What Is a Money Market Account?
CategoriesAsset Allocation, Fixed Income by

What Is a Money Market Account?

A brand new year is starting and if you learned anything from 2020, it’s that you need to be prepared for those “what-if” scenarios.

Having adequate emergency reserves is important and consider making it part of your 2021 saving goals. You should always strive to have at the very least six months’ worth of your monthly expenses set aside in your emergency reserves.

There are several options that you can choose from if you want to start saving money for emergencies. One of the best and easiest options is using a money market account.

A money market account is a type of interest-earning savings account, and is intended to offer investors high liquidity with a very low level of risk. They are also insured by the FDIC.

Are you trying to open a money market account? Let’s go through how and why to start using a money market account successfully. Read More

Investing vs. Speculating
CategoriesInvestor Behavior, The Stock Market by

Investing vs Speculating

By now, you’ve probably heard about the Gamestop/Reddit saga on Wall Street. Since there’s a Netflix movie coming about the topic, I won’t go deep into detail, but the short version is this:

A group of retail investors (individuals who manage their own investments), noticed and attacked a trend in the stock market. Some people felt that an opportunity arose to play against the large hedge funds and the war was on. It made national news and a ton of money changed hands over the course of a few crazy weeks.

In the end, there were still more losers than winners and life goes on, but what is the real takeaway here? Were all of those people investing or speculating? What is speculating, exactly, anyway? Read More

Financial Tips I Wish I'd Known Sooner
CategoriesInvestor Education, Retirement by

Financial Tips I Wish I’d Known Sooner

Did you know that a whopping two in three families don’t have an emergency savings fund? Is it any wonder, then, that over half (53%) of adults feel financial anxiety?

These statistics are even more relevant in 2021. With the worldwide pandemic and global financial instability, we have a lot to lose. Are you feeling particularly anxious due to your finances this year?

If so, then the following financial tips are for you. Read on to learn some awesome finance facts that you’ll wish you’d known sooner! Read More

Investing For Beginners
CategoriesFinancial Planning, Investor Behavior, Investor Education by

Investing For Beginners

Investing can seem a challenging world to break into, or even understand sometimes. There are ETFs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs…and who could forget the good ole annuity? However, investing for beginners doesn’t need to be so complicated.

Becoming an investor is simply preparing your money for the future. Whether that’s investing in stocks or moving your money into other investments, your money should be working towards your future. Read More

What is a 401k? Must-Know Retirement Plan Basics
CategoriesRetirement, Risk, The Stock Market, Using A 401(k) by

What Is a 401k? Must-Know Retirement Plan Basics

Did you know that 48% of older Americans have no savings in retirement plans (such as an IRA or 401k)? If you’re one of them, there’s a good chance that you’ll face very serious financial issues as you grow older.

The good news is that it’s never too late to get started! Once you understand the must-know retirement plan basics, you can open an account and start putting money away for your future. 

Stick with us as we answer important questions like “What is a 401k plan?” and “How does a 401k work.” By the time we’re done, you’ll feel confident opening up one of your own. Read More

CategoriesFinancial Planning, Financial QB TV Videos, Retirement Income by

Retirement Planning: Why There’s No Such Thing as a One-Size-Fits-All Retirement

If your household earns over $30,000 per year, you are going to  need more than social security to keep up your lifestyle in retirement. This is why many financial advisors recommend saving enough to replace 80% or more of your pre-retirement income.

When it comes to retirement planning, most people think a one-size investment strategy fits all. Here are three reasons why retirement planning does—and should—work differently for different people. Read More

CategoriesFinancial QB TV Videos, Home Featured, Retirement, Social Security by

Should I Take My Social Security Early Because of COVID-19?

During these tumultuous times of COVID-19, many older workers are uncertain about their financial future. 

Due to rising unemployment, volatile markets, and just the overall fear of COVID, questions about Social Security have come up frequently. Older workers, at least 62 years old, are beginning to consider claiming their Social Security early. In this blog post, we’ll cover the best retirement age (based on your financial goals), whether or not your social security benefits should be accessed early, and what a normal retirement looks like.  Read More