By Ben Carlson, originally published at A Wealth of Common Sense. One of the hard parts about using history as a playbook in the markets is we don’t have a huge sample size. In the past 100 years or so, there have really only been three secular bear markets and three secular bull markets. Since […]
Ben Carlson
By Jonathan Ping, originally published at My Money Blog. Groupon has brought back their limited-time deal on new Costco Gold Star or Executive Memberships. There are two options. $65 for Gold Star Membership Package 1-year Gold Star Membership (normally $65 by itself) Membership card for the Primary Cardholder and one additional Household Card for anyone […]
Jonathan Ping
By Barry Ritholtz, originally published at The Big Picture. This question keeps coming up — first Cash, now Bonds — so it’s probably time to address why the fixed-income market seems to be having a rough go of it lately… This has been a confusing couple of weeks (years?) for market watchers and bond […]
Barry Ritholtz
By Nick Maggiulli, originally published at Of Dollars And Data. A year ago I wrote the blog post Why I’m Bearish on U.S. Stocks (for the Second Time Since 2017). Since then U.S. stocks are up 16% (total return) and my bearish prediction turned out to be misguided. So where did I go wrong? And […]
Nick Maggiulli
Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 504th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today’s podcast is Sheri Fitts. Sheri is the founder of Sheri Fitts and Co., a marketing, event, and consulting business that works alongside financial advisors and firms. What’s unique about Sheri, though, is how she helps financial advisors develop […]
Michael Kitces
Key Points Many people simply need those benefit checks as soon as possible. Most of us would do best delaying until age 70 to maximize our benefits. Think through your choice carefully before making a decision. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Most of us have Social Security benefits to look […]
Key Points Social Security probably won’t be enough to support you by itself. There are ways to increase your future benefits. Social Security’s coffers are shrinking, threatening future benefits. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › As we enter our 50s and start dreaming harder about retirement, we’re also probably thinking at […]
Key Points At 70, there’s no sense in delaying Social Security. If you haven’t claimed benefits yet, you may want to do so immediately. You can continue working without having to worry about having benefits withheld. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › By the time many people reach age 70, they’ve […]
By The White Coat Investor, originally published at The White Coat Investor. By Jim Dahle, WCI Founder <!–Disability insurance agents routinely criticize group disability insurance policies and for plenty of good reasons. However, I bought one anyway more than a decade ago. Let me explain why. But first, a brief review of why group disability […]
The White Coat Investor
Key Points You may be eligible for Social Security as the spouse (or ex-spouse) of a qualified recipient. It’s important to know when spousal benefits become available to you. While you get a choice in when to claim, it’s crucial to file strategically. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › A lot […]
By Rick Kahler, originally published at Financial Awakenings. How volatile your portfolio feels depends mostly on how often you look at it. Daily prices jump around. Weekly prices jump less. Monthly prices are smoother than weekly, and annual prices are smoother than monthly. Checking more frequently does not change your investment. It does change your […]
Rick Kahler
Key Points The average 401(k) match, claimed consistently, could be worth up to $1.38 million by retirement in ideal conditions. Your actual rate of return will depend on how consistently you save, how long your match is invested for, and what kind of return you earn. Claiming a partial 401(k) match, if you can afford […]
Key Points The Social Security 2027 COLA estimate recently fell from 3.8% to 3.6%. Seniors may get a smaller boost than expected next year, though there’s time for this to change. We will learn the official 2027 COLA on Oct. 14, 2026. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Social Security beneficiaries […]
When selling a business, it’s only natural to want to negotiate for the highest price you can. In the context of the advisory business, this has led to a growing focus on the “going rate” valuation multiples of revenue or earnings (EBITDA), with advisors asking what they can do to maximize the overall sale price […]
Michael Kitces
Key Points Claiming the maximum Social Security benefit requires you to pay the maximum payroll taxes for 35 years, then wait to apply till you’re 70. This isn’t realistic for most people. Understanding how Social Security benefits are calculated can help you boost your checks. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › […]
Key Points A lower cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) means a smaller increase in benefits. COLAs are based on July, August, and September inflation rates. Designed to help seniors keep pace with inflation, COLAs sometimes miss the mark. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Projections are a funny thing. What seems like a […]
Key Points Age 62 is when Social Security retirement benefits first become available. Filing at 62 could lead to reduced payments for life. If you don’t have a lot of supplemental income, claiming at 62 could hurt you. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › There’s a reason many seniors get excited […]
By The White Coat Investor, originally published at The White Coat Investor. By Jim Dahle, WCI Founder <!–Many of you have heard about how my small, democratic emergency physician group distributes shifts. For decades, we have let the market decide what a shift was worth. If partners don’t like working a particular shift, its “weighting” […]
The White Coat Investor
