Retirement Income

It's not often that UK stocks are singled out as a "favorite geopolitical hedge," as Citigroup Inc. strategists boldly stated last week. So perhaps the elegant stance would be to simply take the rare praise when it's so kindly offered.

Why are we still making high-stakes economic policy based on lagging surveys and statistical approximations? The answer lies in a system that hasn't kept pace with modern realities.

While private equity can deliver attractive entry points — particularly in dislocated markets — success hinges on investing with established, top-tier managers and maintaining deliberate vintage diversification.

One serious risk to financial wellbeing in retirement that is difficult to talk about is financial exploitation. Someone whose cognitive abilities are declining is vulnerable to harm from both financial predators and their own financial misjudgments.

The yield curve for U.S. government bonds is currently very unusual — it’s U-shaped. In addition to the changes in shape, also note the level of interest rates.

Here are some brilliantly simple lessons for us all that I learned from Warren Buffett.

While the bond market is in general pretty efficient in its pricing, there may be times when it can be significantly out of line with investor expectations. At such moments, investors should be well-rewarded for making the effort to decode what the bond market is saying.

529 plans are a popular choice among families looking to save for college due to their flexibility and tax benefits. However, each family’s educational journey and associated costs can vary significantly. This means you may require a tailored savings strategy to best meet your future student’s needs.

A 529 plan is a popular tool for saving for college expenses. When it comes to who maintains control over the 529 plan’s assets, in most cases, it’s the account owner. This is often a parent or grandparent. The owner also has the ability to make investment choices and manage withdrawals.

Given that the bill’s failure to reduce the deficit is due in part to its extension and expansion of the special tax treatment for non-corporate businesses that Johnson insisted on in 2017, which will cost an estimated $820 billion over the next decade, the senator does not make for the most credible of deficit hawks.

When planning for future financial needs, take the time to understand the key differences between a 529 plan vs. IUL insurance. Both are valuable tools, but they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits.

A 529 plan can influence financial aid eligibility and the amount awarded. While these savings plans are
valuable for covering education expenses, they are considered parental assets on the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Let’s talk about life expectancy. More specifically – should it play a role in retirement planning?You might be surprised to learn that the answer is: Absolutely not.

How do we give clients what they’re truly looking for — income certainty, simplicity, peace of mind —without triggering resistance that shuts the conversation down?

The ever-louder brouhaha surrounding BBD is much ado about nothing. It is expensive, dangerous, and likely to benefit only bankers and brokerage firms.

Blackstone Inc. hired Joseph Cassanelli, a banker who drove major Wall Street deals, as the private equity firm prepares to invest more in banks and insurers.

A 529 plan can play a strategic role in estate planning, especially for families looking to reduce taxes while saving for education. Contributions to a 529 plan may be excluded from your taxable estate, potentially lowering future estate tax liability.

If I told someone with even a little investing experience that I own an asset that pays like stocks but is stable like bonds, they would probably think I was a huckster or a fool. Yet many of the most sophisticated investors claim to own such a thing.

Back in 2016, Intercontinental Exchange Inc., the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, revealed that it was considering an offer for the London Stock Exchange Group Plc.

Advisors can help clients and their families plan for the rising costs of tuition and other educational expenses by knowing the benefits of 529 plans — and staying up-to-date on evolving rules around these investment vehicles.

Investors nearing or in retirement who are currently defaulted into TDFs need to stop defaulting and move to safety now.

As small business clients look toward ambitious growth, advisors have the chance to offer something foundational: a term life insurance strategy that turns ambitions into a legacy.

The federal government, financial markets and most Americans are all in a state of denial about interest rates.

The White House is seriously considering the proposal, at the behest of some of the country’s largest financial firms.

Wall Street is cranking up the bond machine as US homeowners — finding that buying a new house is out of reach since mortgage rates started climbing in 2022 – are instead getting home equity loans and sprucing up their current properties.

Neuberger Berman has raised more than $4 billion for its latest general partner-led secondary fund, at a time when private equity firms are increasingly looking to monetize assets via continuation vehicles.

Since 2019 and the establishment of the ETF Rule, traditional active managers, armed with decades of expertise, have flocked to ETFs.

Here are some important insights and good open-ended questions to ask your clients to make sure they are thinking through life decisions.

The “sell and stay” approach in wealth management mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is a transformative trend reshaping how advisors approach their succession planning and business transitions.

Our role isn’t just to manage assets; it’s to help clients stay grounded. We remind clients that investing is a long-term journey, and short-term volatility doesn’t have to knock them off course.

Most of us are facing longer working lives, but that also means we need to remain healthier for longer. While linking the pensionable threshold to improving longevity is fair, up to a point...

Most clients are relatively conservative when it comes to determining how much they can afford to spend in retirement. All things being equal, clients would generally rather die with too much money than too little.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is embarking on its most ambitious effort yet to offer an exit ramp for investors trapped in buyout funds.

529 plans do not earn interest like a traditional savings account. However, they offer strong growth potential through a range of investment options.

I worked with a large mutual fund company years ago to develop a program on succession planning for advisors. I’ll share insights and considerations if you are thinking about making a transition, or are working with an advisor who is doing so.