Posts by Ben Geier, CEPF®
Investing
Stock Buyback Clash: Biden’s Plan Faces Resistance From Critics and Investors
President Joe Biden has championed a substantial financial proposal in the latter half of his term: increasing taxes on businesses engaging in stock buybacks. This initiative aims to redirect corporate funds toward business expansion and job creation, instead of primarily… read more…
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones: Millennials Are the Most Likely to Experience Financial Hardship
While no one is immune to financial hardships, new research from financial services firm Edward Jones suggests that perhaps those in the millennial generation are particularly vulnerable. In a survey of financial advisors, 43% of the experts polled said that… read more…
Investing
Morningstar Reveals 2 Key History Lessons to Protect Your Portfolio Against Inflation
It’s no secret at this point — inflation continues to be a big issue for American consumers. The inflation rate year-over-year for March 2023 was 5% — and this is actually a bit of a dip, with inflation rates for… read more…
Retirement
Three Tips to Make the Most of Your IRA
An individual retirement account (IRA) is a very popular way to save for retirement — especially if you don’t have access to a workplace retirement account like a 401(k). While there are several important decisions to make when saving with… read more…
Investing
Webull vs. Charles Schwab
Finding an online brokerage firm to use for your personal investment can be intimidating. There are many options out there, and it isn’t all about picking the option with the most bells and whistles — you have to choose the… read more…
Financial Advisor
How to Invest in CDs
While other investment and savings vehicles may get higher returns, few are as reliable as the certificate of deposit. CDs are traditionally safe, solid investments. Let’s take a look at common ways to invest in them and add them to… read more…
Financial Advisor
Here’s What the Debt Ceiling Question Could Mean for You
As seems to happen every couple of years at this point, Capital Hill is abuzz with discussions of whether the U.S. will default on its debt. In fact, if the debt ceiling isn’t raised this summer — potentially as early… read more…
Retirement
Too Many People Are Cashing Out Their 401(k) Plans
When leaving a job, there are a lot of things you have to remember to do when you leave – clean out your desk, say goodbye to your coworkers and pack up your secret stash of candy, for instance. Another… read more…
Investing
Morningstar Says to Look for Durable Dividends
Dividend stocks are the primary building blocks of income portfolios – that is, investment portfolios that aim to generate cash flow instead of simply growing in value. Picking which dividend stocks to buy, though, isn’t always easy. While the “instant… read more…
Retirement
Survey Shows Plan Sponsors Are Looking at 401(k) Fees
Saving for retirement is a key part of financial planning for most people. Unless you have a vast inheritance coming your way or you’re OK working until your very last day, you’ll need to start squirreling away money so you… read more…
Retirement
Target-Date Investors Have a New Favorite Vehicle
A volatile market is worrisome for many Americans, including — and maybe especially — those saving for retirement. Most retirement savers aren’t looking to make the huge gains professional investors are, just to grow their money slowly and steadily so… read more…
Financial Advisor
Mortgage Rates Could Hit 8.8% – Is Now a Good Time to Buy?
Buying a home is always nerve-racking, but those looking purchase right now have even more reasons to fret: the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates steadily for more than a year, meaning that those looking to get a mortgage… read more…
Investing
Obsessed With High-Dividend Stocks? Here’s Why This Major Firm Says That’s a Mistake
In recent years, high-dividend stocks have become especially popular among investors looking for income in their portfolios. A new article from asset management firm AllianceBernstein, though, posits that these shares are not enough for building an effective portfolio. Rather, the… read more…
Retirement
Is $5 Million Enough to Retire at 65?
Retirement planning has many elements, but there are two questions that must be answered before anything else can be addressed: What age do you plan on retiring? And, how much money do you need saved to retire at that age?… read more…
Investing
Morningstar Says These Two Assets Can Protect Your Portfolio From Inflation
Let’s face it: the past few years have been pretty scary for investors. From the pandemic to the bear market and inflation, it seems like most people aren’t as concerned with making huge gains as they are with simply protecting… read more…
Investing
Vanguard Says Don’t Give Up on the 60/40 Portfolio
Of all the choices an investor has to make, asset allocation could be the most important. Deciding how to split up the money you invest among different asset classes requires clarity of purpose and an understanding of each category’s advantages… read more…
Investing
The Dodd-Frank Act Explained (and How It’s Changed)
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as Dodd-Frank, was passed in 2010 in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. The Obama-era law aimed to prevent another financial meltdown. It increased regulation of the financial industry… read more…
Financial Advisor
Are You Rich? Biden Wants to Double Your Capital Gains Taxes and Implement a Wealth Tax
While social issues have dominated news coverage recently, one of the most contentious and important issues in Washington never changes — tax policy. One of former President Donald Trump’s biggest victories was his 2017 tax plan that drastically reduced taxes… read more…
Retirement
403(b) vs. 401(k): Comparing Retirement Plans
If you’re starting a new job, there’s a good chance you’re going to have the option to join an employer-sponsored retirement plan, and it’ll probably be one of two types of plans: a 403(b) or a 401(k). Both are defined… read more…
Retirement
What Are 401(a) Plans?
Saving for retirement is one of the most important financial steps you can take. If you don’t, you could end up entering what should be your golden years struggling to make ends meet. One of the most common ways to… read more…
Estate Planning
Florida Estate Tax
There is no Florida estate tax, though you may still be subject to the federal estate tax. It’s one of 38 states in the country that doesn’t levy a tax on estates, regardless of size. If you’re concerned about estate… read more…
Retirement
IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Table for 2024
An individual retirement account, more commonly referred to as an IRA, is a good place to save for your retirement. Once you reach a certain age, though, you’ll have to start taking a minimum amount out of your account each… read more…
Retirement
The Pros and Cons of Indexed Annuities
Annuities are a popular option for people planning for retirement, but there are many different types of annuities that you can choose from. One popular option is an indexed annuity, a hybrid type of annuity that tracks a stock market… read more…
Financial Advisor
Biden Wants to Close Tax Loopholes and Raise Taxes on Rich People to Protect Medicare
When he was running for president, Joe Biden was very clear that he was not Bernie Sanders — he wasn’t a socialist, and he didn’t believe the American economy and political system did not need to be completely torn down.… read more…
Investing
You Can Now Make Money Making Fun of Jim Cramer
In the world of television commentators, few inspire more venom among certain portions of the internet as CNBC’s Jim Cramer. He was harshly criticized in the aftermath of the 2009 credit crisis, and he’s still frequently called out for his… read more…