Quality Can Deliver in Times of Rising Rates
By Chris Marx (pictured) and Kent Hargis As talk of an early Fed “tapering” triggered a sell-off in bonds, safe-haven equities have also suffered. Can low-volatility strategies survive rising rates and...
View ArticleIs Inflation Really Gone Forever?
Recent movements in asset prices suggest that markets have forsaken any possibility of an inflation outbreak in the next decade. We believe that view is far too sanguine. In 2011, inflation in the US...
View ArticleWhat Uncle Sam Taketh Away, You Can Give Back (and Get a Tax Deduction)
By Kathleen Fisher (pictured) and Tara Thompson Popernik The government shutdown, now in its second week, has temporarily stopped the flow of government funding for many worthy organizations and may...
View ArticlePutting Tax-Deferred Accounts to Best Use
Kathleen M. Fisher (pictured) and Tara Thompson Popernik The common wisdom about retirement planning is to fund tax-deferred vehicles such as 401(k) plans and IRAs to the max—and we agree. But how to...
View ArticleTaming the New Medicare Surtax
The wealthy will likely see higher 2013 income taxes. One of the newest additions to the tax bill is the 3.8% Medicare surtax. By planning ahead, you may be able to reduce the tax bite—or possibly...
View ArticleStart Saving for College Now, or Pay Much More Later
The price tag for attending college 18 years from now is projected to be considerably higher than it is today—up to hundreds of thousands of dollars higher for a four-year degree. But using a...
View ArticleThe Future’s Still Bright for College Grads
Is college worth it? It’s not an uncommon question these days, especially with soaring college costs, ballooning student debt levels and higher unemployment. But research shows that pursuing a college...
View ArticleAre US Stocks Heading for a Fall?
It’s a truism that what goes up, must come down—but when, and by how much? That matters, especially if you’re talking about the US stock market. With the S&P 500 approaching the 2000 mark and...
View ArticleWhat Your Parents Didn’t Tell You About Saving for Retirement
Chances are, your parents have told you to max out your 401(k) plan. That’s good advice, but the hard truth is that your 401(k) plan is highly likely to fall short. To live comfortably in retirement,...
View ArticleWhat Tax Strategies Make Sense for You?
Many investors adopt tax-reducing strategies from year to year without taking a step back to look at the big picture. But how you save or spend money today can have a profound impact on your after-tax...
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