Articles by Broadridge/Forefield
Losing a spouse is a stressful transition. And the added pressure of having to settle the estate and organize finances can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make dealing with these matters less difficult. Notify others When your spouse dies, your first step should be to contact anyone who is close [...]
Few terms in personal finance are as important, or used as frequently, as "risk." Nevertheless, few terms are as imprecisely defined. Generally, when financial advisors or the media talk about investment risk, their focus is on the historical price volatility of the asset or investment under discussion. Advisors label as aggressive or risky an investment [...]
Businesses sell shares of stock to investors as a way to raise money to finance expansion, pay off debt, and provide operating capital. Each share of stock represents a proportional share of ownership in the company. As a stockholder, you share in a portion of any profits and growth of the company. Dividends from earnings [...]
Insurance serves many purposes for a business. You'll need insurance to protect your business from property damage, personal injury suits, and other forms of financial loss. In addition, you may want to provide your employees with certain types of insurance (e.g., group health and life insurance) to attract and retain them. One of the issues [...]
Your credit report contains information about your past and present credit transactions. It's used primarily by potential lenders to evaluate your creditworthiness. So if you're about to apply for credit, especially for something significant like a mortgage, you'll want to get and review a copy of your credit report. You can see what they see: [...]
Employers can offer 401(k) plan participants the opportunity to make Roth 401(k) contributions. If you're lucky enough to work for an employer who offers this option, Roth contributions could play an important role in maximizing your retirement income. What is a Roth 401(k)? A Roth 401(k) is simply a traditional 401(k) plan that accepts Roth [...]
Go out into your yard and dig a big hole. Every month, throw $50 into it, but don't take any money out until you're ready to buy a house, send your child to college, or retire. It sounds a little crazy, doesn't it? But that's what investing without setting clear-cut goals is like. If you're [...]
Let's face it: It's hard to buy a product that you can't see and really hope you'll never use. But unless you're wealthy enough to weather any foreseeable (and unforeseeable) financial storms, it's time to start shopping for insurance. Where to buy it When it comes to buying insurance, you have a number of options. [...]
In tax lingo, your principal residence is the place where you legally reside. It's typically the place where you spend most of your time, but several other factors are also relevant in determining your principal residence. Many of the tax benefits associated with home ownership apply mainly to your principal residence — different rules apply [...]
With so many 529 savings plans to choose from, it's important to ask a lot of questions in order to select the best plan for you. Compare the plans offered by different states If you're interested in opening a 529 savings plan account, consider all your options. You can typically join any state's 529 savings [...]