For months on end, inflation has been rampant. And consumers have been struggling to pay for essentials like gas, groceries, and utilities. The problem has gotten so bad that many people are depleting their savings and racking up credit card debt just to stay afloat. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve just took a huge step to help combat inflation — it hiked interest rates by…
Inflation may not seem like much of a concern right now, but the author of today’s article points out that periods in which inflation has been significantly higher than average have typically arrived without any advance warning. Given this, and considering the fact that, as he notes, “even average rates of inflation can take a large toll”, it’s worthwhile to…
The expectation in some circles is that emerging markets will be the only category of equities that will generate a significant return above inflation over the next 7 to 10 years. Given this, retirees may be tempted to allocate a sizable chunk of their portfolio to emerging market equities. Today’s article, however, outlines why retirees may be well-served to reconsider…
With interest rates ticking up, prospects for higher inflation as a result of economic growth, and the uncertainty that comes with a new face helming the Federal Reserve, how can fixed-income investors go about preparing for this environment and the additional risks it poses? The author of today’s article highlights his favorite idea in that regard – a vehicle which…
Can a little gold help secure your golden years? The author of today’s article notes that “regardless of the cause, inflation can wipe out seniors and savers buying power very quickly” – and believes that one of the best ways for individuals to protect themselves against inflation is by owning precious metals. But what’s the best way to go about…
Much of the market volatility of late has been the result of concerns over inflation creeping up – and the prospect of the Federal Reserve continuing to raise interest rates in response. The author of today’s article looks at what rising rates mean for your money, depending on the positioning of your portfolio in terms of bonds and stocks. Will…
With the average life expectancy in the U.S. approaching 80 years, the long-advised strategy of shifting away from riskier (but higher-returning) assets like stocks and towards safer (but lower-returning) assets like bonds as you near retirement is not without its own risk: the risk of running out of money. The trick to navigating this risk/reward quandary, according to today’s article,…
“There is no arguing that sitting in cash is a lousy investment,” asserts the author of today’s article, noting that cash earns next to nothing in the average checking account and does not even keep pace with inflation. But research shows that there is an emotional upside to having more cash on hand than is generally recommended: it makes us…
In today’s article the author lays out “an easy way to use the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats – companies that have hiked their dividends for 25 years straight or more – to build a durable income stream you can retire on.” Specifically, he presents a five-stock Dividend Aristocrat portfolio with the potential to generate $112k of retirement income from a…
While inflation may currently be low, the author of today’s article warns that “this makes the possibility of an inflation threat going forward even more likely.” Moreover, she notes that health care costs are rising faster than inflation. All of this poses a particular threat to retirees relying on sources of income that lack inflation protection. As such, the author…