There’s a popular perception that “dividend stocks”—i.e., stocks with a reputation for paying out consistent dividends—can deliver decent returns, while also creating a dependable income stream for spending in retirement or elsewhere. But is stocking up on dividend stocks really such a good idea? Building a concentrated position in dividend stocks may appeal at a […]
Unraveling Dividend Stocks: More Myth Than Magic Read More »
In our last piece, we covered fund management costs. Next, let’s take a step back from the mutual funds, ETFs, or other holdings you decide to invest in. Where do these holdings live—and what does it cost to buy, sell, and hold them? An Account of Your Accounts First, let’s define a few terms:
Unveiling the Hidden Costs: Trading and Holding Investments Read More »
What are your investments really costing you? If you’re not sure, you’re not alone. It’s not like you’re handed a menu of charges to choose from when it’s time to place your order. Even when you know where to look for investment costs, the information can be difficult to digest. Let’s fill in some of
Unveiling the Costs of Your Investments: Fund Management Fees Read More »
After taking a closer look at interest rates in part 1 and inflation in part 2 we come to the heart of the matter: When interest rates, inflation, or both are on the rise, what’s an investor to do? Big picture, we are continuing to deploy the same core principles we use to help people invest across time and through
Navigating Rising Interest Rates and Inflation Read More »
Has rising inflation got you down? In our last piece, “Understanding Interest Rates,” we explored how rising and falling interest rates can impact a healthy economy. Today, let’s add inflation to the conversation. How Do We Measure Inflation? Inflation is the rate at which money loses its purchasing power over time. As you might guess, there
Understanding Inflation: Impact Measurement, and Historical Context Read More »
At its March 15–16 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its federal target funds rate by a quarter point. It was the first increase since December 2018, but it wasn’t a huge surprise. Fed Chair Jerome Powell had already said we should expect as much, with the potential for additional hikes
Understanding Interest Rates Read More »
In planning for retirement, one topic is often top of mind: What if Social Security goes bust? As we covered in a related post, Social Security Planning: A Balancing Act, most of us have been paying into the program our entire working life. We’re counting on receiving some of that money back in retirement. But then there are
Is Social Security Going Bust? Here’s What To Know Read More »
As tax season is upon us, we wanted to take a moment to remind you that this season is the prime time for identity theft. At PlanSimple we care about your safety and security, so we wanted to take a moment to share a few tips to help you avoid financial scams and identity theft
Guarding Yourself Against Financial Scams and Identity Theft Scams Read More »
Ever since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed off on the 1935 Social Security Act, most Americans have ended up pondering this critical question as they approach retirement: “When should I (or we) start taking my (or our) Social Security?” And yet, the “right” answer to this common query remains as elusive as ever. It depends
Social Security Planning: A Balancing Act Read More »
Whether you’re saving, investing, spending, bequeathing or receiving wealth, there’s scarcely a move you can make without considering how taxes might influence the outcome. But how do we plan when we cannot know? The particulars may evolve, but it seems there are always an array of tax breaks to encourage us to save toward our
3 Steps of Tax Planning in Turbulent Times Read More »