Build Your Wealth: Personal Finance & Investing Insights

Debt Management Forbes Home buying Interest rates Retirement Planning

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Before Retirement?

Is retiring with a mortgage a good idea? Most individuals will jump through hoops to live mortgage-free, regardless of whether it makes the most sense financially. Sure, all else equal, it's always better to reduce your expenses. But in most cases, all isn't equal: paying off a mortgage early or…

Kristin McKennaSeptember 30, 2022

Inheritance Sudden Wealth

What’s The Best Thing To Do With Inherited Money?

There are lots of ways to spend an inheritance. But just because you have options, doesn't mean they're all good options. After receiving an inheritance from a loved one, heirs will often wonder: what's the best thing to do with the money? As you consider what approach is right for your…

Kristin McKennaAugust 30, 2022

Bonds Building Wealth Current events Diversification Forbes Investing

9 Charts Every Investor Should See

Investing during periods of volatility can be difficult, especially when markets seem arbitrary. Gaining a historical perspective can help expectations for investors and reframe events into a more appropriate context. Whether you're a long-term investor trying to understand market moves or are concerned about your portfolio considering the downturn, here…

Kristin McKennaAugust 29, 2022

Forbes Inheritance Secure Act Sudden Wealth Tax & Estate Planning Tax planning Updated for 2022

IRS Wants to Change the Inherited IRA Distribution Rules

The passing of the 2019 Secure Act changed the rules about when non-spouse beneficiaries must begin taking money from inherited retirement accounts. Starting in 2020, instead of stretching withdrawals over your lifetime, most investors inheriting an IRA from a parent were subject to a new "10 year rule." This meant…

Kristin McKennaAugust 8, 2022

Diversification Forbes Managing Risk Stock options Sudden Wealth

Developing an Exit Strategy for Stock Options in a Down Market

Stocks are down this year, pretty much across the board. Unfortunately, there are some companies that won't survive the downturn. Even for the ones that do, getting back to Covid-era all-time highs is far from assured. For employees with stock options or owned shares, it may be time to reassess…

Kristin McKennaJuly 25, 2022

Asset Management Diversification Forbes Investing Managing Risk

Reasons to Include International Investments in Your Portfolio

The United States currently represents 60% of the global equity market.¹ This means investors with an extreme home bias are ignoring 40% of the equity universe. In truth, doing so over the last 14.5 years would have worked out for you, but markets are cyclical, so it's unlikely this lasts…

Kristin McKennaJune 27, 2022

Bonds Forbes Interest rates

Should You Buy Treasuries?

With interest rates going up, Americans are rushing into U.S. Treasuries at a record pace. Wondering if you should buy Treasury notes or bills in your portfolio? Here's how a Treasury strategy can add value to your investments in certain situations and some caveats to be aware of. (more…)

Kristin McKennaJune 15, 2022

Stock options

What a Down Round Means for Employees with Stock Options

Quite simply, a down round is when a company raises money at a lower valuation per share relative to earlier financing rounds. A simple example: a startup raises a Series B at a $30M post-money valuation and a Series C at a $20M post-money valuation. Working for a startup involves…

Kristin McKennaJune 2, 2022

Forbes Home buying Interest rates Mortgages

Considering an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) When Rates Rise

Interest rates are rising, and that's bad news for homebuyers. The national average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is now over 5%. After being in the 2% range for much of the Covid era, buyers are now facing a one-two punch: a red-hot housing market and rapidly rising rates.…

Kristin McKennaMay 16, 2022

Current events Forbes Interest rates

When Will Inflation Return to Normal? It Might Be a While.

After many years of stubbornly low inflation, we are now in an environment we haven't seen for 40 years. Prices are going up - fast. The Federal Reserve initially believed rising inflation would be transitory (i.e. fleeting) but has since changed their tune. Trying to get inflation to return to…

Kristin McKennaApril 25, 2022

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