How Too Much Information Can Make You a Worse Investor

In the modern digital era we have access to up to the minute information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Everything from stock quotes, news reports, sports scores, to weather half way around the world can be accessed in a matter of seconds from your smart phone. Information is a great tool, but in today’s digital era, too much data can also be impeding.

What is your investment ‘Plan B’?

A client recently asked a great question, “What is our ‘Plan B”? I think part of the question stemmed from the idea that if we aren’t reacting to the market and its changes, we are doing something wrong. Adjusting our investments or calling an audible in the middle of the process makes investors feel good. Just like nearly every other decision, the change is driven by emotions yet investors fail to realize it. After the change, they normally come out feeling the portfolio is much ‘safer’ now, or they can make a whole bunch more money. (Fear & Greed) Rarely will an investor go back and evaluate previous decisions to decide whether or not it was advantageous in the end.

Everyone likes to hate the market

People truly hate the stock market. Don’t believe me? Take a quick glance at a yahoo finance comment chain. You’ll undoubtedly see that current investor sentiment is filled with distrust, skepticism, and outright hatred of the entire capital market system. The common belief seems to be the fat cats of Wall Street are out to make a quick buck with no regard to how their decisions will impact the little guy on Main Street.

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.

The Fastest Way to Sabotage Your Retirement

We’ve talked about this before – on a few occasions – but it never hurts to revisit timeless truths that help keep things in perspective. Last year, a survey by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America reported that more Americans would rather die than run out of money in retirement. While neither is a pleasant thought, at least the latter can be avoided.

Step #4—Retirement Preparedness Checklist: Put Away 12 Months of Expenses in an Emergency Fund

Harold Wilson, former British Prime Minister joked, “I am an optimist, but I’m an optimist who carries a raincoat.” You probably already have some cash stored away for the inevitable rainy day. Indeed, you should have savings for those one-time, non-recurring expenses that come up—a water heater replacement, a roof repair, the auto insurance deductible—but this savings should actually be …

How to manage stock market volatility in retirement

In retirement, one of the scariest things, particularly when you are dependent on your investment portfolio for a large portion of your retirement income, is how to deal with the ups and downs of the stock market and the economy. You may believe that, in order to do that, you have to be able to get into the market as …

Tools for surviving the investment income famine

UPDATED 2019: This article, originally published in 2010, continues to be one of our most popular posts. Please keep in mind that it is possible some of the facts offered have changed throughout the years.However, our sentiments have not. Scott Burns and I agree on many things. We agree that you cannot beat the market by picking stocks. We agree …