Fear, Hope, and Greed: The investors best friend or…

Have you lost sleep over your investments lately? If so you are not alone.

With all the complexities and nondescript jargon surrounding the financial markets nowadays it is easy to forget that they are still driven by the same thing they always have been; buyers and sellers.

Thinking of buying an annuity?

by Josh Stelzer With recent market volatility and the market collapse of 2008 fresh on everyone’s minds, insurance companies are ramping up advertising, and capitalizing on the fears of investors . The laundry list of guarantees and flashy marketing materials can certainly be appealing to investors who fear the recent market turbulence, but what’s the catch? Today we will take …

Operation Twist?

by Jesse Anderson, CFA This is not the type of Twist Chubby Checkerwould enjoy. This twist is focused on interest rates and flattening the yield curve. The economy is still in a fragile state. Everyone is looking for the answer to provide the necessary spark for improvement. The president created a jobs plan and the Federal Reserve announced Operation Twist …

Making the Switch

by CareyAnn Peterson Every Monday morning, Richard sips on his morning cup of joe and reads the newspaper while waiting for his bank to open. At 8am sharp, he heads to the local branch of his bank and withdrawals the cash he needs for the week. His favorite teller at the bank welcomes him by name and immediately begins to …

Option Premiums Part I: Time is of the Essence

In the Snider Investment Method, we sell options for a premium, which is the amount we receive for selling someone the right to purchase our shares at a particular price over a given period of time. This will be the first of a series, with each article explaining a different component that helps determine the premium of a stock option. Today I will focus on one of the most important factors: time value.

3 Ways to Maximize Social Security Benefits

With 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day, having a plan to maximize your social security benefits is an essential piece of your retirement plan. Most Americans believe that their options are limited in this area of financial planning, and I’m here to tell you that it’s quite the opposite.

Unwise Investment Decisions

By Jesse Anderson, CFA

Last weekend a friend said to me:
“I cashed out my entire 401(k) before the tech bubble, and Thank God!, because I would have lost everything.”

The Sandwich Generation

Are you one of the struggling members of the Sandwich Generation? There have been a growing number of people who have taken on the responsibility of caring for their aging parents while simultaneously caring for their own children, known as the “Sandwich Generation.”