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With concerns growing over a potential stock market bubble and a recent market pullback, it seems another crisis has hit the headlines: a group of retail traders has come after the market itself. Specifically, these retail investors tried to beat Wall Street by trading up several stocks well beyond what the professionals think they are worth. In doing so, the headlines claim, they have broken the market. Could that possibly be true? Let’s take a look at the details.

Dire predictions about past presidents have usually proven to be wrong.  If history is any guide, the US economy and the stock market will be fine in the long run no matter who gets elected.

Many people don’t understand the importance of establishing and maintaining an emergency fund until it’s too late. Are you financially prepared for a leaky roof? How about a broken-down car? If you lost your job, how long would you be able to support yourself and your family until you got a new one?

Shock events such as the coronavirus outbreak and related stock market volatility can cause investors and 401(k) plan participants to act on their emotions. Putting a plan in place when markets turn south — and reviewing that plan when emotions are running high — can temper this impulse.  

It doesn’t take much to capture valuable memories—just a notepad and pen, or your smartphone. While you could write down all the answers, it might be easier and more fun to record them for future generations to hear and see! Other than that, our best advice is to be open and honest about your thoughts and experiences. While recording your memories might feel a bit forced at first, you’ll be surprised at how easy it flows once you get started.

What a difference a year can make. At the end of 2018, markets were selling off due to political concerns, and the year finished on a sour note. But 2019 had a significantly better ending for investors. 

Before making any plan, it’s important to have a clear end goal in mind. Setting a target retirement date will help you create a timeline and guideposts you can measure your progress against. 

U.S. markets had a positive September, which helped offset volatility earlier in the quarter. The S&P 500 returned 1.87 percent in September and 1.70 percent for the quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average performed better, with a 2.05 percent monthly gain and quarterly growth of 1.83 percent. The Nasdaq Composite lagged, with a 0.54 percent monthly gain, taking the index to a 0.18 percent gain for the quarter.

Caring for aging parents can be a difficult planning aspect to balance. If you are among the “Sandwich Generation,” you may be trying to support your aging parents as well as your own children. Today, individuals are living longer than before, so it is better to be prepared.

Statistics suggest that a high percentage of marriages will end in divorce. Although you may not be concerned about your own marriage, are you worried about protecting the assets of your married children?