Recent content from Chris Farrell
How to find a financial adviser for a one-time planning session
Before starting your search, you will want to be clear about what you expect.
'Dow 36,000' is still wrong. It pays to recall why.
The Dow Jones industrial average is hovering near 30,000, some 20% away from a number that may resonate with readers who recall the dot.com era…
Some tips for older workers to weather hard times
The association of old age with decline has a long history. To work or do anything demanding during the traditional retirement years is often considered…
Planning a move later in life? Find a neighborhood that bridges generations
Sometime in the early 1970s while caddying for my older brother and father we were joined by two 60-something businessmen. My brother was a college-educated…
Fretting about investments around election time isn't worth the pain
The election on Tuesday is one of the most momentous in the nation’s history — and investors are understandably nervous about what might be the…
How to offset low interest rates in retirement? Plan on some sort of work
How comfortable are you relying on stocks for steady, reliable income in retirement?
How older workers can prepare for job loss
There are no easy answers when it comes to the job market, especially during a pandemic.
I-bonds are wise option for middle class savers
What is America's least-known, least-appreciated, high-quality investment for the typical saver and family? I-bonds. Heard of them?I-bonds are U.S. Savings Bonds designed to protect savings…
Long-term care is a topic we should all be talking about
The uncertain prospect about needing long-term care weighs on older Americans.
Need is great, so it's more important than ever to give what you can
Difficult times call on everyone to make sure they are thoughtful in their giving throughout the year.
You would do well to heed Warren Buffett's margin-of-safety lesson
The advice seems particularly appropriate during these hard times.
When does it make sense to convert traditional IRA to Roth?
Individual details matter greatly, but odds are conversion may not be the best plan.
With stocks on a tear, it's time to rebalance your portolio
Investors should spend time creating a portfolio with an asset allocation that reflects their tolerance and capacity for risk over the long haul.
In uncertain times, diversification can be an investor's best friend
No one knows what will happen to the price level in coming years. Yet the stakes for the average long-term saver are high if inflation does spike.
In pandemic economy, investors betting big on digital economy
Speculative fevers emerge during times of major innovations and technological change.
Planning to work beyond retirement age? You may have to call an audible
One practical response for near-retirees to consider is whether to join the ranks of entrepreneurs, including self-employment.
It's worth the effort to weigh your options on long-term care costs
Medicare covers little of these expenses and Medicaid essentially requires impoverishment first.
Why this is a good time to shore up your household finances
The initial hope that the pandemic would be contained within a short period of time is giving way to the sober realization that combating the virus will take time.
You can have fun in the stock market, but keep sums small
What is going on with the stock market? Despite some nerve-racking plunges, investors seem remarkably cheery. If you only paid attention to the stock market…
Why you should be wary of private equity getting a shot at your 401(k)
Private-equity performance is too opaque, and private-equity fees too onerous and too complicated for the 401(k) saver.
Don't listen to the markets. Embrace 4 basics of personal finance
When we give our money away and volunteer our time, we ask the right question: How can we make a difference?
Think of this pandemic era as a retirement test drive
Many near-retirees now know odds are they'll need to plan on working well into the traditional retirement years, while saving more and focusing on eliminating debts
It's going to be different from now on, so think through a personal plan
One trick is to keep a diary. The notes are there to help you think through your likes, strengths, weaknesses and goals.
Socially responsible investing shows relative strength in pandemic economy
Making money and embracing sustainability may well be two sides of the same coin.
Make frugality a key part of your financial crisis recovery plan
Savings protects against downside risks and allows for taking advantage of opportunities.
Mentoring in an economy rocked by pandemic can pay off for everybody
The best investment the older generation can make is in the younger generation.
Is this a good time to buy a house?
Forecasting is hazardous under normal circumstances, but it's especially difficult right now.
Key steps to take in a turbulent stock market
A couple of techniques help the typical retirement saver to "stand still" smartly until the market revives.
In times like these, it's your intergenerational network that counts
What else is money for but to support those we love? Reach out and make sure the people you know are OK.
To cope with this downturn, remember what happened the last time
Monetary and fiscal policy are critical for shoring up the economy and confidence.
Why target-date funds may be your best investment
Most employers with 401(k) plans now offer the option and for new employees it's the most popular choice.
Best virus money moves you can make: Attack household debt, hone job hunting skills
Instead of trying to time the markets at times like these, focus on what you can control.
If you really want to amp up savings, sweat the big stuff
Only a handful of expenses really count when it comes to the desire save more by spending money wisely.
Your retirement planning should include personal connections
Health concerns about loneliness don't seem like a classic personal finance topic. Yet thinking about how to avoid loneliness is critical to savvy retirement planning.
Once ridiculed, socially responsible investing is shaking up money management
Socially responsible or sustainable money management has gone mainstream and will only grow in influence.
Index fund takeover worries don't change basic facts
Putting money into a portfolio that matches the performance of an index like the S&P 500 is cheap, simple and savvy.
If you turned 70½ after Jan. 1, your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) may have changed
The age change won't affect many retirees since they typically start withdrawing well before their RMD date. They need the money to pay bills.
Want to improve yourself in 2020? Here are 4 tips to making resolutions work
The desire to develop better habits revolve around a few core areas.
