Derivatives Explained: How Smart Risk Management Shapes Everyday Business
Derivatives sound like Wall Street jargon, but they’re really just simple agreements that help businesses and investors manage uncertainty. At their core, a derivative is a promise: two parties agree today on terms to buy or sell something at a set price on a future date. This lets companies lock in costs or revenues now, […]
Hedge Funds Demystified: What Retirees Need to Know
Most investors first hear the term “hedge fund” and picture a secretive club where only the ultra-wealthy can play. In reality, they’re simply private funds that give managers much wider latitude than a traditional mutual fund. They can borrow, sell securities short, trade derivatives, and concentrate positions in ways a traditional mutual fund cannot. The […]
Exploring Alternative Investments: What to Know Before You Dive In
When markets get bumpy or traditional portfolios start to feel a little “same old, same old,” it’s natural to wonder what else is out there. That curiosity often leads to a buzzy but often misunderstood corner of the investment world known as alternative investments. But before jumping in, it’s important to understand what these are, […]
Building a Social Security Bridge
Funding life between “I quit” and age 70—without gutting your portfolio Retiring before your first Social Security check arrives can feel like stepping off a pier and waiting for the tide to rise. Each year you wait to claim your benefits can boost your payments by roughly eight percent, plus cost-of-living adjustments, until you reach […]
Tax Considerations When Delaying Social Security
Delaying Social Security can potentially contribute to an overall tax strategy for retirement. Every case is different, but generally speaking, when you add taxes to the mix, the case for delaying Social Security becomes even stronger than usual.
Claiming Social Security at 62 or 70
When it comes to claiming Social Security, timing is everything. Should you claim as soon as you’re eligible at age 62, or should you wait until age 70 to maximize your monthly benefit? The decision depends on a variety of factors, including your financial situation, life expectancy, and retirement goals. Understanding Social Security Benefits Social […]
When Are People Claiming Social Security?
One of the hottest topics in retirement income planning over the past several years has been how to help individuals strategize on their Social Security claiming decisions.
Social Security as an “Investment”
The alternative to treating Social Security as insurance is to view it as an investment, or as a gamble on how long one lives. This can be problematic.
Social Security: The Best Annuity Money Can Buy
A final frame for viewing the Social Security claiming decision is as an annuity purchase.
How Time Horizon and Discount Rate Affect Your Social Security Decision
One way to view the decision to delay Social Security as an “investment” is by using a present value calculation to identify which strategy can provide the most lifetime Social Security benefits and which strategy creates the lowest funding needs for your investment portfolio. This calculation requires deciding on a time horizon and a discount rate.
