The Federal Reserve and Interest Rates in Your Life By Jeffrey D. Carlson, CFP® We regularly hear news reports about a decision by the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to raise or lower interest rates or to leave them unchanged. Recently, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that the Fed would hold the line on [...]
Emerging Markets Offer More Options for Investors By Jeffrey D. Carlson, CFP® We’re witnessing a period of unusual economic trends across the world. While the economic recovery in the U.S. and other developed nations seems to be at a standstill, there is growth taking place in other parts of the world. Many countries with “emerging [...]
Investment Strategies Amid Downgrades, Downturns and Slowdowns By Jeffrey D. Carlson, CFP® Investors are being forced to cope with what many perceive as unprecedented circumstances in the economic and political environment. At the same time that the U.S. economic recovery appears to be slowing, one independent agency downgraded its rating on debt issued by [...]
Five reasons for investors to be encouraged By Jeffrey D. Carlson, CFP® It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the constant stream of negative news about the state of our country and the world. This feeling also makes it difficult to be confident as an investor. At times likes these, a little perspective might be [...]
The press has been covering every wiggle of the US Debt Ceiling Crisis for over three weeks now. Historically, overly reported and highly analyzed events such as this do not lead to stock market crashes. The stock market is a discounting mechanism which prices in all known information. Sharp changes in market prices are more [...]
What’s the Outlook for Social Security? By Jeffrey D. Carlson, CFP® Will Social Security be available for you when you retire? Based on how much chatter and misinformation surrounds the subject, you may be surprised by the answer. Barring dramatic changes, Social Security will continue to provide benefits for all future retirees, including [...]
Understanding ETFs By Jeffrey D. Carlson, CFP® Over the past several years, Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become quite popular. There are now more than 1,200 ETFs available adding up to more than $1 trillion in assets, according to National Stock Exchange.[i] Investors have flocked to ETFs because of their low costs, [...]
Is a reverse mortgage a sound option for retirement income? By Jeffrey D Carlson, CFP® The concept behind reverse mortgages is nothing new. They provide a way for those who are retired or about to retire to generate cash flow based on the value of their home. The terminology may sound confusing, [...]
Women and Retirement: Myth vs. Reality By Jeffrey D Carlson, CFP® Are you dreaming of a leisurely retirement enjoying a second cup of morning coffee, or is a sunrise round of golf more your speed? Either way, you’ll need to know the facts so you can guide your retirement dreams with realism. Historically the road [...]
A return to work and to retirement saving By Jeffrey D. Carlson, CFP® It isn’t unusual in these times for individuals to be temporarily out of the workforce. In some cases this is a voluntary act such as a maternity or paternity leave or planned early retirement. Challenging economic times and changing [...]
