-on vs. hands-off investing options. Target-date funds are supposed to provide simple solutions for people seeking an all-in-one fund that is diversified.  Yet, a tremendous amount of confusion surrounds these seemingly basic asset allocation tools.  Furthermore, not all target date funds are created equal so it’s essential to first look under the hood if target date funds are a part of your investment plan for retirement. Continue reading “Understand the Facts About Target-Date Funds”

Is the Stock Market Too High to Invest?

May 23, 2013

Usually when I talk about investment mistakes, I refer to what is known as the “greed, hope, and fear” cycle. This is the well-known tendency of investors to invest more aggressively when the stock market is doing well, hope it will come back when the market begins its inevitable downturn, and then eventually sell near the bottom out of sell fear. Investors are then typically reluctant to get back in until things “settle down,” which means when the market has gone up for an extended period of time and is possibly nearing another high point. This causes investors to buy high and sell low, the opposite of what you want to do.   Continue reading “Is the Stock Market Too High to Invest?”

Can This Retirement Be Saved? Case Study Age 40

December 17, 2012

When I was a kid, I used to love to read the Redbook magazines my mother had lying around the house.  My favorite column was “Can this marriage be saved?” since it gave the wife’s point of view, the husband’s point of view and then finally the therapist’s point of view of the marriage and what could be done to improve it.  I realize I am like that therapist now but for finances.  Continue reading “Can This Retirement Be Saved? Case Study Age 40”

Why You May Be Wrong About Your Retirement Time Horizon

November 15, 2012

I recently received a question from someone who was using our risk tolerance profile and asset allocation worksheet and noticed that the worksheet’s guidelines were to have 0% in stocks since his time horizon was less than 5 years away while his target date retirement fund had 40% in stocks. While there are differences between the asset allocations of various models and target date funds, that gap was pretty stark. So who was right? Continue reading “Why You May Be Wrong About Your Retirement Time Horizon”

What to Do With $100,000 in Today’s Economy

October 29, 2012

I actually get this question quite a bit on our financial helpline and in our worksite financial planning sessions, not so much that someone got an inheritance (though I did get that last week), but many people simply want to know how they should allocate their assets in their own 401(k).  The question doesn’t have a quick and easy answer and answering involves asking a series of questions first because investing starts with you – the investor. Obviously, an aggressive investor is going to have a very different investment mix than a conservative investor.  A fifty year old may have a very different investment mix than a twenty year old no matter what the current economic outlook.  Here are some questions I always start with: Continue reading “What to Do With $100,000 in Today’s Economy”

6 Tips for Making the Best 401(k) Investment Choices

July 18, 2012

Investing for retirement can be an intimidating undertaking. Setting aside money in your 401(k) plan is difficult enough, but determining how to invest it presents its own set of challenges. The good news is that you don’t need to be a seasoned, savvy investor in order to make the right choices. In fact, once you determine your risk tolerance and know what to look for in a fund, picking the right one is largely a process of elimination. Continue reading “6 Tips for Making the Best 401(k) Investment Choices”

Do Employees Need (or Even Want) Help with Asset Allocation Decisions?

November 22, 2011

When it comes to investment planning, sometimes it pays to get a little help (or at least a second opinion).  But what are the best options for providing guidance to employees and how does online advice fit into the mix?  Retirement plan participants have a variety of options available when seeking help regarding their investment selections.  Professionally managed accounts, target-date mutual funds, online advice, and the use of financial advisors outside the retirement plan are some of the most common sources of investment guidance employees typically utilize.  While these tools are proven to be effective, there is still a need to increase usage rates in order to improve the confidence employees feel relating to the way their investments are allocated. Continue reading “Do Employees Need (or Even Want) Help with Asset Allocation Decisions?”

You Have HOW MUCH of Your 401(k) in Company Stock?

August 23, 2011

With the recent roller coaster ride of the stock market, many employees have taken a closer look at their asset allocation within their retirement plans, and to the surprise of many, they find their investment strategy is way off base. Continue reading “You Have HOW MUCH of Your 401(k) in Company Stock?”