2014

Making a Clear Distinction Between Morningstar’s Dual Fund Rating Systems

By / 4 minutes of reading

Recently, I was asked by a beginning fund investor to explain why Morningstar has two “ratings” on mutual funds, and which one should she use.  She made reference to an article [“Flummoxed by Our Ratings? Here’s What You Need to Know,”] on Morningstar’s website written by Russell Kinnel, director of manager research for Morningstar. The […]

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Here are Five Big-Ticket Items You Shouldn’t Buy During the Holidays.

By / 3 minutes of reading

Think You Get The Best Deals During The Holidays? Think Again! It’s holiday season, a time of carols, decorations, and cut-rate deals. Black Friday is infamous for the deep discounts retailers are willing to offer to entice holiday shoppers through their doors. These deals may be tempting, but savvy shoppers can save even more on

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Over Half of Americans “Haven’t Got Around” To Making a Will

By / 3 minutes of reading

Think of all the things you own, from the money in your retirement account, to your home, your car, and your beloved stamp collection. Where will they go after you die? If you are like 61% of Americans who have not created a will, then you are leaving that question up to your home state

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OMG, I’m Rich! Now What?

By / 2 minutes of reading

Five tips on how to save and play responsibly with your newfound wealth Have you just landed a big windfall? Maybe you’ve received an inheritance, gotten a bonus at work, sold your business, or won a lawsuit. Congratulations on this infusion of cash. You now have the means to create more financial stability in your

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Make a Wish This Thanksgiving and Then Make It Come True

By / 3 minutes of reading

This Thanksgiving, families and friends across the country will sit around the dinner table and consider the things they are thankful for. In a world that pushes us to want more than we have, it’s nice to actually appreciate the abundance already in our lives. Still, there is always a place for dreams in Thanksgiving.

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A Couple’s Money Meet-Up

By / 3 minutes of reading

Let’s imagine that you and your mate have a very important financial date today. It’s a regularly scheduled get-together that happens every month like clockwork. You may recall that when you first began these state-of-our-finances meetings, it was rocky. Lots of things needed to be shared and talked through, some quite jarring. Now, though, it’s

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Second Saturday Workshops

By / 1 minute of reading

  As of November 2018, there are over 100 Second Saturday Divorce workshops in progress or newly minted and rolling out for the New Year.  That means that women across the country will have essential legal, emotional and financial information available to help them navigate one of the most difficult challenges they can ever face.

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Net Asset Value & Total Return – Clarifying Two Key Mutual Fund Data Points

By / 4 minutes of reading

It has been my experience with many attendees at my investment education lectures that they do not have a clear understanding of two basic mutual fund concepts – net asset value (NAV) and total return (TR). While related, these two features of fund investing have two distinct functions – the former relates to the pricing

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The Joy Team

By / 1 minute of reading

To me, April means the true beginning of spring – flowers catch my eye, the weather really starts to turn, and people just seem happier. This month, we are celebrating that feeling by sharing Michele McKeag Larsen, and her non-profit, The Joy Team. The Joy Team has a simple premise:  spreading joy, optimism and inspiration

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Southern NH Money Club offers financial ‘support’ for women

By / 4 minutes of reading

By BARBARA TAORMINA New Hampshire Union Leader Correspondent The Southern NH Money Club is part of a growing group of clubs throughout the country inspired by the Women’s Institute for Financial Education, WIFE.org, the oldest existing non-profit organization dedicated to financial education for women. Mary Murphy has been making financial management decisions since she was a

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Planners Get Cash to Take Second Saturday Divorce Workshop National

By / 3 minutes of reading

By Ann Marsh Financial Planning Magazine A 25-year-old divorce workshop founded and run by two planners in San Diego has received funding from a former attendee to enhance its website, with an eye to going national. “We recognize not everyone can get to a workshop,” says Elizabeth Bryan, outreach coordinator for the Second Saturday workshops,

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Living Apart Together

By / 2 minutes of reading

Today, my husband of almost seven years is packing to move out. We loved it when we lived in different states and saw each other two weeks a month.  Living together full time with two dogs, four cats that don’t get along and an ever-starving teenage son has literally put us in different states –

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What Should Fund Investors Do With Style Boxes? Use Them!

By / 4 minutes of reading

Background Several years ago, Morningstar’s Don Phillips invented what is called a style box, now widely used by the investment community to categorize mutual funds according to investment characteristics of their portfolios. Fund categorization allows investors to diversify the asset-allocation of their portfolios by choosing a selection of funds according to varying degrees of risk

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