Financial
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Understanding Mutual Fund Basics & Their Place in your Portfolio

Millions of household investors have placed all or part of their accumulated assets into mutual funds. A mutual fund describes a professionally managed pool of assets. This pool of assets is used by the fund manager to purchase specific equities, bonds or cash instruments to achieve a stated investment objective as outlined in the fund’s prospectus. In today’s investment marketplace, there are nearly 20,000 mutual funds. Are these investments outperforming the underlying market indexes? Why are so many investors drawn to this investment type? And, if you are currently invested in funds, how do you evaluate their performance? RetireLock helps answer these questions. Read More »

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  • Understanding Retirement Solution Basics

    As a retiree, your investment focus will/should begin to shift from accumulation to income generating, as you begin to plan your lifetime withdrawal strategy. When considering investment vehicles, it is important to understand their function as well as their inherent risks before making any selections.  Read More »

  • Economic Uncertainty Leads to Incresed Capital Movement into Annuities

    As interest rates remain low, traditional cash investments favored by many retirees have become undesirable. Depressed rates coupled with an uncertain investment marketplace, has created doubt and uncertainty among the everyday investor. This economic uncertainty has spurred investor interest in guaranteed investment options and guaranteed income streams, such as the increasingly popular annuity. After all, guaranteed interest rates and payment streams are much more appealing than market losses year after year on one's retirement assets!  Read More »

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Richards - Founder of RetireLockJim Richards - Founder of RetireLock

Jim Richards has built his company, and his reputation, by capturing the human side of Financial Services. Taking the client perspective first, he focuses on dispelling the myths often populating the Financial market. His research and reporting advocates for consumer truth and through this Richards has created a loyal, informed readership.

As doubts and uncertainty in the financial sector have risen, Richards saw the need for an unbiased resource that consumers could turn to for support and created RetireLock. An organization that provides more than just peace of mind, RetireLock works both as a consumer advocate and support to Financial Advisors that want to do it right. The name RetireLock has become synonymous with confidence and certainty; leaving consumers more secure with whom they’re entrusting their financial decisions.

Jim Richards is a syndicated columnist and regular contributor to Scottsdale.com.