Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 55
Many people have decided that bitcoin is the next big thing – and they are backing up their enthusiasm with dollars. Should you, too, consider putting money into bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies? First of all, keep in mind an essential piece of financial advice: Don't invest in something you don't understand. And bitcoin is not easily understandable. There's no physical bitcoin, nor is it backed by a bank or government. It's a digital currency, used for transactions on a decentralized network o...
If you've had an IRA and a 401(k) for many years, you may occasionally ask yourself some questions: "Am I contributing enough?" "Am I still funding these accounts with the right mix of investments for my goals and risk tolerance?" But here's one inquiry you might be overlooking: "Have I used the correct beneficiary designations?" And the answer you get is important. It wouldn't be surprising if you haven't thought much about the beneficiary designation – after all, it was just something you o...
Independence Day is almost here. And as we make progress in moving past the COVID-19 pandemic, more of us will be able to enjoy Fourth of July activities. However you observe the holiday, it's important to recognize all the liberties we enjoy in this country. But you may still need to work at one particular type of freedom – and that's financial freedom. How can you achieve it? There's no one instant solution. But you can work toward financial independence by addressing these areas: • Ret...
If you don't have a spouse or children, you might think you don't need to do much estate planning. But if you have any assets, any familial connections, any interest in supporting charitable groups – not to mention a desire to control your own future – you do need to establish an estate plan. In evaluating your needs for this type of planning, let's start with what might happen if you die intestate – that is, without a last will and testament. In this scenario, your assets will likely have...
Is homeownership a goal of yours? In addition to meeting your basic need for shelter, it does offer some benefits. The equity you build in your home can be a valuable financial asset, and you may get to deduct your interest payments on your taxes. But if you're a first-time homebuyer, what steps should you take? First, make sure the time is right for you in terms of your personal and financial situations. Are you fairly confident that your employment is stable and that your earnings won't...
If you're planning to retire in just a few years, you may be getting excited about this next phase of your life. However, your ability to enjoy retirement fully will depend, at least partially, on the resources you can draw from your investment portfolio. So, while you still have time to act, ask yourself if you're comfortable with your portfolio's risk level. Your relationship with risk can change noticeably over time. When you started saving for retirement, you may have been willing to take...
April 15 is not that far off, but you still have time to make some moves that could favorably affect your tax returns. Specifically, you may want to consider some tax-smart contributions. You have until the April 15 filing deadline to contribute to an IRA, or to open one for the 2020 tax year. When you invest in a traditional IRA, your earnings can grow on a tax-deferred basis and your contributions may be tax deductible, depending on your income level. And starting with 2020, you can fund a...
If you've been investing for many years and you've owned bonds, you've seen some pretty big changes on your financial statements. In 2000, the average yield on a 10-year U.S. Treasury security was about six percent; in 2010, it had dropped to slightly over three percent, and for most of 2020, it was less than one percent. That's an enormous difference, and it may lead you to this question: With yields so low on bonds, why should you even consider them? Of course, while the 10-year Treasury note...
When you begin investing, you'll generally assess your comfort with risk, as your investment choices will be guided at least partially by your risk tolerance. But once you actually experience the ups and downs of the market, this tolerance could be tested. Risk tolerance may appear less bothersome in the abstract but seem quite different in reality. For example, you might initially think you wouldn't be fazed by short-term market downturns, no matter how severe. However, when the financial...
Your employer-sponsored retirement plan is a valuable asset. But sometimes things happen that can affect the status of your plan. So, for example, if you work for a hospital that changes ownership, and you have been participating in a 403(b), 457(b) or 401(k) retirement plan, what should you do with it now? Basically, you have four options: • Cash out your plan. You can simply cash out your plan and take the money, but you'll have to pay taxes on it, and possibly penalties as well. So, unless y...
As the year draws to a close, it's fair to say that we've all learned something about the social, political, physical and environmental forces that have affected everyone. And, in some ways, our lives will be changed, perhaps permanently. But as an investor, what lessons can you learn from 2020? Here are some to consider: • The markets look ahead. Here's something many investors discovered in 2020: Investment prices don't always move in the same direction as the overall economy. This might n...
