Retirement Watch Weekly
FINRA Senior Helpline Marks 2nd Anniversary
Over $4.3 million in voluntary reimbursements have been made to seniors thanks to calls to Financial Regulatory Authority (FINRA) senior helpline, FINRA announced on the second anniversary of the helpline. As we discussed in Retirement Watch in the past, anyone can call the helpline to alert FINRA to fraud or abuse against senior citizens. The […]
David Rockefeller’s Will and the Benefits of Avoiding Probate
Wills are public documents. They’re filed in a local probate court and available for anyone to view. That’s why many wealthy people hold the bulk of their assets through trusts that avoid probate. David Rockefeller, the last remaining grandson of John D. Rockefeller, died recently. A large part of his wealth was held through family […]
Seniors and Scams
New research from Cornell University indicates why some seniors are scam victims. The study found that victims and non-victims have many similar traits. Their personalities are normal and they can do arithmetic just fine. But the study found that their brains are different, with the scam victims showing atrophy in certain parts of the brain. […]
The Next Financial Danger Point?
Are subprime auto loans the next shoe to drop in the economy? Auto loans have been getting a lot of attention. In a recent issue of Barron’s, two unrelated articles discussed auto loans as a potential source of worry for the economy and regulators. Since the financial crisis, auto loans have been one of the […]
Hidden Costs of ETFs
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are charging dirt cheap fees in many cases. But many ETF owners don’t buy and hold them. ETFs are used for trading by a lot of investors. This article points out that the trading leads to a lot of costs, both hidden and visible. Inefficiencies in the system result in mispriced ETFs, […]
Working After Age 65
Surveys over the last 10 years or so, and labor force data, say that today’s 50 and older crowd want to work longer than the previous generation. This article discusses some recent surveys about those who work past age 65, especially those who change jobs and careers to do so. It also offers tips to […]
A TIPS Update
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) have been around for 20 years now. How have they done as an investment? Morningstar.com reviews their performance, the expectations, and when TIPS might be good for a portfolio. The introduction of TIPS brought with it a market-determined observable real rate of interest, which is what the yield on a TIPS […]
Planning for Tomorrow’s Problems
How should portfolios be positioned for the long-term risks and worries in the economy? That’s the key question facing many investors today, and how you answer it matters a lot to your long-term financial independence. I don’t have to give you details about the risks and problems in the global economy. There are plenty of […]
