We often refer to bonds as the relatively safer side of portfolios. We use bonds in portfolios for many reasons, including reducing volatility (bonds typically do not have the same volatility as stocks), providing income (bonds typically provide more interest income than the dividends provided by equities), and as a reservoir for cash (it is relatively simple to sell short-term bond funds to satisfy both short-term and unexpected cash needs).
As America’s population ages, we’ll likely see more articles about aging in place. Aging in place should be viewed as a dynamic concept, potentially entailing multiple modifications to allow for safe living as physical abilities change.
A collection of good planning and investment points we thought worth passing along...
Cognitive loss in seniors is a very sensitive topic. Not only is it sensitive to discuss with a senior, but it’s even more sensitive for seniors to discuss amongst themselves. Thus, a New York Times article titled “Alzheimer’s Takes a Financial Toll Long Before Diagnosis, Study Finds” was especially eye-catching.
I’m diligent about reading credit card bills. Once per month, I’ll review the statement and confirm the charges. While checking credit card bills seems obvious, when was the last time you looked at your phone bill? Or your cable bill? How about your monthly subscriptions?
Many baby boomers plan on leaving a lot of money to their children. On the other hand, many millennials will receive a lot less than they think when their baby boomer parents die. It sounds like we have a communication problem.
The latest flavor of New Normal is the Magnificent Seven stocks: Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Tesla. The performance of just seven companies has dominated headlines, driven U.S. stock market returns in recent months, and left investors wondering, “Should I be investing in the Magnificent Seven? Is this a New Normal?”
Daniel Kahneman died on March 27th. Professor Kahneman was a “pioneer of what became known as behavioral economics.” If you’ve never heard of him, you may be surprised to learn the portfolio you own was partially inspired by his research and writings.
Stephen Kreider Yoder and his wife, Karen Kreider Yoder, write a very enlightening column for the Wall Street Journal titled Retirement Rookies. On a recent biking trip through Kansas, they had a near-death experience that made them wonder - do we need a Plan B?
If you or a family member have never been the victim of credit card fraud, pat yourself on the back. But don’t get too confident; your day is probably coming. Kiplinger’s cites an industry survey that says 65% of debit and credit card holders have had at least one fraudulent charge on their account. To say credit card fraud is rampant is an understatement.