Get ready for more annuity options in employer retirement plans
The legislation clears a path for employers to offer annuities as part of their retirement plans. Other than that, it's legislative tinkering.
College graduates with no workplace retirement plan should check out a Roth IRA
The big advantage is that contributions can be withdrawn without tax consequences or early withdrawal penalty.
Retirement planning needs to include keeping in touch with your communities
The message from a recent Senate report is clear from its title, "An Invisible Tsunami: 'Aging Alone' and Its Effect on Older Americans, Families, and Taxpayers."
How the season of giving can bolster sound personal finance habits
The difficult question is how to stay focused on what matters when earning and managing our money.
Wise financial planning is grounded in finding a purpose
We have different goals, values and talents. Yet we share the desire to know that what we are doing matters.
Scams are on the rise, and most are aimed at elderly
A recent report from the Federal Trade Commission highlights how vulnerable we are all are to con artists.
Multigenerational households are on the rise, and that's a good thing
Some 64 million people — 20% of the U.S. population — lived in multigenerational households in 2016.
To lower your financial risk, lower your overhead
GE's shift in retirement plans is yet one more example of rising economic insecurity for the average worker and the typical household.
How to follow your second-act dreams when the world says don't
The calculated risks they took launching a publishing house and a bed-and-breakfast.
Chris Farrell: When passing a fortune to the kids, should it be all at once or in pieces over time?
Q: In considering retirement and estate planning, it is likely I will have a choice between leaving my children funds mostly in conventional taxable investments,…
Some good bets for retirees anxious about inflation
Q: I am retired. As I see it, there are at least two key factors when considering investing for retirement (including annuities): 1. How long…
When retiring, should you leave for 401(k) with your employer or move it?
My standard recommendation is to shift the savings into a rollover IRA. Control is a big reason.
Are annuities right for you? It's worth doing some homework to get the answer
A recent pitch I received to learn more about the annuity market included the line, “annuities are coming, whether you like them or not.” The…
A recession is coming, some day. Are you prepared?
You have time to prepare your finances for a downturn.
How parents can help college-bound students learn to manage money
Sound money-management practices are critical since most students receive a loan-repayment schedule along with their diploma.
Why you should consider opening a business in retirement
The 55- to 64-year-old age cohort accounted for more than a quarter of new business startups in 2017, according to the Kauffman Foundation.
Should retirees rent or buy a home? Cash flow is key
Q: I am a 65-year-old female, retired. I have about $50,000 in investments. I am selling a house as part of a divorce. I can…
Books and conversations to help teens learn about money
Q: My three teenage grandsons have the potential to come into some inheritances within the next few years. My financial adviser has said he would…
It could be time for you to build savings, pare debt
Risk management is more than the investment portfolio.
Having a side hustle can pay off big for caregivers
American workers have always had some kind of side hustle. Looking at data from JPMorgan on the gig economy (think Uber, Lyft and TaskRabbit), a…
Most important thing you can pass on to loved ones isn't money
The high-tech entrepreneurs at the recent Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit conference are developing products and services largely targeted at an elderly population and their…
New standard for financial advisers falls short for investors
The Securities and Exchange Commission recently approved its Regulation Best Interest standard for brokers. The best-interest standard replaces the stricter Obama-era fiduciary standard rule for…
You should play it safe with cash you will need in the short term
Q: A few years ago, we had to move my dad to a memory-care facility. He had some investments, and, due to the cost of…
It makes sense to freeze your credit and keep it frozen
The cost consumers now pay for managing a credit freeze is nothing more than a minor inconvenience that is well worth the benefit.
How to make a difference and still pay off those student loans
The advice to pursue your dreams at work may be nice, but the borrowed money still has to be repaid.
Knowing when enough is enough just could be the secret to investing success
John "Jack" Bogle followed his own advice.
No financial plan is complete without a basic estate plan
If you are among those who haven't put together a basic estate plan, get it done in 2019. Your heirs and close circle of relatives and friends will thank you.
Where to get information to plan future housing options
Q: I’m interested in gathering information to plan for moving from our home when we can’t take care of it. I am 68 and my…
Late to the retirement savings game? Frugality can bail you out
Clearly, the standard financial advice is good. Problem is, the approach isn't realistic for many people.
Just starting out? Here are some basic money tips
Money management for young college graduates is mostly adopting a few good spending and savings habits.
If you want to save more money, sweat the big stuff
That's the best way to free up cash that can be stashed away.
Retirement planning needs to factor in changing life spans
The school, work, retirement silos are coming down, and a more complex narrative is being scripted.
Study finds that despite better ways to save, many count on tax refunds
Tax refunds matter to household finances. That's the clear message from a recent study by the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Institute. The report draws on…
Use these good times to shore up household finances
In the late 1980s, I was invited along with a handful of other young journalists covering personal finance to meet with Sir John Templeton, an…
Explore your options when required retirement distributions kick in
Like so many laws attached to retirement savings plans, there are twists and traps for the unwary.
Experts recommend finance and investing books for younger readers
Q: I’m looking for book recommendations for teens about money management, investments, etc. My son is 14 and has a high interest in learning about…
To lower your household's financial risk, boost your savings
Living on the financial edge is a way of life for many. Now add federal employees to the list.
