Inflation is an insidious beast, and it’s surprisingly more dangerous than a market crash.

How would a slight increase in expected inflation impact your retirement plans? For the vast majority of my clients, inflation is the single biggest concern when stress testing the analysis and statistical models of their retirement plan.

You have three choices for the funds in your old 401(k) plan. The two you mentioned (leaving it where it is or rolling it over to your new employer) and third, rolling it over to an IRA. The best option for you would depend on several different factors, but generally . . . .

The recent approval of the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) has killed any hope that financial advisers at Broker/Dealers would finally be required to be fiduciaries for their clients. The SEC went out of its way to create a regulation that would confuse consumers into thinking they have legal protections, when they don’t.

The 2019 inflation-indexed changes gave increases across-the-board for all retirement accounts, including workplace retirement plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). Here are the maximums you can contribute to your retirement accounts in 2019.

The first six months of 2022 has seen a stock market drop which has many spooked. Words like ‘market crash’, ‘historic drop’, and ‘recession’ abound and many are selling their investments in fear of a massive downturn. Here are the 7 things you can do to keep the market downturn from ruining your financial plan.

Fidelity has won the race to the bottom, with two index mutual funds carrying 0% expense ratios. That’s right, no expenses paid for from fund investors. Investors should wonder, however, how Fidelity could potentially make its money. I have my bets….

The SEC is proposing updated rules regulating how financial services companies offer investment advice. Unlike the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule, the SEC advice seems to protect the broker/dealer industry more than the individual investor.

Eight investment management firms threatened to stop using the CFP designation if the CFP Board expanded it’s fiduciary rule. Despite the bullying, the CFP Board still voted to improve the consumer protections in their Standards of Professional Conduct.

The Stock Brokerage and Insurance Industries are fighting hard against the Department of Labor's Fiduciary Rule, which would require their advisers to put their client's interests first and disclose conflicts of interest. The industries got the 5th Circuit Court to agree that, unlike Registered Investment Advisers, stock brokers and insurnce agent are just salespeople

Investors may mistakenly think Morgan Stanley and UBS leaving the Broker Protocol agreement only impacts stock brokers and their employers. The SEC, however, identified the Broker Protocol as an important agreement for both customer choice and privacy.

A new Wells Fargo/Gallup poll is being used by some media outlets to suggest a stock market correction is coming. While no one knows when a bear market will start, one thing is for certain. It won't be a Wells Fargo poll which predicts it.

Consumers shouldn't worry about the most recent SEC security breach, as the information hackers got did not include private personal data. The hack does, however, point out a risk to investors and a special risk future government agency breaches could pose to consumers.

We like to think we've left our ancient fears behind, but two articles published by Money Magazine demonstrate how investors and the financial media can be downright primitive.

The stock market is compared to a roller coaster for a reason. If you're concerned the recent drop in value is a sign you should get out, these four charts will help you put things in perspective. If stocks are the appropriate investment for you, don't let a drop in the market scare you into pulling out.

The DOL Fiduciary rule is now in force, but there is a loophole for commissioned advisers which can allow them to maintain their current compensation model. Make sure you understand the Best Interest Contract Exemption and the implications it has on potential conflicts of interest which could influence the investment advice you recieve. 

Between the wide range of meaningless job titles and the alphabet soup of certifications and designations, it's easy for an advisor to hide how they truly do business. One thing an adviser can't hide, however, is how they're licensed. Knowing the license will tell you what they can advise on, how they are compensated, and whether they are fiduciaries.

Despite the headlines and the excitement the UK vote is causing, investors should pay little attention. Avoid the temptation to tinker with your investments based on fear about 'what might happen' because of the UK vote. From an investor's standpoint, little will happen.

The best preparation you can have to defend against a Bear Market is to defend against your fear of the Bear. Writing future you a letter about the coming Bear Market can help you avoid the losses which many experience in a market downturn. Here is what to include in your letter....

Gold is often pitched by salespeople as the perfect investment; a hedge against inflation, a safe harbor in troubled times, and the true foundation of all currency. Research, however, shows gold isn't any of these things. For each of these concerns, there are better investments you should look at.

The IRS provided employers and employees clarification on the rules on borrowing from your 401 (k). And surprisingly, the clarification gives employees more flexibility in accessing their 401 (k). 

Congress recently reversed rules which allowed states and cities to create Auto-IRA programs. Although I like the intent and am a big fan of encouraging retirement investment, the program wasn't ideal. A lack of ERISA protections, potential for poor management, and poor investment options all mean I won't mourn the death of the Auto-IRA.

Don't understimate the importance of liquidity. Every investment has four primary characteristics; growth, income, risk, and liquidity. In order to understand whether an investment is right for you, you must understand each of them in detail.

Portfolio drift is when the natural movements of the market cause your investments to stray from your strategic asset allocation. One asset class has done extremely well, causing it to be overweighted in your portfolio. When this happens, you need to manage the drift through rebalancing or you could leave yourself more at risk in a market downturn.

Don't let these common excuses detour you on your road to retirement. Each of these excuses may seem logical, and some are pushed by well-meaning 'financial gurus,' but all of them will lead you to a less secure retirement.

The purpose of saving money is to achieve the goal that you're saving toward. As a result, you are constantly balancing between growing your investment while preserving your capital. If you are saving for longer than one year, get your money out of your savings account and into a more appropriate investment. The worst thing you can have....

It's been two weeks since the Brexit vote, and lots of negative predictions have come along the way. Here is what the Brexit will actually mean for you.

Brexit is unlikely to have any lasting impact on your investments; unless you decide to sell everything in a panic. The long-term investor will likely look back on Brexit as a non-event, here's why.

Whatever age you are today is the perfect age to reevaluate your retirement investments. Find out how to use your age to determine how much you need to save each month for a happy retirement.

When investing through crowdfunding, you may be signing a Simple Agreement for Future Equity. Find out what these SAFEs are and how to evaluate them.