Build Your Wealth: Personal Finance & Investing Insights

Building Wealth Diversification IPO ISOs NQSOs Stock options Updated for 2021

What Does an IPO Mean for Employees? What to Do When Your Company Goes Public.

There were nearly 500 IPOs in 2020. According to data from FactSet, that's just 67 shy of the combined total between 2015 and 2017. And the race to go public isn't slowing down. As of the end of February 2021, more than 230 companies have gone public this year alone.…

Kristin McKennaMarch 6, 2021

401(k) Plans 403(b) Plans Asset Management Boston financial advisor Choosing a financial advisor Forbes Investing Retirement Planning

Should I Pay Someone To Manage My 401(k)?

Investors can save over three times as much in a 401(k) compared to an IRA, without even including employer contributions. So, it's little surprise that most Americans rely on employer plans to save for retirement. Given the reliance on 401(k) or 403(b) savings, investors may wonder: should I pay someone…

Kristin McKennaMarch 1, 2021

Bonds Forbes Interest rates Investing

What Are Negative-Yielding Bonds? What Happens When Yields Go Negative

In uncertain markets, investors often seek fixed income for the relative safety that bonds provide versus riskier assets like equities. But with interest rates declining since the 80s, bond yields have come under pressure, even falling below zero in some markets. Led by Japan and Europe, about 27% of the…

Kristin McKennaFebruary 22, 2021

Asset Management Infographics Investing

How to Apply an Asset Allocation to Multiple Investment Accounts

Whether you're managing your own investments or working with a financial advisor, setting the right asset allocation is key. But what's the best way to apply an asset allocation to multiple investment accounts? Managing your accounts at the portfolio level vs each account individually is advantageous in many situations. A…

Kristin McKennaFebruary 15, 2021

Bonds Diversification Interest rates Investing Managing Risk

Bond Basics: How Bonds Work and the Benefits of Investing in Bonds

How do bonds work and why buy them in your investment accounts? There are several benefits of investing in bonds. Most notably, bonds provide investors with income, diversification from stocks, and stability compared to riskier asset classes. There's a lot to know about bonds, but here are the bond basics…

Kristin McKennaFebruary 8, 2021

529 Plans College planning Forbes Prioritizing financial goals

Are You Saving Too Much For Your Kids’ College?

With the average cost of college nearing $33,000 per year, few parents have concerns about saving too much for their kids' college. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be. Whether you're over-funding a 529 plan and risk incurring taxes and penalties or prioritizing college savings over your own financial security,…

Kristin McKennaFebruary 1, 2021

Bonds Diversification Investing Managing Risk

Stocks vs. Bonds: Differences in Risk and Return Make a Case for Both

Stocks and bonds differ in many aspects, including the risk and return investors can expect. Because of these differences, stocks and bonds accomplish different things in an asset allocation. When you own a stock, you're buying a piece of equity ownership in the company. With bonds, you're buying the issuer's…

Kristin McKennaJanuary 25, 2021

Budgeting Building Wealth Cash Management Diversification Financial Planning Forbes

Manage Your Money Better By Focusing on What You Can Control

Focusing on what you can control is one of the best ways to manage your money. Investors often fail to recognize the aspects of their financial situation that are within their control. For example, if asked why you don't have more extra cash leftover each year, what would you say?…

Kristin McKennaJanuary 18, 2021

Bonds Interest rates Investing

How Do Interest Rates Affect Bonds? Relationship Between Rates, Bond Prices and Yields

One of the most important things to know about bonds is how changes in interest rates affect bond prices, and therefore yields (unless held to maturity). The relationship between interest rates, bond prices, and bond yields is based on a few simple investing principles. Bond prices move inversely to interest…

Kristin McKennaJanuary 11, 2021

Financial Planning Updated for 2021

5 Financial Tasks to Prioritize in the New Year

There's no better time than the present to get your finances ready for a new year. Unfortunately, for many busy professionals, there just isn't enough time in the day to tackle seemingly non-urgent matters. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, I've seen how unintentional oversights and a lack of planning…

Kristin McKennaJanuary 4, 2021