News, Updates, & Resources
October 2015 Monthly Insight: Volatility is a Natural Part of the Market
Last month's letter talked about preparing yourself for major market moves, especially downward moves, by conducting "lifeboat drills" in order to dampen your "startle response", which might result in an inappropriate decision that would derail your long-term...
15 Body Language Blunders Successful People Never Make
Our bodies have a language of their own, and their words aren’t always kind. Your body language has likely become an integral part of who you are, to the point where you might not even think about it. If that’s the case, it’s time to start, because you could be...
A Look at How CFOs and Their Companies Are Using Social Media
When it comes to social media North American CFOs say their companies have focused mostly on the risks so far rather than the opportunities, such as using it to get customer feedback or foster internal collaboration. In particular, they say most of their attention...
September 2015 Monthly Insight: Taming Your Startle Response
Last week Don and I sent out a special newsletter that highlighted historical market volatility and average recovery time it has taken the markets to return to previous highs. For example, investors can expect draws down of approximately 10% about once a year. A...
The Science of Older and Wiser
Since ancient times, the elusive concept of wisdom has figured prominently in philosophical and religious texts. The question remains compelling: What is wisdom, and how does it play out in individual lives? Most psychologists agree that if you define wisdom as...
A Path to Retirement, for Those Far From It
There is a big retirement problem in America, maybe even a crisis. Many working people won’t have enough money to leave their jobs and live in comfort and security. How many are in jeopardy is debatable, but the problem’s existence is not. What’s to be done about...
The New Rules for Early Retirement
Early retirement is again in reach, but the game has changed. Do you dream of leaving full-time work behind at 60 or even sooner? Plenty of Americans do, of course. But the real question is whether you can afford to clock out early. It may require trade-offs, such...
August 2015 Monthly Insight: The Viability of Social Security
Social Security offers U.S. Government-guaranteed, inflation-adjusted lifetime income. Having such a guaranteed income is of great importance to most retirees, and it’s important to understand how timing and claiming decisions for Social Security can have an...
4 Keys to Living Longer and Better in Retirement
In 1970, average life expectancy at birth in the U.S. was 71 years. In 2014, it is 79 years; and by 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that average life expectancy will be 84 years. Today, according to the National Institute on Aging, there are over 40 million...
Watch Out For These Sneaky Leaks in Your Retirement Savings
A new study finds that “leakage” from 401(k) and IRA accounts can reduce a person’s retirement wealth by as much as 25% and argues that changes are needed in these savings plans in order to plug the holes. The report, from the Center for Retirement Research at...