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Portfolios 10 years from retirement often combine equities with bonds to balance growth and stability.
Retirement Planning

5 Investments to Consider 10 Years Before Retirement

At 10 years before retirement, investment priorities often begin to shift. The focus typically moves from maximizing growth to protecting accumulated savings while managing risk and preparing for future income. Portfolios at this stage commonly combine growth-oriented assets with stabilizing investments to help limit volatility and support a smoother transition into retirement spending. No matter… read more…

As retirement approaches, investment strategies tend to shift toward managing risk while continuing to grow assets.
Retirement Planning

5 Investments to Consider Midway to Retirement

Being midway to retirement means you may still have years of earnings ahead. However, the margin for error is smaller than it was earlier in your career. Choosing investments typically involves balancing continued growth with a growing emphasis on risk management and future income. At this stage, you want to protect your progress while positioning… read more…

Transferring property to a trust can affect taxes now and later, with outcomes depending on the trust structure and the type of property involved.
Trusts

Tax Implications of Transferring Property into a Trust

Transferring property into a trust is an estate planning decision that can affect taxes during your lifetime and beneficiaries later. The tax treatment depends on how the trust is structured and how the property is classified. Gift taxes, capital gains and estate taxes may apply differently depending on the situation. Understanding how property transfers to… read more…

An annuity can add predictable income but may potentially works best when considered alongside a full retirement plan.
Annuities

How Much Monthly Income Could a $400,000 Annuity Provide?

Imagine turning a single $400,000 investment into a steady monthly paycheck that lasts the rest of your life. For many retirees, that kind of predictable income can feel like a financial safety net in an otherwise uncertain retirement landscape. Annuities provide exactly that, but the amount of income they generate, and whether they make sense… read more…

Editor's Picks

A couple determining whether they need a CFA vs. CFP®.
Certifications & Licenses

CFA vs. CFP®: Which Do You Need?

Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance, namely financial advisors. These are designed to tell a client (or employer) that the holder has received education in certain types of financial… read more…

Clients meeting with an advisor from a wealth management firm.
Brokerage

5 Tips for Choosing a Wealth Management Firm

Wealth management firms are all different, with their own specializations and services. As a result, the process for choosing a wealth manager is a very personal one. Wealth managers work closely together with their clients to identify financial goals and… read more…

A fee-only financial planner doesn't earn commissions for recommending certain products.
Advisor Fees & Costs

What Is a Fee-Only Financial Planner?

If a financial planner, financial advisor or another type of financial professional is fee-only, that means they receive compensation solely from the fees clients pay for their services. They do not earn commissions for recommending certain products. A fee-only structure… read more…

Investment Property
Real Estate Investing

Why First Homes Could Be Investment Properties

If you’re young and looking to purchase a new home to live in, you may want to consider turning it into an investment property. While most people wait until after they’ve bought their first or second home to begin investing in… read more…

Data Articles and Studies

Senior couple cooking dinner together in the kitchen.
Income

Average Net Worth and Assets by State – 2026 Study

A household’s net worth can reveal a lot about their overall financial well-being. Liquid assets can provide better odds for approval for home loans or other lines of credit, cushioning for unpredictable life events, and the potential to make your money work for you through investments. But households in different locations often manage different savings… read more…

A panoramic view of Boston.
Demographics & Migration

Where Millennials Are Moving – 2026 Study

Millennials now make up an estimated 36% of the workforce, making this cohort highly valuable to any local economy. With more flexibility than ever due to remote work and rapidly developing technologies, many Millennial households opt to move locations in pursuit of job opportunities, higher pay, preferable lifestyles, and family considerations, among other reasons. Locations… read more…

Aerial of Palm Springs North, an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.
Demographics & Migration

Where Most People Are About to Retire – 2026 Study

Many individuals aged 55 to 64 are at the peak of their earning, contributing to local taxes and sometimes with plenty of discretionary income to spare on local businesses. On average, 11.0% of the population in large cities, and an estimated 17.1% of households in this age bracket make $200,000 or more, earning the “high… read more…

Wedding rings on a spread of cash.
Quality of Life

Where Most People Are Single or Married – 2026 Study

One of the most important decisions in someone’s financial life and beyond can be whom they choose as a partner. On average, 40.1% of adults in large cities have found their partner, while another 42.5% have yet to make that decision and remain single. The balance may be inherently off, with an average of 107… read more…

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