Where could that money go besides a bank account? Should your refund be saved? According to a TD Ameritrade poll, 47% of U.S. taxpayers expect a refund this year. What do they plan to do with the money?1 The answers may surprise you. While 15% of the...
Comparing & contrasting the potential of some popular vehicles. How expensive will college be tomorrow? The Department of Education projects that by 2030, the tuition cost of obtaining a four-year degree at a public university will surpass $200,000. Staggering? Indeed, but college is plenty expensive already....
A varied portfolio is a hallmark of a savvy investor. You may be amused by the efforts of some of your friends and neighbors as they try to “chase the return” in the stock market. We all seem to know a day trader or two: someone...
Many of these options go unrecognized. Today’s average student borrower takes out more than $25K in loans. Education debt has reached record levels in America – more than $1 trillion. In the face of those numbers, parents and students are looking for assorted ways to pay...
Saving in your youth and the power of compound interest. We’re often reminded to save money for a rainy day, but young people don’t always think in the long-term. While it’s true that many people start investing later in life and enjoy comfortable returns on their...
Investing timidly may shield you against risk ...
Dollar cost averaging offers you a way to invest consistently and a chance to exploit some great buys. Are you investing inconsistently … or not at all? Inconsistent investment can sabotage your retirement savings efforts. There’s a way to avoid that problem: a strategy called Dollar...
What are they? How do they differ from “traditional” investments? If you’re seeking a different investment path and have a large amount of money to invest, you may already be considering an alternative investment. Alternative investments sidestep the traditional investment paradigm, such as real estate, cash,...
A look at some financial changes & the opportunities they may present. Every year brings some financial change, so here are some relevant changes relating to investment, tax and estate planning for 2012. Retirement plans. 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plan annual contribution limits rise slightly to $17,000,...
A way to give without a great deal of bureaucracy. So, you’d like to make some major charitable contributions, but you don’t want to create a family foundation - with its paperwork and management commitment and the possibility of squabbles. Is there an alternative? Yes, there is....