Frederick (Fred) Saide's Blog (19)

You may have heard the saying, “inflation hurts savers and benefits borrowers.”

The expression suggests that borrowers benefit from inflation because they pay back lenders with dollars’ worth less than when the money was initially borrowed. But for savers, your hard-earned dollars will lose buying power over time.

One popular way to show the “hurts savers” illustration is with retirement calculators. A fixed amount of money will lose buying power at a much…

Quarterly financial reports are here.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Every few months, you may hear the phrase “earnings season” as you listen to financial news.

But what exactly is “earnings season,” and why is it important to Wall Street?

Earnings season…

Coronavirus Vaccines and the Economy

Hopeful markets react.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

As the United States sees a rise in cases of COVID-19 across the nation, news of two promising vaccines out of hundreds being tested has offered a ray of hope for a fatigued world.¹

A positive reaction to…

How much do you know about the different coverage options?

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Medicare’s open enrollment period runs through December 7. If you are enrolling in Medicare for the first time, you will discover that it is much more complex than an employer-sponsored group health plan.¹

When you…

Express your wishes.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Actor Lee Marvin once said, “As soon as people see my face on a movie screen, they [know] two things: first, I’m not going to get the girl, and second, I’ll get a cheap funeral before the picture is…

Could you be required to provide financial support to your parents?  

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Imagine your parents outliving their money. A terrible thought, right? Should this occur, there will be one of two outcomes. Either your parents will move in with you (or someone else), or your parents will become indigent.…

Retirement Blind Spots

Some life & financial factors that can be overlooked.

Provided by Frederick (Fred) Saide, Ph.D.

We all have a “blue sky” vision of the way retirement should be, yet it helps to plan for retirement with a little pragmatism. Fate may alter the course of our retirement in ways we…

Too many wealthy households commit these common blunders. 

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Many people plan their estates diligently, with input from legal, tax, and financial professionals. Others plan earnestly, but make mistakes that can potentially affect both the transfer and destiny of family wealth. Here are some common…

Some people make money moves that may get them in trouble.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Americans do many things with…

Cybercrime has reached a new level.

 Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Imagine cybercriminals holding your files for ransom. It sounds like something out of a movie set in the distant future, but business owners and households are facing such…

How Long Do You Have To Keep Your Statements?

A year? Seven years? It depends.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

“You should retain copies of your…

Remember that the major indices don’t represent the entirety of Wall Street.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

The S&P 500 is up about 10% YTD, why aren’t I? If your investments are lagging the broad benchmark, you may be asking that very question. The short…

Changes in the Retirement Benefits Landscape

A rundown of the big & little alterations coming next year.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

2015 will bring COLAs, changes & something new. Each year, the retirement…

Should You Apply For Social Security Now...or Later?

When should you apply for benefits? Consider a few factors first.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Now or later? When it comes to the question of Social Security income, the choice looms large.…

Things for trailing-edge boomers & Gen Xers to consider.

 Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

 When you turn 50, retirement starts to seem less abstract. In terms of retirement planning, a 50th birthday can act as a wake-up call. It may offer a powerful reminder to trailing-edge baby boomers and Gen Xers, many of…

Certain misconceptions ignore the realities of retirement.

Provided by Frederick Saide, Ph.D.

Generalizations about money & retirement linger. Some have been around for decades, and some new clichés have recently joined their ranks. Let’s examine a few.…

Sorry about the title which should read 401k not the "typo>"

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed on September 10, 2001 at 9,605.51. After the devastating terrorist attacks the next day, the market did not reopen until September 17, 2001. When it did…

Insurance agents and advisers have spent a lot of time worrying about the impact of the Federal Estate Tax. Largely ignored is the impact of state estate taxes. With the federal exemption at $5.3million and unused amounts are portable so they can be transferred to a surviving spouse the impact of Federal Estate Tax is limited so few people actually owe the…