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Social Security and Your Retirement Plan
Social Security income is a significant retirement asset that, for most Americans, serves as a core component of their retirement plan. As a government-backed, inflation-adjusted monthly income for life, these benefits help manage longevity, inflation, and market risks. Those who qualify for retirement benefits can claim as early as 62 and as late as 70.…
Read MoreOccam’s – How Do Interest Rates Affect Stock Returns?
The financial media loves to talk about interest rates. There are a lot of good reasons for this, but two of the big ones are that interest rates are really important, and they’re relatively understandable and have a direct connection to most people’s lives. They are tied to the mortgage rate you can get, the…
Read More2023 – Q1 Quarterly Market Review
This report features world capital market performance and a timeline of events for the past quarter. It begins with a global overview, then features the returns of stock and bond asset classes in the US and international markets. The report also illustrates the impact of globally diversified portfolios and features a quarterly topic. Q1 2023…
Read MoreWhen Headlines Worry You, Bank on Investment Principles
Media outlets are in the business of enticing you to consume their content. Headlines are a primary way to get you to click and drive traffic. So rather than rummaging through your portfolio looking for trouble when headlines make you anxious, turn to your investment plan instead. Hopefully, your plan is designed with your long-term…
Read MorePlanning for Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline doesn’t necessarily happen overnight. There is a continuum of deterioration ranging from mild impairment to dementia. Planning for your own cognitive decline is an essential component of your financial plan and can have significant implications if not done in a timely manner. It is vital to consider whether you are prepared if something…
Read MoreShould You Use a Roth or Traditional Retirement Account?
Retirement accounts are among the most effective tools for long-term savings. Whether you are using an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b), the real advantage is not just the ability to invest, but the way these accounts allow you to manage taxes over time. At a high level, there are two ways these accounts are structured: traditional…
Read MoreOccam’s – How Long is the Long Term?
Everyone always talks about investing (and planning) for the long term. But they’re usually vague about what the “long term” actually means. Does that mean 5 years? 10 years? More? (Spoiler: the answer is definitely more). And frankly, talking about how you need to focus on the long term can feel like a bit of…
Read More2022 – Q4 Quarterly Market Review
This report features world capital market performance and a timeline of events for the past quarter. It begins with a global overview, then features the returns of stock and bond asset classes in the US and international markets. The report also illustrates the impact of globally diversified portfolios and features a quarterly topic. Q4…
Read MoreWhy You Make a Profit From Investing
Almost everyone knows that they need to invest their money to help prepare for retirement. It’s one of the keys to getting where you want to go. The markets may (ok, they will) bounce around in the short term, but over the long term, they have done very well for disciplined investors. But why have markets been…
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