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All investors – be they conservative, moderate or aggressive – need to understand that the level of returns they expect to generate is directly related to the amount of risk they are willing to assume – the higher the return, the higher the amount of risk one needs to take.

When people choose to eat healthier or lose weight, they know that they have to change their behaviors. That’s easier said than done, which is why weight loss programs and restrictive diets are popular. They provide a system for controlling portions, managing nutrition, and staying accountable.

It’s not always pleasant to think about who will take care of you when you’re no longer able to take care of yourself, but planning ahead is a necessary part of getting older. The more prepared you are—emotionally, logistically, and financially—the easier it will be for you to transition into long-term care if and when it’s needed. 

As the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, we dig up our hopes and dreams and make some resolutions. Health-related goals are usually at the top of the list, but what about your finances? The health of your accounts, spending habits, and investments are just as important to evaluate.

Approximately 70 million retired Americans collect Social Security benefits. Of those retirees, 8 million also collect Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But Social Security is more than retirement income. It also provides life insurance and survivor benefits.

There’s no doubt that it feels great to help someone in need through charitable giving. There are more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States that range from food banks and disaster relief centers to churches and cultural centers. And in 2018, Americans contributed over 4 billion dollars to charitable organizations. 

Retirement can invoke a mix of conflicting emotions from anticipation to fear, excitement to anxiety. It’s one of the biggest life changes we experience in our adult lives. Most of us anticipate and save for it for decades. But, going from receiving a paycheck for most of your adult life to living off the wealth you have amassed is no doubt an unnerving transition. 

Thinking about where to invest your money can be overwhelming and confusing, especially for those who are unfamiliar with all options for investing. If you’d like to take advantage of the ease of stock trading with the diversification of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can potentially give you the best of both worlds.

Whether you’re brand new to investing or you have an established portfolio, balance is seen as one of the keys to making the most of your investments. But what does a balanced portfolio look like? And how do you keep your portfolio consistently balanced? Here are the dos and don’ts of balancing your portfolio and some helpful tips to potentially increase your returns. 

When we’re young, we have so many lessons to learn—one of the most important being how to manage our money. If your kids are starting to enter the workforce, whether it’s a part-time job just for the summer or a full-time job after graduation, it’s essential they know how to practice healthy financial habits.