How — and When — Do I Sign Up for Medicare? In most instances, you become eligible for Medicare on the first day of the month you turn age 65. Whether you need to sign up, and how to go about doing so, depends on the type of coverage you select and whether you collect [...]
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest? Owning a home outright is a dream that many Americans share. Having a mortgage can be a huge burden, and paying it off may be the first item on your financial to-do list. But competing with the desire to own your home free and clear is your [...]
The Markets (as of market close September 16, 2016) Volatility in the markets reigned last week as each of the indexes listed here enjoyed gains early in the week, only to give most of them back by last week's end. The Dow and S&P 500 closed last week only slightly ahead of their respective closing [...]
How to Get a Bigger Social Security Retirement Benefit Many people decide to begin receiving early Social Security retirement benefits. In fact, according to the Social Security Administration, about 72% of retired workers receive benefits prior to their full retirement age. 1 But waiting longer could significantly increase your monthly retirement income, so weigh your [...]
The Markets (as of market close September 9, 2016) Equities indexes rebounded early last week as lackluster economic reports in the labor and manufacturing sectors, coupled with a falling dollar, appear to be fueling speculation that the Fed won't be raising interest rates following its meeting later this month. Energy shares made some positive headway [...]
The Markets (as of market close September 2, 2016) Trading continues to be light heading into the Labor Day weekend. Stocks finished modestly higher for the week, buoyed by last Friday's favorable employment report. Of the indexes listed here, the small-cap Russell 2000 led the charge, gaining 1.11% by last week's end and over 10% [...]
The Markets (as of market close August 31, 2016) With no Federal Open Market Committee meeting and little news to jar the markets, the lazy, hazy days of August seemed to lull investors into a state of lethargy. Trading was light and volatility, limited. Despite the fact that several of the indexes tracked here posted [...]
Five Things to Know About Inherited IRAs When an IRA owner dies, the IRA proceeds are payable to the named beneficiary--or to the owner's estate if no beneficiary is named. If you've been designated as the beneficiary of a traditional or Roth IRA, it's important that you understand the special rules that apply to "inherited [...]
Retirement Account Distributions After Age 70½ If you have assets in a qualified retirement plan, such as a company-sponsored 401(k) plan or a traditional individual retirement account (IRA), you'll want to be aware of several rules that may apply to you when you take a distribution. Required Minimum Distributions During Your Lifetime Many people begin [...]
Know Your Protections and Risks When Banking Online As Americans increasingly migrate toward conducting banking and other financial transactions online, the threat of falling victim to ever-more sophisticated cyber-crimes continues to rise. Financial services companies are keenly aware of the potential security risks posed by online money transfer. That is why the industry as a [...]
