Retirement Plan Insights

As the leaves on the trees begin their subtle change from green to gold, yellow, and red, lawns across the country have also begun their shift from green to red, white, and blue. Whether it’s a multiplying of lawn signs in your neighborhood, an influx of radio or TV...

If slow and steady wins the race, 2024 is off to a great start. Through the end of the first quarter, the U.S. stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, tallied its 15th best start to a year in its history. That kind of hot streak may seem to contradict my initial...

The difference that a year can make never ceases to amaze me. Whether it’s the development of a new hobby, the shocking amount of space between tick marks on my children’s growth chart in our kitchen, or the continued increase in the number of gray hairs on my head,...

We are constantly bombarded with information—everything we see is BREAKING NEWS! Yet, what is actual news? How does one discern? Most importantly, where are you right now as it relates to the information you are receiving? When it comes to our personal finances, it is...

In this 10-minute video, Client Relationship and Education Manager Sue Desrosier, CFEI, BFATM provides a brief introduction to investing, including why you should participate in your 401(k) plan, different types of investments—stocks, bonds, and mutual funds—and their...

Over the past week, the banking sector has experienced one of the most sudden and tumultuous downturns since the global financial crisis of 2008–2009. Recently, the most substantial events were related to the failure of Silvergate Bank on March 8, Silicon Valley Bank...

The market volatility that caused investors to experience strong losses in early 2022 has returned, driving the S&P 500 to new lows for the year on Monday, September 27. Whenever there is volatility, it’s helpful to ground the emotions we may feel in context....

Ben Franklin famously penned, "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” I would venture to guess that if he were around today, he would allow me to include stock market volatility as a third item on that list. But fortunately, unlike...

With nearly 40 years of industry experience, there are several market drawdowns that stand out in my mind, each of them with their own characteristics. We’re hearing a lot about volatility today, and we often do when the S&P 500 dips. But it’s important to...

Paying the usual monthly bills, car loans, student loans, home loans, credit card balances ... saving for retirement can be a challenge when you have so many other competing priorities. And because retirement seems far, far away in the distant future, it can be easy...

What’s the biggest regret of most people once they retire? Not starting to save money for retirement sooner and not saving more. If that describes you, consider using some of the following tips to boost your savings now and your future income later. Set a realistic...