You've no doubt heard reports of personal data being stolen and used for financial fraud – anything from online shopping on your credit cards to actual theft from your financial accounts. This problem won't go away anytime soon – but you can take steps to defend yourself. Here are a few suggestions: • Use multifactor authentication or other extra security options with online accounts. Many of your online accounts offer extra security by giving you the option to prove your identity in diffe...
Each year, on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we observe National Grandparents Day. Although it's not as widely recognized as Mother's Day or Father's Day, if you're a grandparent, you probably want to do whatever you can to help your grandchildren on their journeys through life. So, you might want to consider the following moves: • Contribute to their education. If you want to help your grandchildren pay for college, you have a variety of options, including 529 plans. You could also simply s...
The COVID-19 pandemic has unsettled the country's employment picture for months and will likely continue to do so for a while. However, the nature and terminology of this disruption varies greatly among individuals – some have seen their jobs disappear, others have been "furloughed" and still others have been offered an early retirement. If you're in this final group – those either offered, or feeling forced to accept, an early retirement, how should you respond? Try to look at your situation ho...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. If you were to inherit a large sum of money, what would you do with it? The question may not be hypothetical, especially if you are in the millennial, Gen X or Gen Z demographic groups. That's because the baby boomers – often referred to as the richest generation in history – are poised to transfer some $30 trillion in assets over the next few decades, according to the con...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. Throughout much of your working life, you contribute to your 401(k), IRA and other investment accounts to help ensure a comfortable retirement. However, once you do retire, you'll need to shift your focus somewhat from building these investments to using them – in other words, you'll have to start withdrawing from your portfolio to meet the costs of living. How can you be sur...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. The social distancing and stay-at-home orders necessitated by the Coronavirus have led many of us to feel isolated. Still, we've fought back through social media, "virtual" gatherings and walks in the neighborhood, where we could greet friends and neighbors (from 6 feet away). But when you're dealing with the financial effects of the virus and you're investing alone, you...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. The health aspect of the Coronavirus affects everyone – we're all concerned about our well-being and those of our loved ones and communities. However, the economic impact may vary among different age groups – and if you're retired or about to retire, you might have some special concerns about starting to draw income from your investments when the financial markets are dow...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. There’s no way to sugarcoat it: If you’re an investor, you haven’t liked what you’ve seen in the financial markets recently. The effects of the coronavirus triggered a market “correction” – a decline of 10 percent or more – and more volatility is almost certainly on the way. But instead of fretting over your investment statements, you could consider some more positive approa...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC.There’s no way to sugarcoat it: If you’re an investor, you haven’t liked what you’ve seen in the financial markets recently. The effects of the coronavirus triggered a market “correction” – a decline of 10 percent or more – and more volatility is almost certainly on the way. But instead of fretting over your investment statements, you could consider some more positive approa...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC. Social Security can be one source of retirement income for you and your spouse. To maximize your benefits, you'll need to make some key decisions and be aware of some common myths. • Myth 1: Always take Social Security early. You can file for Social Security benefits as early as 62, but you could get 25 to 30 percent more if you wait until your "full" retirement age (...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. What do your fellow citizens fear most? Almost half of them – 49% – are most afraid of running out of money during retirement, a higher percentage than the 44% whose chief concern is failing health, according to a recent survey by Aegon Center for Longevity and other groups. What steps can you take to help ensure your money will last as long as you do? Here are a few suggestions: • Estimate your longev...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Have you thought about your New Year's resolutions for 2020? When many of us make these promises, we focus on ways we can improve some form of our health. We vow to get more physically healthy by going to the gym, or we promise to improve our mental health by learning a new language or instrument. But it's also important to think about our financial health – so it's a good idea to develop some a...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. What does investing mean to you? If the word makes you think of transactions – buying or selling stocks and bonds – you're looking at just part of the picture. To work toward all your goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need a comprehensive financial strategy. And for that, you might need to work with a personal financial advisor. But what, specifically, can this type of professional do for...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. It's probably safe to say that many of us are concerned about having enough money to cover our retirement years. In fact, some surveys have shown that we are more frightened of running out of money than we are of dying. What can you do to help alleviate these fears? Your first move is to create a retirement income strategy and you'll want to develop it well before you need to use it. While there are...
