Insights

Kevin Oleszewski, CFP®, Senior Wealth Planner It’s hard to fathom, but there are a lot of employee benefits that people aren’t using correctly — or aren’t using at all.

What is the difference between preferred and common stock? Find a preferred stock definition and learn how common stock works.

By Craig Lemoine, Ph.D., CFP®, Director of Consumer Investment Research When you think about financial planning or wealth management, you may think those services are only needed and meaningful for people who have accumulated monopoly-style buckets of money. And while financial advisors and …

One common way investors lower their risk is to diversify their holdings with different assets. When you hold a mix of investments, your portfolio is protected from being wiped out if one investment fails.  Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, and index funds are all assets that prov …

What are mutual funds? We’ll break down the basics of investing in mutual funds and compare mutual funds vs. index funds.

Life insurance plans are designed to offer your family an infusion of income in the event of your death, so your loved ones won’t have to worry about finances while they are grieving. But how do you know what type of policy to choose and if it will adequately cover your needs? This re …

What are securities in finance? Securities are assets that have a value determined by any number of influencing factors. Investors buy and sell securities with the goal of earning profits if the value of the asset increases.  Securities don’t have inherent value, but they have worth i …

By Craig Lemoine, Ph.D., CFP®, Director of Consumer Investment Research   Financial advisors provide financial planning or investment guidance to clients. They may meet in person, remotely or provide advice within a larger firm setting. Financial advisors may work for themselves, with small …

A bond is a type of debt security that you buy from either a corporation or a government that is trying to raise money. It’s essentially a loan that you are repaid, with interest, in regular, fixed payments for a set time.  Bonds are considered a low-risk asset that can provide invest …

Stocks and bonds are two common asset types that investors use to create a balanced portfolio toward financial goals like building wealth or protecting capital.  Both stocks and bonds offer the potential to provide returns and they both carry risks, but they have some key differences to und …

Scroll through any financially related news story and you’re bound to encounter a report of how the “S&P 500” is doing. You might even exclaim over its rises and dips yourself, despite not completely understanding what it is or the effect it has on you as an investor.  Consi …