Does the massive run-up in stocks have you concerned? It’s OK to nod your head. The fact is that many people are worried as we head into the 2021 holiday season. The MSCI ACWI index, which measures the global equity market, has almost doubled since March 2020 (Exhibit 1). This has some investors (and TV pundits) exclaiming that the stocks are officially in a bubble. Fear-mongers often look at trailing returns in isolation — then
Financial security in retirement is an important target for most working-age adults. There are many ways to reach that goal. An employer-sponsored retirement plan often comes in the form of a defined contribution plan, where employees contribute pre-tax or Roth dollars from their paycheck to a retirement account and select the investment optionsto help grow the balance. Many employers offer to match a certain level of contributions to encourage participation in the plan (and to
Social Security Considerations Have you elected Social Security benefits? Although some Americans pay zero tax on Social Security benefits, many are subject to income tax on a portion of benefits, with a maximum of up to 85% of benefits paid. If you receive other sources of income (such as wages, interest, dividends, IRA distributions, and pensions), you may be surprised to find out your total income can result in a higher portion of Social Security
AARP conducted surveys in an effort to understand just how much 401(k) participants knew about the fees associated with their retirement plans. The results were alarming and showed a wide discrepancy between savers’ expectations and the reality of their 401(k) plan costs. Do 401(k) retirement plans charge fees? The first survey found that 71% of participants believed they didn’t pay any 401(k) fees at all. Another 6% said they didn’t know if they paid fees
Frank and Fiona Eff are a bright couple who saved diligently for their retirement years throughout their adult lives. Each is 50 years old, their children have been raised and launched, and each loves their respective job at ABC Corporation. Frank and Fiona enjoy the challenges and connections of their work so much that they plan to stay at their careers another fifteen years before enjoying a retirement filled with family, travel, and giving back
These last weeks, we’ve had more than our usual share of time to ourselves. There’s a lot happening in the world right now – and not a lot for us to do. This combination of an unsettled world plus leisure time can be a recipe for disaster. The extra thinking time may lead us to come up with new entries to add to our “worry wall.” Perhaps your retirement plan has made that list. With
