Investing News

While it may not be the most glamorous of presents, life insurance can be a valuable gift and a way to maintain financial security if the worst happens. In most cases, individuals take out life insurance policies with the expectation that an insurer will pay a sum of money known as a death benefit to

There are plenty of sayings about how the act of giving may in fact be the greatest gift of all. Charitable donations allow you to put this philosophy to work, as it can be highly rewarding to make a positive financial impact on the causes you care about. Contributing to a donor-advised fund (DAF) is

If you are a typical U.S. worker nearing retirement, you have been shoveling money into the Social Security system through payroll or self-employment taxes for decades. It’s possible that, over time, you and your employer together have paid more than $200,000 into the system on your behalf. If you also figure in the time value

Many of the largest oil-producing countries in the world are part of a cartel known as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In 2016, OPEC allied with other top non-OPEC oil-exporting nations to form an even more powerful entity named OPEC+, or “OPEC Plus.” The cartel’s goal is to exert control over the

Charles Schwab and Fidelity are well-respected powerhouses in the brokerage industry. Both offer customizable trading platforms, mobile apps, and low costs to millions of clients. As of February 2022, Schwab had 33.4 million active brokerage accounts and $7.69 trillion in customer assets. Fidelity is larger still, with about 40 million individual investors and $11.8 trillion

As the case for value investing grows stronger, value stock funds have proliferated in the fund universe. Vanguard, the largest mutual fund company in the world, offers one of the biggest selections of funds for building a diversified, core/satellite investing strategy just around value stocks. Research has shown that value stocks offer greater upside potential

Some companies build salary adjustments into their compensation structures to offset the effects of inflation on their employees. Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) can also refer to annual adjustments made to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, which are generally equal to the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for a specific period. Workers who

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services can make point-of-sale purchases more affordable by stretching out payments into multiple installments. But unlike with other financing options, these payments typically don’t get reported to the credit bureaus, despite the bureaus allowing it. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, BNPL companies are saying it’s because

Investors could continue to see “pain” in the markets before the “Big Low” is reached in 2023, according to Bank of America. Strategists at the bank wrote in a note on Friday that Thursday’s huge turnaround and jump in equities was a “bear hug,” calling it a “decent counter-rally, but ultimate lows ain’t seen yet.”

U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss reversed course after plans for sweeping tax cuts sparked weeks of market turmoil, firing the finance minister behind the proposal and insisting the government will hew to “fiscal discipline.” “It is clear that parts of our mini-budget went further and faster than markets were expecting,” Truss said at a news

Key Takeaways JPMorgan Chase’s net interest margin came in above analysts’ consensus estimates. Net interest margin is a measure of the difference between the interest banks earn on their assets and the interest they pay out to depositors and other creditors. The bank reported higher-than-expected earnings per share and revenue. Source: Predictions based on analysts’

Rates on conventional 30-year mortgages saw a pause Monday in their boldly swinging pattern of the last two weeks, essentially holding flat after bolting back into the 7% range to end last week. Today’s National Mortgage Rate Averages The 30-year average shed a single basis point Monday, after surging well above 7% Friday. Currently at

Kroger announced it will acquire smaller rival Albertsons in a deal that will create a super-sized new grocery giant. The combined company could have an annual revenue of more than $200 billion and about 5,000 stores, marking one of the biggest mergers in recent years in the retail space. Shares of Albertsons (ACI) soared nearly 12% on

Harry Dexter White was the driving force behind the Bretton Woods agreement that spawned the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and The World Bank. In his role as a government economist, White became the architect of the modern, postwar world economy and helped the United States become the global power it is today. However, he is

Paid non-client of Betterment. Views may not be representative, see more reviews at the App Store and Google Play Store. Learn More  about this relationship. New and Notable Updates On February 8, 2022, Betterment announced that it is acquiring crypto manager Makara. As a result of the acquisition, Betterment now gives retail investors and advisors

Medicare provides health care coverage for persons aged 65 and older. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, it’s possible that you could encounter a gap in coverage, depending on how much you spend. This gap also referred to as the Medicare donut hole, can potentially affect what you pay for

The topic of Social Security is fraught with misinformation, which can prevent people from enjoying the full monies they are entitled to collect. This article offers clarity on this subject, so individuals may maximize their retirement income and achieve financial security throughout their golden years. Key Takeaways The longer a person waits to collect benefits

Medicare Advantage Plans offer an alternative to Original Medicare. These plans include Medicare Parts A and B coverage, and some also include prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D). Older adults planning to enroll in Medicare Advantage or switch to a new Medicare Advantage should consider using Medicare Star Ratings to help in their decision-making. These

When it comes to managing your life as a retiree, it almost goes without saying that you’ll need to keep abreast of the yearly Social Security tweaks and adjust your budget accordingly. However, with so much new information to keep track of, it can be easy to forget some of the smaller details, such as

Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called Medicare Part C, allow you to combine Medicare Parts A and B coverage in one policy. During Medicare Open Enrollment, you have an opportunity to switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan or make changes to an existing plan. For instance, you may want to change from an HMO plan to