529 College Savings Plans Are Best For Saving For Your Grandchildren’s College Education
The recession and market turbulence have made the dire financial situation facing some baby boomers much worse. Few were prepared for retirement before the financial crisis. Most are hopelessly behind in their retirement savings. Consider these statistics: By some estimates, almost 10 percent of retirees have children dependent on them for financial support. Almost 33 [...]
Bonds and the Bonds Market: A Basic Primer
Bonds confuse most investors. The securities industry likes it that way. The more you believe investing is just too complex to figure out on your own, the likelier it is that you will need the services of a “financial consultant.” Going down that road is often the beginning of a frustrating journey (for you-the consultant [...]
The Volatility Index-Much Ado about Nothing
You have no doubt been reading a lot about the volatility index lately. Before I tell you why I believe it is irrelevant, let me first tell you what it is. The Chicago Board Options Exchange established a volatility index (VIX). The VIX is not a measure of how volatile the markets have been. It [...]
Five Ways to Shave Those Utility Bills This Summer
This summer, you can easily save money on your utility bills, energy bills, and power bills. Some energy saving tips: to save money on your utility bills and save money, install energy saving products that use less energy: like a programmable thermostat or energy saving light bulbs. By using less energy, you slash utility bills, lowering your payments and go green at the same time. This article discusses more energy saving ideas and money saving strategies.
Annuities: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
There’s a lot of misinformation about annuities. That’s not surprising, since the term “annuity” is applied to a variety of dissimilar investments. These investments are also quite complex, which seems to suit the insurance industry. Complexity makes it more difficult for investors to separate good annuity investments from the bad. I divide annuities into three [...]
Gold Investment Advice: Should I Be Investing In Gold?
The question I get asked most often is should I buy gold? My answer? You are asking the wrong question. Investors buy and sell gold at the wrong times. If you are talking about making a short-term profit by buying gold and then selling it at a higher price, the issue is very simple. You [...]