Coauthor: Michael Harrington The drums of a trade war with China are echoing. Canada is miffed, with some of our neighbors to the north talking a boycott of U.S. goods. The European Union is looking to replace us with Australia as a trade partner. Markets are turbulent: the Dow’s 2018 gains have vanished, and the Read more
Mood Swings: Volatility and the Market
The new normal on Wall Street appears to be wild fluctuations, like the Dow Jones Industrial Average 1000-point drops earlier this year and the rapid-fire price reversals that can shift the mood from optimism to pessimism in a matter of seconds. There have already been 28 trading days in 2018 on which the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index Read more
How Long to Keep Important Financial Papers
It is easy to get into the habit of keeping every financial or investment document forever, just in case you may need it. But if your New Year’s resolution is to get your financial house in order, the following suggestions about how long to keep financial and investment documents may be helpful to you. Keep Read more
Why You Need a Will
Having a will is very important. Not only does it protect your spouse, children and assets but it allows you some opportunity to dictate how your assets are handled from the grave. A will is a legally binding document that allows you to guide how your estate/assets will be distributed upon your death. If you Read more
Stock Market Indices Explained
A stock index-or stock market index-which measures the value of a section of the stock market is computed from the prices of selected stocks (typically a weighted average). Investors and financial managers use stock indices to describe the market, and to compare the relative return on specific investments. Some indices are designed to indicate the broad performance of the Read more
Personal Finance Tips for College Graduates
Graduation is a time for new adventures and new financial responsibilities. It is about transitioning from student life to the workforce and from focusing on education to focusing on a career. When starting out, it is important to have a firm foundation in the basics, from budgeting to saving to staying on top of debt. Read more