‘I Want Safe Returns’: I’m 73 with $300,000 Saved. I’m Not Interested in the Stock Market. What Should I Do?
A 73‑year‑old retiree with $300,000 seeks safe, non‑stock returns. The advice splits the portfolio into three $100,000 buckets: a liquid, high‑yield savings or money‑market layer for the next two years; a mid‑term CD or Treasury ladder for two‑to‑five years; and long‑term government bonds for five years and beyond. The plan also stresses managing Required Minimum Distributions, tax brackets, and establishing basic estate documents. This tiered approach aims to preserve capital while providing predictable income.
What Is an Exchange Fund? Investment Benefits and Risks
Exchange funds, also called swap funds, let high‑net‑worth investors exchange a large, concentrated stock position for a diversified basket of equities without triggering an immediate capital‑gains tax. The vehicle is a private partnership managed by banks or wealth‑management firms and...
How to Use a Living Trust for Estate Planning
A living trust is a legal vehicle that lets you transfer ownership of assets while you’re alive, giving you control and allowing seamless distribution after death. By funding the trust—retitling real estate, bank and investment accounts—you can bypass probate, preserve...
Wealth Management for Doctors: Services and Examples
Wealth management for doctors blends investment, tax, risk, and retirement planning to address the profession’s unique financial challenges. Physicians often start saving later, carry six‑figure student loans, and earn income through complex compensation structures, making coordinated strategies essential. Core services...
State Street’s Tiny Fee Cut Is Paying Off Big Time
State Street trimmed the expense ratio of its actively managed SPY Momentum ETF (SPYM) by five basis points, a modest reduction that sparked more than $2 billion in net inflows within a few months. The fee cut appealed to both institutional...
Dubai’s Wealth Hub Status Tested as Advisors Help Clients Evacuate Assets
Recent Iranian drone and missile attacks have disrupted Dubai’s financial infrastructure, causing wire transfers to take up to ten business days and immobilizing physical assets such as gold. Wealthspire, a New York‑based RIA with $600 billion in assets under management, is...
Why Surgeons Are Maxing This Overlooked 401(k) Feature Before the End of the Year
The SECURE 2.0 Act introduced a "super catch‑up" that lets workers aged 60‑63 contribute $11,250 annually to a 401(k), raising the total limit to $35,750 for 2026. Over the four‑year window this adds $15,000 more than the standard $8,000 catch‑up, a...
Franklin Templeton on International Dividends & the Search for Income
At the Exchange conference, Franklin Templeton highlighted the growing appeal of international dividend strategies as a counterbalance to the U.S. tech‑centric market. Todd Mathias outlined three low‑overlap ETFs—DIVI, LVHI and XIDV—designed to deliver income, low volatility, and high yield through...
Internet Giants ETF Cuts Meta and Alphabet in Rebalance
The ALPS O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF (OGIG) trimmed its stakes in Meta Platforms and Alphabet to a 6% cap during the March 2026 rebalance, aligning with a broader move away from the so‑called Magnificent Seven. The fund added three...
Financial Flashback: How Smart Planners Weathered the 2008 Recession
The article revisits the 2008 recession to illustrate how Multi‑Year Guarantee (MYG) annuities helped baby boomers preserve retirement assets while markets recovered slowly. A 5% guaranteed rate would have kept a $100,000 portfolio stable and outperformed the S&P 500 by the...
Smart Market Tools to Help Advisors Navigate Market Volatility
Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Greg Calnon outlines a new suite of market‑volatility tools for advisors, ranging from defined‑outcome and option‑income structures to systematic multi‑factor and dynamic factor‑allocation models. He highlights how liquid alternatives and tax‑aware indexing can add uncorrelated returns...
Investor Intentions: Marin County Employees’ Retirement Association Seeks to Invest $100m in 2026
Marin County Employees' Retirement Association (MCERA) is evaluating six finalists to manage its private credit portfolio, with a targeted $100 million allocation slated for 2026. The pension fund aims to diversify its fixed‑income holdings and capture higher yields in the growing...
Quiz: How Well Do You Know the New Child Tax Credit?
