Beyond Traditional Asset Classes: Exploring Alternatives
Stocks, bonds, and cash are fundamental components of an investment portfolio. However, many other investments can be used to try to spice up returns or reduce overall portfolio risk. So-called alternative assets have become popular in recent years as a way to provide greater diversification.
Concentrated Stock Positions: Considerations and Strategies
Whether you inherited a large holding, exercised options to buy your company’s stock, sold a private business, hold restricted stock, or have benefitted from repeated stock splits over the years, having a large position in a single stock carries unique challenges. Even if the stock has done well, you may want more diversification, or have new financial goals that require a shift in strategy.
Types of Insurance
Each day, you face a variety of risks–risks to your life, your health, and your property. Although you can’t eliminate many of these risks, you can take steps to guard against resulting financial losses. That’s where insurance comes in. If your coverage is sufficient, insurance can provide financial security to you and your loved ones. Many types of insurance coverage are available–here’s a brief overview of what’s out there.
Choosing an Income Tax Filing Status
Selecting a filing status is one of the first decisions you’ll make when you fill out your federal income tax return, so it’s important to know the rules. And because you may have more than one option, you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each. Making the right decision about your filing status can save money and prevent problems with the IRS down the road.
Annuities and Retirement Planning
You may have heard that IRAs and employer-sponsored plans are the best ways to invest for retirement. That’s true for many people, but what if you’ve maxed out your contributions to those accounts and want to save more? An annuity may be an appropriate investment to look into.
Bonds, Interest Rates, and the Impact of Inflation
There are two fundamental ways that you can profit from owning bonds: from the interest that bonds pay, or from any increase in the bond’s price. Many people who invest in bonds because they want a steady stream of income are surprised to learn that bond prices can fluctuate, just as they do with any security traded in the secondary market.
How does Death affect Social Security?
Death is not something many people like to discuss but unfortunately, it happens. When it does it can seriously affect the surviving family’s finances. You may not be aware of this but there are instances in which a person’s Social Security benefit will carry on after their death.
Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
As a business owner, you should carefully consider the advantages of establishing an employer-sponsored retirement plan. A retirement plan can provide you with a tax-advantaged method to save funds for your own retirement, while providing your employees with a powerful and appreciated benefit.
Choosing an Insurance Provider
The sale of insurance products has undergone enormous change in the past 10 years. Before 1990, the only way to buy property and casualty insurance was through the insurance company’s agent or an independent insurance broker. Gradually, over the last decade, states have allowed banks to enter the arena and sell insurance.
Insuring Your Home Business
At-home business owners often make the mistake of assuming that their homeowners policy covers their business equipment. In fact, your homeowners policy may include little or no coverage for your business property and business liability exposure.