Uncomfortably Bullish What Wall Street’s 2026 Outlooks Really Means for Your Portfolio Wall Street is heading into 2026 in a mood that can best be described as “uncomfortably bullish.” The largest research houses on the Street—Merrill, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab, Citigroup, UBS, and Edward Jones—are, in different ways, pointing in the same general direction: they expect stocks to finish 2026 higher than where they began. At the sam

The Unique Retirement Planning Considerations of “Single Savers” It’s been widely reported that the marriage rate among Americans has declined sharply in recent decades. According to the Census Bureau, 60.8% of households were headed by married couples in 1980. By 2024, that figure had fallen to 47.1%. Divorced, widowed, or never partnered singles can face retirement planning challenges that differ from their married or partnered peers. Findings from Nationwide’s latest Advis

Sticky Saving Goals to Suit Your Personality The start of a new year is a natural time to set fresh financial resolutions, but unfortunately most don’t last past February. One reason may be that our money goals often don’t align with the way we naturally think or how we stay motivated once the initial enthusiasm fades. A study of more than 2,400 individuals published by American Psychologist found that people tend to save more successfully when their savings goals fit their p

9 Facts About Retirement Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a time to start a new business or begin a charitable endeavor. Regardless of what approach you intend to take, here are nine things about retirement that might surprise you. 1. Many consider the standard retirement age to be 65. One of the key influencers in arriving at that age was Germany, which initially set its retire

Household Spending Data Reveals Participant Borrowing Patterns New data suggests individuals’ decisions to take 401(k) loans are driven less by discretionary spending needs and more by day-to-day cash-flow constraints. A December 2025 study conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and J.P. Morgan Asset Management sheds light on what drives participants to take out 401(k) loans and how those funds are used. The research links 401(k) records with Chase househ

A Bucket Plan to Go with Your Bucket List John and Mary are nearing retirement and they have a lot of items on their bucket list. Longer life expectancies mean John and Mary may need to prepare for two or even three decades of retirement. How should they position their money? One approach is to segment your expenses into three buckets: •Discretionary Spending — Vacations, Dining Out, etc. •Legacy Assets — for heirs and charities •Basic Living Expenses — Food, Rent, Utilities,

Industry Experts Debate ERISA Litigation Reform in Recent Hearing A December 2, 2025 hearing, titled “Pension Predators: Stopping Class Action Abuse Against Workers’ Retirement,” was convened by Subcommittee Chair Rick Allen (R-GA) before the House Education and Workforce Committee and the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions. Expert witnesses claimed that, since a recent Supreme Court decision that may make it easier for plaintiffs’ firms to bring lawsuits

Assess Life Insurance Needs If your family relies on your income, it’s critical to consider having enough life insurance to provide for them after you pass away. But too often, life insurance is an overlooked aspect of personal finances. In fact, according to a 2025 study conducted by Life Happens and LIMRA, which closely tracks life insurance trends, nearly 50 percent of Americans report having no life insurance coverage at all, and 40 percent say they don’t have enough life

Choices for Your 401(k) at a Former Employer One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their jobs are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account. Individuals have four choices with the 401(k) account they accrued at a previous employer. Choice 1: Leave It with Your Previous Employer You may choose to do nothing and leave your account in your previous employer’s 401(k) plan. However, if your account balance is unde