The 2025 tax law raises the federal Child Tax Credit to $2,200 per qualifying child but tightens eligibility rules that could nullify the benefit for many families. To claim the credit, children must be under 17, U.S. citizens or nationals...
Real Assets May Be the Missing Piece in Portfolios
Financial advisors are confronting persistent inflation and a "higher for longer" rate environment as the Fed holds rates steady. They are increasingly turning to real assets, particularly midstream master limited partnerships (MLPs), to offset inflation and interest‑rate volatility. The Alerian...
‘Start Yesterday’: Time Sensitive Succession Planning in Construction
Construction firms are urged to begin succession planning up to ten years before a transition, as delays can erode value and options. Experts stress that audited financial statements spanning five to ten years, a strong balance sheet, and consistent cash...
Why Emotional Decision Making Can Hurt Your Investment Performance
Investors often let fear and greed dictate short‑term trades, leading to buying high and selling low. The article advises building a solid financial foundation—clearing high‑interest debt and keeping a three‑to‑six‑month emergency fund—before allocating capital to markets. It recommends a diversified,...
UK April Price Rises 2026: 9 Moves to Stop Losing Money Now
As the UK tax year closes on 5 April 2026, Finance Monthly outlines nine actions households can take to avoid losing thousands of pounds. With tax thresholds frozen, wages rising only nominally and inflation eroding real income, missed opportunities such as...
Dad Won’t Talk About Estate Planning. How Can I Avoid Being Blindsided?
Raymond, a 40‑year‑old son in British Columbia, worries his 67‑year‑old father has no estate plan despite owning a home, boat, cars and a long‑term partner. Without a will, BC intestacy rules will dictate asset distribution, potentially granting the common‑law girlfriend...
I'm a Wealth Adviser: This Social Security Claiming Mistake Can Hurt Women the Most
Women’s Social Security claiming decisions hinge on more than longevity. While delaying benefits until age 70 can boost monthly payments, the break‑even point typically falls in the early 80s, meaning early claimers may preserve assets for active retirement years. Early...
This Is 'Planting Season' In the Market: Dale Smothers
RDS Wealth president Dale Smothers told viewers on Fox Business’s “Making Money” that the market is entering a “planting season.” He highlighted that strong earnings growth in large‑cap technology companies is creating value‑play opportunities. Smothers urged investors to focus on...
Tax Brackets Shift Dramatically Based on One Personal Detail
Your relationship status on December 31 determines your IRS filing status for the entire tax year, shaping the standard deduction, tax brackets, credits, and retirement‑account limits you can claim. For 2025, married couples filing jointly receive a $31,500 standard deduction versus...
Private Credit: Out of Favor Today, in 401(k)s Tomorrow
Private credit funds are facing short‑term pressure as investors withdraw capital amid falling interest rates, reducing loan‑interest spreads. The U.S. Department of Labor is expected to issue a rule that would legally allow 401(k) plans to allocate a portion of...
How the FHSA Can Help First-Time Buyers Navigate a Volatile Market
The Canadian First‑Home Savings Account (FHSA) provides first‑time buyers a tax‑advantaged vehicle to save for a home amid a volatile market. Contributions are limited to CAD 8,000 per year (≈US $5,900) with a lifetime cap of CAD 40,000 (≈US $29,500), and qualified withdrawals are...
My Brother Says Lawyers Can Get Him Into a Medicaid Nursing Home, Despite His Many Assets. Is This a Scam?
The Moneyist explains that while Medicaid generally requires applicants to have no more than $2,000 in countable assets, Florida offers several legitimate ways to preserve wealth, such as exempting a primary residence up to $730,000 equity and using “share‑of‑cost” programs....
Warren Buffett Warns Against This Costly Investing Mistake — and People Over 50 Need to Pay Attention
Warren Buffett cautions investors, especially those approaching retirement, against letting fear or greed dictate trades. Emotional buying and panic selling can lock in losses or miss market rebounds, jeopardizing long‑term wealth. Buffett’s remedy is a disciplined, long‑term focus on durable...
