The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP®Board) has examined American spending patterns and created four overall categories. The study found that one group earns insufficient income to pay current bills or past debt, effectively preventing these individuals from saving for retirement. These individuals, aptly named “Stretched Worriers,” are the most concerned out of…

SERVICE SECTOR LOOKS VERY HEALTHY The Institute for Supply Management’s monthly services index improved 2.4 points in November to a 57.2 reading. Analysts polled by Briefing.com had expected a small gain to 55.6. It was the PMI’s best reading since October 2015, and it marked the 82nd consecutive month of expansion for the non-manufacturing segment…

How does a single parent plan for retirement? Diligently. Regularly. Rigorously. Here are some steps that may help, whether you are just beginning to do this or well on your way. Setting a household budget can be a wise first step. Most households live without budgets – and because of that financial inattention, some of…

In life, there are times when simple decisions can have a profound impact. The same holds true when it comes to personal finance. Here are some simple choices you could make that may leave you better off financially – in the near term, the long term, or both. Use less credit. Every time you pay…

JOBS REPORT SHOWS UNEMPLOYMENT AT 4.6% America’s jobless rate fell to a nine-year low in November as companies added 178,000 net new jobs. The U-6 rate (including the underemployed decreased) 0.2% to 9.3%. There were some negatives: yearly wage growth moderated to 2.5%, and the labor force participation rate ticked down to 62.7%, in part…

Picture the women of the world growing wealthier. It’s happening right now. Research from the Boston Consulting Group affirms this development. BCG, a leading business strategy advisor, says that as the world grew 5.2% wealthier between 2015 and 2016, women’s wealth grew 6.6%. In total, women own about $39.6 trillion in assets worldwide, and possess…

CFP®Board Consumer Advocate offers tips to stay on track The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP®Board) commissioned a consumer survey series examining four groups of Americans based on their saving patterns. One particular group stands out among the rest as they exhibit high confidence about their financial future due to their slow and…

The end of a year makes us think about last-minute things we need to address and good habits we want to start keeping. To that end, here are seven aspects of your financial life to think about as this year leads into the next… Your investments. Review your approach to investing and make sure it…

Investors are people, and people are often impatient. No one likes to wait in line or wait longer than they have to for something, especially today when so much is just a click or two away. This impatience also manifests itself in the equities markets. When the S&P 500, Dow, or Nasdaq take a tumble,…

BLUE CHIPS HIT ALL-TIME HIGHS Donald Trump’s unexpected presidential election win did not rattle Wall Street. Instead, bulls saw the prospect of greater federal outlays and less business regulation in the near future. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a new record Friday: 18,847.66. The Dow 30 had its finest week since 2011, gaining…