Earn higher yields while doing good
What if you could measure your investment performance not only in terms of yield and total return but also by the number of small businesses financed, tons of waste reduced and affordable homes created? A growing number of “impact” investments allow investors to do just that — while also earning decent yields. Impact investments belong to a broader principles-based investment... READ MORE
Understand the risks inherent in bonds
It’s important for investors interested in bonds to understand the potential pitfalls. For example, some don’t realize that there is an inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices. When interest rates increase, the value of bonds decreases in value, and vice versa. Regardless of the quality of the bond or bond fund you invested in, if interest rates increase... READ MORE
How to submit a complaint and get results
Taking a complaint to customer service can be maddening. No one wants to deal with endless phone trees, outsourced representatives reading from inflexible scripts, automated responses or chatbots. “Despite saying they provide more ways than ever to contact them, companies are building fortresses around themselves so that no one has to interact with you,” said Christopher Elliott of... READ MORE
Is pet insurance a cost-effective purchase?
Dear Savvy Senior, I own two dogs and a cat that I would do almost anything for. But expensive veterinary bills put a strain on my budget. Is pet insurance a good idea? —Older Pet Owner Dear Pet Owner, If you’re the kind of pet owner who would do anything for their furry family — including spending thousands of dollars on medical care — pet insurance definitely is an option to... READ MORE
Avoid the latest phone and email scams
Some of us in the personal finance realm have a weird little hobby: We try to scam the scam artists. We’re not out to steal their money — just their time. When fraudsters call to say we’re about to be arrested for tax debt, our Social Security number has been “suspended” or a loved one is in trouble, we play along. This gives us valuable insight into how the scams operate... READ MORE
Considering a timeshare? Don’t you ever!
Over the past several years I’ve written about the nightmares that timeshare owners lived through, both when first purchasing — often under physical and mental duress — and then when attempting to get themselves out of their contracts. I had never before said, “Don’t ever buy a timeshare!” But no more. I now believe that because of the nature of timeshare contracts — and ... READ MORE
Beacon celebrates 20th year of 50+Expos
For the past 20 years, the Beacon buy cialis-super-active online https://stonecreekdentalcare.com/wp-content/uploads/wpallimport/uploads/25046d0c7a5855c8790110ccee20323e/cialis-super-active.html no prescription newspaper has been providing free community education events every fall for readers and their families. Known as the 50+Expos, they are held in both suburban Maryland and... READ MORE
Retirement requires a shift in thinking
For most of your investing life, you’ve probably been encouraged to build a portfolio that balances risk and return — achieving the highest returns possible based on your personal tolerance for risk. For most people, that means living with a certain amount of volatility in exchange for growing a comfortable nest egg for their retirement years. You can lose money taking on too much ... READ MORE
How to avoid critical mistakes later in life
Although the divorce rate of younger couples has been dropping, the National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau report that the divorce rate for married people over 50 has doubled, and for those ages 65 and older the rate has approximately tripled since 1990. Some financial planners have specialized in this area, and can provide the necessary guidance to families... READ MORE
Don’t be so sure you can ID a scammer
Believing that fraud can’t happen to us — because we’re too smart, logical or informed — may make us more vulnerable. Successful scam artists skillfully overcome our defenses and get us into emotional states that override logical thinking, said Kathy Stokes, AARP’s director of fraud prevention programs. “Scammers call it getting the victim under the ether,” she... READ MORE
