Posts Tagged ‘personal finance’
2011 Dalbar Study Finds That Investors are Still Their Own Worst Enemy
Going back to the early 2000’s, our friends at Dalbar have been conducting a study to determine whether investors’ investment decisions impacts their investment performance. Unfortunately, it does. In a BIG way.
Read MoreWhen Investing, Trusting Your Gut Can Be Bad For Your Health
I believe in trusting my instincts when making decisions. However, when it comes to investment decisions, I have learned firsthand that my gut will often lead me down the wrong path. Many studies and surveys continue to support I am not the only one in that camp.
Read MoreBeManaged May Newsletter: More Equity Gains in April, Valuations are Concerning
The following are some topics covered in this month’s Research Newsletter from the BeManaged Research Department.
Worker Attitudes Toward Retirement Savings Needs
More Equity Gains in April – Valuations are Concerning
Survey Reveals 89% of 401k Investors Want Asset Allocation Help
A survey conducted by the Boston Consulting Group found that investors find retirement planning is confusing and 89% want help creating their ‘investment recipe’ (aka asset allocation). Here are the other findings of the 2,600 investors surveyed:
84% want help calculating and/or creating retirement income
79% would like an annual review “to set and measure their progress”
48% feel they are “in consult of their retirement plan investments”
Getting a Tax Refund? Be Like the 50% of People Using it Wisely
Tax day is only a few weeks away. If you are receiving a tax refund, you have some fun decisions to make. A recent study found that only 31% plan to put some of the refund toward their retirement savings, and another 19% plan to pay down debt…meaning only half of people are taking steps to improve their financial situation with their refund.
We know. You get a check in the mail or it shows up in your checking/savings account. Saving it or paying down debt is about as fun and exciting as…well…I don’t know, but it’s not. Unfortunately, doing the right thing sometimes isn’t that fun. However, it is a good feeling when you do the right thing.
Read More5 Participant Success Features to Add to Your 401k Plan
Last month, we brought on a new client that was going through a provider change. During our interaction with their employees, we were shocked to find what their old 401k provider DIDN’T offer compared with what their new provider DID. For the sake of full disclosure, we tend to be a little naive in assuming that certain features are a given when it comes to the capabilities of 401k provider websites. That being said, it’s 2011. I can order a burrito from my phone. Thus, if your provider offers any of these functions, the following are some basic online tools (in our naive minds) that we have found participants enjoy, and quite frankly expect in today’s digital age:
Read MoreBeManaged March Newsletter – February Good for Small Cap Stocks
The following are some topics covered in this month’s Research Newsletter from the BeManaged Research Department.
Sales and Earnings Gains Projected to Continue in 2011
Small Cap Stocks Big Winners in February
Investment Returns and Overall Account Growth
7 Steps to Keep from Getting Carried Away by the Market Rally
The Wall Street Journal recently wrote a very good article on keeping your expectations in check in light of the market rally that took place during the second half of 2010. The following are seven points to consider in as you make decisions on your portfolio:
Read MoreDon’t Get Burned – Put More Focus on the Recipe Than the Ingredients
A few months ago, I made a big pot of chili. I have made my Mom’s recipe my own, and always enjoy how it turns out. However, I incorporated a few new ingredients that time, and the initial result was quite interesting. I discovered an important lesson – I have some learning to do when cooking with cayenne pepper. When I checked it after it had been cooking for a couple of hours, I found it to look and smell like chili. After tasting it however, it was so spicy that I thought it was molten lava going down my throat.
Read More5 Tips to Help Stop Worrying About Money
The following article by Carl Richards at the NYTimes.com made some really good points regarding our propensity to beat ourselves up over past mistakes as well as worrying about the future with respect to money. I have been guilty of this, so this really hit home for me. Simply put, we are all human and make mistakes in many aspects of our lives, including financial decisions.
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