Build Wealth

In the first installment of our Young Investor’s Guide to Building a Financial Future, we looked at avoiding credit card debt to set you off to a healthy start, the benefits of investing over the long term and the advantages of doing so in a retirement account, such as a 401(k) or IRA.   In the […]

The future looks bright for younger investors. A 2024 analysis by the Investment Company Institute found that, adjusted for inflation, Gen Zers have nearly three times more retirement assets than Gen Xers did at the same age. That’s a seismic shift, and we would propose it’s largely due to improvements in the retirement system. For

When it comes to investing, our message has long been loud and clear: Build a well-structured portfolio to capture available market returns while managing the risks involved. Shape it to meet your individual goals and risk tolerances. Keep a lid on the costs. Stay on target over time.   That’s all well and good, but …  

Good news – you have an extra $24,000, and you’ve decided to invest it in the stock market. It’s always nice to have investable cash on hand. But you also might feel as if the pressure is on. Nobody enjoys seeing the market take a dive shortly after they jump in. Unfortunately, we never know

Considering that more than 40% of employers now match employee contributions to retirement plans, taking advantage of workplace retirement benefits is crucial for improving your financial security. Even if your employer’s contribution is modest, neglecting to participate means leaving money on the table. Before enrolling in your company’s retirement plan, it’s essential to understand how

As we’ve discussed in the first two parts of this three-part series, we do not recommend turning to dividend-yielding stocks or high-yield (“junk”) bonds to buttress your retirement income, even in low-yield environments. So what do we recommend? Today we’ll answer that question by describing total-return investing.     Part III: Total-Return Investing for Solid Construction  

If you’re beginning your search for the right financial planner, asking the right questions can be crucial. This is a relationship you should have for years, hopefully decades, to come. By finding the right fit from the start, you can save yourself time and headaches down the road. Here are 10 questions you should ask

In a bit of a paradox, you’ll find the following two titles on our recommended reading list:   The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki (2005)  Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, Charles Mackay (1852)  So, which is it? Are crowds wise or delusional? It helps to understand why the answer is yes,

In our last piece, we explained how stock buybacks generally work, and why we prefer investing in a globally diversified investment portfolio over chasing or fleeing particular buyback opportunities. Next, let’s look at how companies use stock buybacks in practice.     Striking a Balance: Buy Back or Plow In?   Broadly speaking, stock buybacks are meant

Stock buybacks—i.e., a company repurchasing shares of its own stock—have been targets for praise and criticism through the years. So, which are they: good or evil? We agree with The Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Zweig, who once wrote:   “Buybacks are neither bad nor good. They are simply a tool. Just as you can use