Category Archives: Investments
High-yield bonds may not be junk
High-yield corporate bonds have built a big edge in income yield over Treasury bonds over the past few months. Some people prefer the perceived safety of Treasury bonds and accept the lower income stream (even if it means a negative … Continue reading
Why choose a Registered Investment Advisor instead of a broker?
Visit riastandsforyou.com to discover the difference of working with an independent Registered Investment Advisor. RIA firms accept a fiduciary standard to act in your best interest. A Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) is a professional advisory firm that offers personalized financial advice … Continue reading
European debt crisis presents difficult challenges
The government debt situation in Europe has been the largest driver of market volatility over the past two months. Concern continues to grow that select European countries are close to defaulting on their loans. European banks may have catastrophic exposure … Continue reading
What we look for when picking a mutual fund
In theory, picking a good mutual fund should be easy. Just find a fund with an experienced portfolio manager who has consistently outperformed the fund’s relevant benchmark and buy some shares. Then repeat in each portion of the market so … Continue reading
How much do you need to save to replace your salary in retirement?
A prominent debate in the financial advisor industry examines what is a safe withdrawal rate from a retired person’s investment portfolio. It’s not quite consensus, but it is generally considered that you can withdraw 4% of the value of a … Continue reading
Structured products are not risk free
The sale of structured products has grown rapidly over the past few years, primarily among advisors who are affiliated with broker/dealers. A structured product uses financial engineering to create an investment that might not otherwise be available – one designed … Continue reading
Bonds less incredible than you think
Here is Gary Brooks’s column from the October 5 Tacoma News Tribune.