The first exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States debuted in 1993 as an alternative to mutual funds. Interest in ETFs grew slowly at first but increased substantially over the last decade. By May 2012, there were more than 1,200 ETFs available with total assets exceeding $1.1 trillion.1 Even so, ETFs remain somewhat mysterious to […]
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Many people think trusts are only for the rich, but that’s not necessarily the case. Most estates must go through the probate process, which can be costly and time-consuming. And with tax changes scheduled to take effect in 2013, even modest estates could be subject to federal estate taxes. Certain types of properly executed trusts […]
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During the five-year period from 2007 to 2011, the total return of the S&P 500 index (representing large-cap stocks) was a disappointing –1.24%, which may not be surprising considering the impact of the Great Recession. On the other hand, the performance of small- and mid-sized company stocks during this period might surprise you: Total returns […]
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On September 13, the Federal Reserve announced a third round of quantitative easing — dubbed QE3 — aimed at stimulating the still-struggling U.S. economy. In this initiative, the Fed plans to purchase $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month until the employment situation shows satisfactory improvement. The central bank also extended “Operation Twist” — an […]
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The share of overall U.S. exports for companies with fewer than 500 employees rose steadily from 27% in 2002 to 34% in 2010. The number of small and midsize enterprises that export also reached a record high of 293,000, and roughly 70% of all exporting companies have 20 or fewer employees.1–2 A relatively weak dollar […]
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In 2012, total health-care costs for an American family of four covered by an employer-sponsored PPO insurance plan averaged $20,728. Employers contributed $12,144 of the total and employees were responsible for $8,584 (through payroll deductions and out-of-pocket expenditures).1 Rising health-care costs are the main reason that more Americans are finding medical plans with higher deductibles […]
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As people work longer, they often carry major financial responsibilities, such as mortgages and college loans, into their later years.1–3 Someone who has high medical expenses or a spouse who no longer works may have to shoulder a heavier load than a younger person. If you’re still working, have you considered what might happen if you […]
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It’s not a good sign when people raid their retirement plans to pay bills, college tuition, or auto repairs, but more workers have been borrowing from their accounts or taking hardship withdrawals in the past few years. At the end of 2010, 28% of active 401(k) participants had outstanding account loans, and another 7% took […]
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As the financial crisis grew in severity from 2006 to 2008, U.S. investors moved more than $1.5 trillion into money market mutual funds as a “flight to safety.” Over the next two years, cash flowed out of these funds almost as quickly as it flowed in when investors rushed to purchase growth-oriented securities in the […]
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Spanning more than 900 miles wide, Hurricane Sandy was the largest tropical weather system ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. The deadly storm devastated a number of communities when it came ashore along the heavily populated coastline of New Jersey and New York in late October.1 High winds and widespread flooding also shut down public […]
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