Evergreen Funds Hit $534.6 Billion Despite Headwinds
Evergreen, or semi‑liquid, funds surged to $534.6 billion in assets under management by the end of 2025, a 25% increase over 2024. Business development companies (BDCs) led the growth, expanding 31.2% to $192.8 billion, while direct lending remained the largest strategy with...
This Preferred ETF Deserves Preferential Treatment
Investors seeking lower equity volatility and higher income are turning to preferred‑stock ETFs, with VanEck's Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (PFXF) emerging as a standout. The $2.12 billion fund excludes financial‑sector preferreds, focusing on industrials, REITs, and utilities, and currently offers...
Robert Kiyosaki’s Life-Changing Lesson: Fail Boldly, Rise Rich
Robert Kiyosaki warns that fear of failure keeps many from pursuing wealth‑building opportunities, from leaving dead‑end jobs to investing. He advocates a “fail boldly, rise rich” philosophy, urging individuals to treat mistakes as learning tools rather than setbacks. Kiyosaki emphasizes...
2 No-Brainer Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026
Costco Wholesale and Cintas Corp. are highlighted as top dividend picks for 2026, each boasting multi‑decade streaks of annual payout hikes. Costco’s 23‑year record and a modest 35% payout ratio stem from its cash‑rich membership model, while Cintas has raised...
New $6K Senior Deduction: How Much You Could Save at Different Income Levels
The 2025‑2028 tax bill introduces a senior‑bonus deduction of up to $6,000 per eligible older adult, or $12,000 for married couples, stacked on top of the standard and extra‑age deductions. The credit phases out for incomes above roughly $150,000 (married)...
Navigating Volatile Markets? Warren Buffet, Radhika Gupta Back THIS Investment Mantra for Ordinary Investors
Retail investors facing heightened market volatility can follow two straightforward allocation strategies endorsed by Warren Buffett and Edelweiss Mutual Fund chief Radhika Gupta. Buffett’s 90/10 rule advises ninety percent of assets in a low‑cost S&P 500 index fund and ten percent...
Required Roth Catch-Up Contributions for 2026
The Secure 2.0 Act mandates that employees whose prior‑year FICA wages exceed $145,000 must make catch‑up contributions to 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plans as designated Roth contributions beginning in taxable years after December 31 2025. A two‑year administrative transition postpones enforcement until after...
How Two Gen Z Women Founders Are Making Wealth-Building Accessible
Eve Halimi and Anam Lakhani, former Wall Street interns, launched Alinea Invest in 2020. The fintech app aims to demystify investing for Gen Z, especially women, by offering an approachable, low‑threshold experience. They identified a gender‑specific white space in traditional wealth...
Estate Planning Enters a New Era as Ultra-Wealthy Families Seek Deeper Advisory Support
Estate planning for ultra‑high‑net‑worth families is undergoing a fundamental shift as advisors expand beyond pure investment management to integrated legacy, governance, and cross‑border services. The global UHNW cohort now tops 510,000 individuals, holding roughly $59.8 trillion, driving demand for more sophisticated,...
Best High-Yield Savings Interest Rates Today, March 26, 2026 (Top Account Pays 4% APY)
High‑yield savings accounts remain a strong option for consumers, with the top rates hovering around 4% APY as of March 26 2026. SoFi and Valley Bank Direct currently lead the market, each offering a 4% annual percentage yield. Rates have been trending...
European Autonomy: A Thematic Investment Ripe for EU Savers
Europe’s push for strategic autonomy is reshaping investment flows, with 2025 marking a historic surge in European equity ETFs that attracted roughly €80 bn (about $86 bn) in net inflows. Asset managers have responded by launching thematic funds focused on defence, energy...
Whisky Investment in 2026: Structure, New Markets and Scarcity
Whisky investment has shed its pandemic‑era hype and is now recognised as a disciplined alternative asset class alongside art and fine wine. Tariff reductions in India—down to 40% by 2026—combined with growing affluence in Asia are expanding demand for premium...
