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Retirement Investing

Bob Carlson offers his expert opinion on where to invest your money so that you can get through retirement safely and securely

Found 896 Articles.
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The Economy Keeps Fighting the Fed, and Winning

December 11, 2023

The economy is growing at a solid rate despite the fastest tightening of monetary policy in 40 years. Don’t expect the growth rate to continue. At almost any other time, the rapid tightening of monetary policy the Federal Reserve engineered in 2022 and 2023 would have triggered a serious recession or, at a minimum, stalled […]

The End Game, The Lags, The Gap, The Fade and More: Investment and Economic Review

December 1, 2023

Is the Federal Reserve finished raising interest rates? Is it about to cut interest rates? Will the economy avoid a recession while inflation declines to the Fed’s target? In other words, are we about to live through the Goldilocks scenario? I address these questions and more in this month’s Retirement Watch Spotlight Series, my semiannual […]

Investors Realize the Fed Changed the Playbook

October 31, 2023

Investors finally are realizing the Federal Reserve changed its playbook. That’s why market interest rates rose in recent months even as Fed officials indicated the end of the tightening cycle was approaching. When the hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM) failed 25 years ago, it roiled the financial markets and Fed officials worried the effects […]

How The Bond Market Surprised Investors

September 29, 2023

The bond market caught investors unaware over the summer, and there’s probably more of that to come. Investors believed interest rates bottomed last November. Futures markets forecast that through 2023, the Federal Reserve would ease monetary policy, and interest rates would decline rapidly. Even as inflation remained above expectations and the Fed tightened policy, investors […]

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Six Financial Surprises So Far in 2023

September 8, 2023

As often happens, 2023 has been filled with economic and financial surprises. Commodity prices have been unexpectedly weak for a couple of primary reasons. Economic growth in China lagged, which I’ll discuss shortly, reducing demand for commodities. Also, the war in Ukraine didn’t disrupt supplies as much as expected. Governments around the world and major […]

Retirement Income Strategies: Avoid Widespread Mistakes and Solve the Key Retirement Problem

September 8, 2023

The key retirement issue is how to turn your savings into cash flow and income. You have to establish a retirement paycheck. Many retirees and pre-retirees know the importance of the issue and want solutions. They’re very worried. In a recent survey, 23% of pre-retirees said the problem is “terrifying” and another 57% said it […]

Markets Fight the Fed

August 17, 2023

The markets are fighting the Federal Re- serve, making the Fed’s job harder and increasing uncertainty about the economy and markets. Fed officials openly stated they’re serious about controlling inflation, and backed the words with action, rapidly raising interest rates and reducing the Fed’s balance sheet. The more actions the Fed took, the more optimistic […]

Social Security Benefits for Divorced Spouses

August 17, 2023

There’s no such thing as “divorce benefits” in the Social Security law, but divorced spouses are eligible to receive benefits based on an ex-spouse’s earnings record. Spousal benefits are often available to ex-spouses and on fairly liberal terms. Divorced spouses sometimes have better options and more flexibility than current spouses. But a small difference in […]

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