asset allocation

When it comes to pursuing the American Dream most of us try as hard as we can to accumulate wealth. We do this so that we can enjoy a comfortable income and retire with dignity. However, what if you were actually wealthy in retirement and at the same time looked poor on your income tax return? How would that impact your retirement years?

Since bottoming in March, U.S. stocks and international stocks rebounded and scored some handsome gains. Emerging market stocks have soared even higher.

There are two ways you could interpret the rise in stocks over the past seven months. First, you could argue that stocks are more resilient than the market expected, or second, stocks have come way too far way too fast.

The funeral business is facing new competitive forces from Chinese coffins to cremation services to internet sold merchandise. It seems pricing pressure exists in a greater way than ever. One natural, and proper, response is to take a good look at overhead expenses and make sure you are running as efficiently as possible in order to retain profitability.

The single most important thing an investor can do to achieve financial goals is to allocate investment assets wisely. Many planning for their financial futures find themselves spending sleepless nights worrying about which mutual fund to buy and sell, which stock to own, which one to dump; should they buy bonds now or should they put derivatives into their investment portfolio?