Articles
The recently passed SECURE Act offers options for safeguarding 529 account balances amid market turmoil
You set up an educational savings plan for your child or grandchild, and you’ve been consistent about funding it. Good job.
But the market volatility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic now has you wondering whether your best-laid plans will get the job done. Now what?
The Pros and Cons of 401(k) Loans
Many employers today allow their employees to take loans from their 401(k) accounts. But just because you can borrow from your retirement savings doesn’t mean you should.
A 401(k) loan means temporarily taking money out your workplace retirement account that could have remained in the account and potentially generated investment earnings. If you don’t pay the loan off quickly, it could reduce the long-term value of your retirement savings.
If you've been watching the market lately, perhaps the first question on your mind is, "Should I make a big change in my investments?" In reality, a volatile market isn't the best time to do a complete makeover of your portfolio, especially if you have long-term financial goals you're trying to address. Even if you feel that your portfolio needs adjusting, maintaining a firm grasp on your fundamental investment strategy can help you be more thoughtful about making any changes.
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Bear Markets Come and Go The longest bull market in history lasted almost 11 years before coronavirus fears and the realities of a seriously disrupted U.S. economy brought it to an end. If you are losing sleep over volatility driven by a cascade of disheartening news, it may help to remember that the stock market is historically cyclical. There have been 10 bear markets (prior to this one) since 1950, and the market has recovered eventually every time. |
Conventional wisdom says that what goes up, must come down. But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when it's your money at stake.
Though there's no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market, the following common sense tips can help.