Women Need to Take Charge of Their Money
Why do so many of us delegate financial responsibilities to others? Many women are in charge of their financial lives, and proudly so. Some have become their own financial captains as a result of life events; others have always steered their own ships. Even so, there are too many women who are left out of financial decision making – some by their own choice. That may be a mistake. Allowing a spouse or partner to handle financial affairs may predispose a woman to a lack of mon
Weekly Economic Update for February 26, 2018
WEEKLY QUOTE “True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.” - Socrates FEWER HOMES ARE SELLING Demand is high, prices are high, and inventory is slim. In view of these factors, the 4.8% year-over-year fall for existing home sales just reported by the National Association of Realtors is not surprising. It represents the largest annual decline seen since August 2014. Other January NAR data showed home buying down 3.2% from December levels and a median sale price of $
The Amazing History of Annuities (Infographic)
From ancient Rome to the Civil War, this financial tool has a long and interesting story. Learn where annuities came from and how they’ve evolved to meet today's changing retirement income needs.
Weekly Economic Update for February 19, 2018
WEEKLY QUOTE “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” - Mark Twain INFLATION SUDDENLY INTENSIFIES The Consumer Price Index rose 0.5% in January, its greatest month-over-month advance since January 2017. Core inflation (minus food and energy prices) increased 0.3%, marking the largest monthly gain in almost 13 years.1 RETAIL SALES PACE SLOWS Contradicting perceptions that the economy might be overheating, retail purchases fell 0.3% in January. Mi
Cybercurrencies: A Risky Choice in 2018
This year, we have seen the downside of bitcoin & other altcoins. Bitcoin. Ethereum. Litecoin. Ripple. Ether. As 2017 ended, the prices of these cybercurrencies were soaring. In early 2018, they have plummeted. Opportunistic investors have been left to wonder: Are these digital currencies really the next big thing, or the scariest investment around? The answer to that question may vary per day, week, month, or year. These altcoins are classified as commodities, not currencies
Weekly Economic Update for February 12, 2018
WEEKLY QUOTE “Understanding human needs is half the job of meeting them.” - Adlai Stevenson WALL STREET SEES ITS FIRST CORRECTION SINCE 2016 On Friday, the S&P 500 settled at 2,619.55, down 5.16% for the week. Thursday, it entered correction territory just nine days after its January 26 record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average made even bigger headlines last week by taking two 1,000-point drops within four days, the second occurring Thursday.1,2 Last Monday, U.S. equiti
How To Manage Student Loan Debt
A review of some options for federal and private loans. Are you dealing with student loan debt? Have you explored ways to try and restructure it or have it forgiven? No one wants to carry five figures of education debt into middle age or retirement, but some do. The burden is not just financial. Last fall, the Madison Capital Times asked student loan borrowers in the state of Wisconsin how they felt about their education debt. Sixteen percent said they were “terrified” of it,
Weekly Economic Update for February 5, 2018
WEEKLY QUOTE “There are no speed limits on the road to excellence.” - David W. Johnson WAGE GROWTH PICKS UP AT LAST In January, average hourly pay was 2.9% higher than it was a year earlier. That was the key takeaway from the Department of Labor’s latest jobs report, which noted the addition of 200,000 net new workers last month. In January, the headline unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%; the broader U-6 rate, which counts the underemployed, ticked up to 8.2%.1 ISM: FACTORY SE
