U.S. annuity sales set a new record in 2023, due to investor concern with the potential for market volatility and higher interest rates that allowed insurance companies to offer more appealing withdrawal rates. Fixed annuities dominated the market, and about one-third of those sales were for fixed indexed annuities, which can offer growth in a
Retail spending during the winter holiday months of November and December accounts for about 19% of total annual retail spending and is even more significant for some retail sectors. In 2023, consumers spent $964.4 billion on retail goods and services during the holiday months. This was a 3.8% increase over 2022 and above the 3.4%
An important part of any retirement strategy involves accounting for potential long-term care (LTC) expenses, which can be surprisingly high. The median cost of a private room in a nursing home was $9,733 in 2023, while a full-time home health aide was $6,292 per month.1 If you plan to pay for care out of pocket,
Empty-nest baby boomers owned twice as many large homes (with three bedrooms or more) as young families with kids in 2022. Careerwise, many boomers benefited financially from the 90s economic boom and/or bought their first homes when it was much more affordable. In recent years, boomers have had little reason to downsize, as many own
Investing can be daunting, whether you are experienced or a beginner. Even if you feel confident about your investing strategy, it can be easy to lose focus or make decisions based on emotion. Here are eight quotes from successful investors, economists, and other insightful thinkers that may help provide perspective and focus for your own
Asset allocation and diversification are so fundamental to portfolio structure that it’s easy to lose sight of these strategic tools as you track the performance of specific securities or the dollar value of your investments. It might be worth considering how these strategies relate to each other and to the risk and potential performance of
529 plans were created in 1996 to give families a tax-advantaged way to save for college. Roth IRAs were created a year later to give people another tax-advantaged way to save for retirement. Along the way, some parents began using Roth IRAs as a college savings tool. And now, starting in 2024, extra funds in
Traditional economic models are based on the premise that people make rational decisions to maximize economic and financial benefits. In reality, most humans don’t make decisions like robots. While logic does guide us, feelings and emotions — such as fear, excitement, and a desire to be part of the “in” crowd — are also at
An analysis of data from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances found that 47% of U.S. households were at risk of not having adequate retirement income, but only 19% were aware of their risk. On the other hand, 53% were not at risk, but only 38% knew it. This means that more than four
In recent years, the family drama surrounding an aging media mogul — and his unresolved succession plans — have been at the center of a hit television show. For family businesses, succession plans are designed to ensure the orderly transfer of ownership and leadership to the next generation. But relationships among family members are sometimes
