Even properly diversified investment assets move in unison sometimes. Investors saw that in October when both stocks and bonds lost value. As Paige Radke explains in a MONEY TALK VIDEO, occasional breakdowns in correlation occur, but they tend to be only temporary, suggesting correlation remains a sound strategy for long-term investors. […]

After a six-month lull, volatility riled the stock market again in October. Prices on the Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose or fell more than 1% in 10 of the month’s 22 trading days. While heightened activity can be disconcerting, it’s par for the course from time to time and reminds investors to balance their portfolios to risk levels they can tolerate. Kyle Tetting explains in a MONEY TALK VIDEO. […]

By Kyle Tetting
Stock market volatility abruptly returned in October after a stretch of 74 trading days without as much as a 1% change in the S&P 500. The CBOE Volatility Index – known as the fear gauge – doubled during the month, suggesting traders believe the wider swings may persist. Big fluctuations and a string of losses can be disconcerting, but it’s important to remember that volatility is the norm – especially this late in an economic expansion that has lasted more than nine years. […]

With widespread changes in federal income taxes in 2018, investors should consider what to expect when they file their tax returns. Dave Sandstrom explains in a MONEY TALK VIDEO. […]

In a nod to the Milwaukee Brewers and their postseason foray, our occasional exploration of the origins of financial expressions takes a swing at a common term that comes from America’s favorite pastime: Ballpark. […]

In a MONEY TALK VIDEO from the annual client seminar, Bob Landaas presents his investment outlook, sharing with hundreds of clients his insightful observations of global economic forces and market trends and what they suggest for long-term investors and near-term retirees. […]

Find out in 10 questions how much you know from the 2018 Investment Outlook Seminar. We include a link to the video from the seminar as well a link to the quiz answers. (We trust you not to peek ahead before you finish the quiz.) […]

By Joel Dresang
Ten years later, I don’t remember feeling desperate. But in a recent survey, 79% of Americans said they suffered setbacks from the financial crisis: 55% said that 10 years later, their finances still have not recovered. Looking back, I notice several factors that cushioned my family and me from the crisis. […]

By Kyle Tetting
Like driving, it’s hard to invest looking in the rearview mirror. Of course, we can still stop to celebrate a bull market that, by many measures, is now the longest on record. It may not yet be the most profitable advance on record – that distinction goes to the bull market that began in October of 1990 – but the length and general calm of this bull has left many investors with plenty to be excited about. […]

By Joel Dresang
Of course, affordability is key. As we get closer to retirement, Mary and I will have to compare what we currently spend on housing with how much we can manage on a retirement budget. Then we can determine how many places we’ll have, whether we’ll own or rent and where we’ll call home. […]

With narrower spreads between the yields offered for high-quality and low-quality bonds, investors should be sure they’re getting paid for the risks they’re taking – especially with what’s meant to be the safer side of their portfolio. Kyle Tetting explains in a MONEY TALK VIDEO. […]

By Kyle Tetting
Cracks exposed in the most recent market correction should remind investors that market volatility can be driven by many factors.
The debate about the latest correction, the length of the bull market and the timing of changes in each are just some of the many signals investors attempt to decipher as they consider how to invest for the long run. […]