Posts by Craig Brown
Retirement Income Investing: Beyond Annuities
One of the challenges of investing during retirement is providing for annual income while balancing that need with other considerations, such as liquidity, how long you need your funds to last, your risk tolerance, and anticipated rates of return for various types of investments. Annuities may be seen as a full or partial solution, since…
Read MoreHow Much Annual Income Can Your Retirement Portfolio Provide?
Your retirement lifestyle will depend not only on your assets and investment choices, but also on how quickly you draw down your retirement portfolio. The annual percentage that you take out of your portfolio, whether from returns or the principal itself, is known as your withdrawal rate. Figuring out an appropriate initial withdrawal rate is…
Read MoreSocially Responsible Investing
Investing with an eye toward promoting social, political, or environmental concerns (or at least not supporting activities you feel are harmful) doesn’t mean you have to forgo pursuing a return on your money. Socially responsible investing may allow you to further both your own economic interests and a greater good, in whatever way you define…
Read More529 Savings Plans vs. Prepaid Tuition Plans
Section 529 plans are popular education savings vehicles. To choose the type of 529 plan that’s right for you, it’s important to understand how 529 savings plans and 529 prepaid tuition plans work and the differences between them. Who can offer each type of plan? At one time, only states could offer 529 savings plans…
Read MoreHow Our Economy Can Bounce Back
Stocks have weakened as various global concerns keep popping up. Stretched valuations, weakening technicals, and increased tensions between the United States and China have investors on edge. This week, the LPL strategists discuss these important concepts, and more. How bad is it Retail sales fell 16.4% over the past month, the largest monthly decline…
Read MoreCoping With Market Volatility in Uncertain Times
As the United States desperately tries to flatten the contagion curve for the coronavirus, many state governors have mandated the closure of an unprecedented number of businesses and issued stay-at-home orders to their citizens. The global pandemic is wreaking havoc with the markets and causing concern among many investors. Dealing with market volatility during uncertain…
Read MorePulse Check: Should You Ignore the Economic Data and Pullback Odds Are Increasing
More bad economic data A record 20.5 million people lost their jobs in April, well above the previous record of 2 million during World War II. This is further confirmation of how quickly our economy stopped, and the LPL strategists noted that the unemployment rate of 14.5% will likely continue to trend higher over the…
Read MoreHow a Financial Professional Can Guide You Through Choppy Seas
In these trying times, even those with veins of steel can find themselves nervous about the market’s direction and what it could mean for one’s financial future. And the unprecedented nature of the novel coronavirus—and its ability to shutter businesses and services nationwide—can make it hard to take lessons (or comfort) from previous corrections and recessions. Fortunately,…
Read MoreResilience, Perseverance, and Innovation
Stocks hit a rough patch the last week of April, as the historic rally could be tiring. The news was heavy and the economic data continued to be very weak, but central banks are doing all they can to help weather the storm. Central banks are all in The LPL Research strategists discuss how the…
Read MoreLife Insurance at Various Life Stages
Your need for life insurance changes as your life changes. When you’re young, you typically have less need for life insurance, but that changes as you take on more responsibility and your family grows. Then, as your responsibilities once again begin to diminish, your need for life insurance may decrease. Let’s look at how your…
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