Why the Ultra‑Wealthy See Pacific Nations Like Nauru as the Next Safe Haven
Affluent individuals and families are rapidly securing second passports as a hedge against escalating geopolitical tensions, driving a 62% surge in citizenship‑by‑investment (CBI) applications since 2023. Nauru’s newly launched program, which ties passport purchases to a Climate Resilience Fund, has...
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Using Profit-Sharing Funds for a Home Down Payment: What to Know
Profit‑sharing plans let employers allocate a portion of profits to employee retirement accounts, with contributions capped at 25% of compensation or $69,000 for 2024. Withdrawals before age 59½ generally trigger a 10% early‑distribution penalty, and many plans impose vesting schedules...
Social Security: How Delaying Just One Year Can Transform Your Payouts
Delaying Social Security benefits by just one year can boost payouts by roughly 8% per year of deferral, while also allowing higher‑earning later‑career wages to replace lower‑earning years in the benefit formula. The Administration calculates benefits using average indexed monthly...
Oil Instability Calls for Diversified Natural Resource ETFs
Oil markets have been jolted by the 2026 Iran war, with prices swinging sharply on each new development. The volatility makes pure‑play energy exposure risky for investors and advisors. FlexShares Morningstar Global Upstream Natural Resources ETF (GUNR) offers a diversified...
GAMR Rebalance Highlights Gaming Stock Rotation
The Amplify Video Game Leaders ETF (GAMR) executed a major rebalance in March, adjusting 22 holdings. The fund swapped the U.S.-listed NetEase for its Hong Kong‑listed counterpart and added Bilibili, both at 2.5% weights, while boosting exposure to EA, Unity,...
How Advisors Are Leveling Up With 351 ETF Conversions
Section 351 ETF conversions are emerging as a growth engine for registered investment advisors, allowing them to bundle existing client assets into a new exchange‑traded fund without triggering immediate capital‑gains taxes. The process streamlines trading, rebalancing, and compliance while preserving the...
Holding Cash in Money Market Funds? You May Be Missing Out
Investors have been parking cash in money‑market funds for attractive yields, but T. Rowe Price warns that the opportunity cost of this approach is rising. Their analysis shows that a systematic 60/40 portfolio with $12,000 annual contributions outperforms a cash‑only strategy over...
‘This Is a First-World Problem’: I Can’t Roll over My $800,000 401(k) From My Prior Employer. What Did I Do...
A 72‑year‑old with an $800,000 Fidelity 401(k) discovered that required minimum distributions (RMDs) must be taken before any rollover to a new employer plan. Under the SECURE Act 2.0, individuals age 73 are subject to RMD rules, and a 401(k)...
Thrift Savings Plan Participation at an All-Time High
Thrift Savings Plan participation hits a record, with nearly 90% of Federal Employee Retirement System participants contributing enough to receive the full government match. Customer‑service satisfaction with the TSP remains around 94% for more than a year. At the same...
Advisors See Model Portfolios, UMAs as Central to Continued Alts Adoption
At iCapital Connect in Phoenix, advisors and asset managers reaffirmed strong enthusiasm for alternative investments despite recent redemption pressures in private‑credit BDCs. They highlighted model portfolios and unified managed accounts (UMAs) as the primary mechanisms to scale alternatives across the...
How a Discretionary PM Has Managed Resurgent Global Markets
Francis Sabourin, senior investment advisor at Richardson Wealth, continues to keep U.S. equities at the heart of his portfolio while expanding exposure to developed and emerging markets that have outperformed North America in 2024‑2025. His strategy prioritizes business fundamentals over...
Retail Investors Stay the Course in Volatile Markets, Moving Money Into ETFs and Commodities
Finimize’s quarterly Modern Investor Pulse shows retail investors remain bullish despite volatility, with confidence that global markets will rise in 12 months climbing to 68%. Nine‑in‑ten plan to keep or increase investment levels, shifting surplus cash toward ETFs (62.5%) and...
How Simplified Advice Rules Could Boost Your Pension and Investments
The FCA is set to overhaul advice regulations by introducing simplified, lower‑cost guidance for pensions and investments. The new framework replaces the “necessary” information standard with a “sufficient” one, reduces paperwork, and may waive knowledge assessments for straightforward products. Firms...