It’s been two years since COVID-19 hit U.S. shores, but are we anywhere near pre-pandemic normal yet? It doesn’t look like it. The stock market, while volatile, recovered nicely from the initial shock and sustained overall performance for much of the pandemic, until recently. One contributing factor appears to be inflation, which has been rising…

Retirement Planning A recent survey found that about 50% of couples do not agree on how much money they should have saved by retirement. However, new research shows that couples who engage in financial planning together tend to be happier and more successful during retirement. Interestingly, couples that score highly on cognitive interdependence (meaning they…

Municipal bonds are popular among retirees and near-retirees as they seek to reduce market risk and position assets for a lower tax bill. One way to diversify across this sector is to invest in municipal bond mutual and exchange-traded funds. In 2021 alone, that’s where investors placed a record-high $96.8 billion of their money. With…

In mid-to-late January, investors experienced one of those common but utterly nerve-wracking pullbacks in the stock market. An accumulation of factors — inflationary pressure, potential adjustments to monetary policy, geopolitical concerns — combined to put the stock market into a tailspin. If there is one reminder that might provide investors comfort, it’s that none of this…

In recent months, Procter & Gamble has raised prices for its Tide, Gain, Downy and Bounce product portfolio. It recently announced that this spring, consumers also will start paying more for many of its personal health care brands. The company is hardly alone. Nestle, Danone, Unilever and other consumers goods giants say their prices will…

As America’s work environment continues to evolve, one thing that has become evident is that — in many cases — the work-from-home (WFH) model has proved to be effective and even cost efficient. However, many companies with significant investments in their office buildings and campuses are not likely to want their employees to keep working…

In the summer of 2020, the Federal Reserve announced its new approach to monetary policy on inflation. The Fed previously used a 2% inflation target. If inflation rates fluctuated above or below 2%, it would contemplate a change in the federal funds rate (FFR) to either restrict or enhance money flow in the economy. The…

In 2019, the millennial generation (born from 1981 to 1996) surpassed the number of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) in the United States. Today, one in four people is a millennial. Many millennials came of age at the turn of the millennium, which means they were aware of the fallout from the 9/11…

People have many different reasons for getting married or not getting married. But for some committed couples, it can come down to a few basic points. One of those is finances. If they hold very different opinions or have contradictory habits when it comes to spending money, finances can become a deal breaker — much…