There are many people out there today who own permanent (cash value) life insurance for many different reasons. Some people use permanent life insurance to protect their family from a tragic loss, estate planning strategies, or buy/sell agreements within their businesses. While it is our belief that for straight death benefit protection, term insurance is most often a better solution, there are situations where permanent insurance can make sense in an individual’s financial plan. The question that owners of these policies should be asking is, “Will my policy be there when I need it?”
Over 50 and Concerned About Retirement?
After the financial meltdown in 2008-2009, many boomers are now in their 50’s and quickly approaching what was supposed to be their “Golden Years”. Their retirement picture today is most likely very different than it was just 5 years ago. Even with account values cut in half during the recession, there is still a way to save your way into retirement.
What were you thinking in 1986?
In spite of all these economic and political issues the S&P 500, including dividends, has still returned nearly 10% over the period. Nonetheless, most investors did not experience this level of returns because they let their emotions drive them in and out of the stock market at inopportune times.
Stock Prices: Always on the Move
Throughout the Trade Month, I get many phone calls from clients asking why one of their positions has increased or decreased dramatically in price. Stock prices reflect a company’s current value as well as a projection of the future. Since the projection of the future is constantly changing as each day passes, stock prices are always fluctuating. To understand why a particular position moves dramatically, we first have to see why stock prices move in general; supply and demand.
The Graduate
Ogden Nash once said, “Some debts are fun when you are acquiring them, but none are fun when you set about retiring them.” As the year comes to a close, the graduating class of 2011 will experience the not so fun part of debt as they begin the repayment period of their student loans. The six month grace period that they received after graduating will end this November, and they will be forced to begin making payments on the debt that they acquired over the last four or more years of school. Many graduates are worried about their ability to repay the balance of their loans.
