HOT TOPIC: FED DELIVERS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE U.S. ECONOMY
On December 16, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 0.25% to 0.50%, the first increase from the near-zero range (0% to 0.25%) where it had lingered since December 2008. SHARESHARE|
STABILITY AND LIQUIDITY: MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUNDS
During the late 1990s, money market mutual funds offered an annual return of around 5% (see graph). This made them attractive to investors, including retirees and pre-retirees who wanted to preserve principal while earning a modest return. After an uptick
MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE AT DIFFERENT AGES
Financial challenges are not limited to a specific age, but people tend to face certain challenges during particular stages of their lives. Regardless of your age, you might recognize some of these financial issues. IN YOUR 20’S. Living beyond your
HOW ONE GRAD CUT HER STUDENT LOAN DEBT BY $20,000
Lexie Mitchell, a 2011 Stanford grad, found one. By refinancing her student loans, she cut her monthly payments by $80 and will save a whopping $20,000 in total. “Stanford was amazing. I loved it, but it’s also very expensive,” Mitchell
NOT YET OUT OF THE WOODS
FOR a spell last year American banks seemed poised to reattain the sort of double-digit returns that have largely eluded them since the financial crisis. A robust market for takeovers and public offerings was producing a flurry of fees. Credit
AMERICANS ARE SAVING MORE THAN SPENDING
It’s a key shift in spending habits that started during the Great Recession. And the trend continues as we head into the holiday shopping season this weekend. The savings rate in the United States rose to 5.6% in October —