Core Insights - The article discusses the balance between investing in individual stocks versus index funds, emphasizing that while individual stocks can be appealing, they are generally more volatile and risky [1][6][18] Group 1: Individual Stock Investment - A significant portion of low- and moderate-income Americans, 54%, are investing in capital markets, with a preference for individual stocks over mutual funds and ETFs [3] - Investment experts recommend starting small when investing in individual stocks, suggesting that only a small percentage of a portfolio should be allocated to them, especially for retirement savings [5][6][7] - It is advised to avoid overconcentration in any single stock, with a guideline that no single position should account for more than 5% to 10% of the overall portfolio value [9][10] Group 2: Diversification Strategies - Diversification is crucial, meaning holding different types of assets across various sectors and markets, which can mitigate risks associated with individual stocks [12][13] - Experts suggest that investors should own at least 25 diversified stocks to spread risk, while others recommend focusing on 5 to 10 stocks with a strong track record [14][15] - The article highlights that many individual stocks may underperform, and it is the few successful investments that will drive overall returns [20] Group 3: Market Performance Expectations - The article notes that actively managed funds often underperform the market, and this trend applies to amateur stock pickers as well [17][18] - Investors should not expect to consistently beat the market by selecting individual stocks, as many will not perform well [19][20]

Hardship withdrawals — which can be taken only for “immediate and heavy financial needs” — have risen in recent years with the rising cost of living. - Getty Images The high cost of living — with escalated price tags on everything from groceries to housing to healthcare – is hurting people’s everyday lives and forcing them to raid their retirement savings, which only inflicts even more financial pain later. As more people turn to their 401(k) accounts for hardship withdrawals, workers are jeopardizing th ...

[MUSIC PLAYING] How to customize trading charts on Fidelity Trader Plus Web. In this video, you'll learn the key steps to customize charts, including how to load your charts and adjust your view of pricing data and time frames, how to add your favorite indicators and enable pattern recognition, and how to open a trade ticket and place an order directly from your charts. I'm Andrew.I'll guide you through the step-by-step process, so you can make the most of the advanced charting of Fidelity Trader Plus Web. ...

Core Insights - &Partners, a hybrid broker/dealer founded by David Kowach, has rapidly expanded by adding four advisor practices in early November, continuing a strong recruiting trend [1][3] - The firm aims to grow to 150 teams and manage $120 billion in assets over the next three years, indicating ambitious growth plans [4] Recruitment and Growth - The four new teams collectively managed $1.6 billion in client assets, contributing to a total of nine new practices added in October [3] - &Partners currently has over 100 advisor practices in its network and approximately $50 billion in prehire assets, which are expected to be integrated once advisors are fully onboarded [3] Team Details - The largest team joining in November is Florham Park Wealth Advisors from Wells Fargo, managing $730 million in client assets [4] - CirclePoint Financial, another former Wells Fargo team, oversees $427 million in client assets [5] - Two teams from Commonwealth Financial Network managed assets of $250 million and $212 million, respectively, with Zinn Wealth Management being the larger of the two [5] Custodianship - &Partners utilizes Fidelity Investments National Financial Services as its primary custodian for client assets [6]

Core Insights - The total assets under management (AUM) of the world's 500 largest asset managers reached USD 139.9 trillion at the end of 2024, marking a 9.4% increase from the previous year [1][2] Group 1: Industry Recovery and Growth - The asset management industry is experiencing a recovery, with total AUM surpassing the previous record set in 2021 [2] - North America led the growth with a 13% year-on-year increase, accounting for USD 88.2 trillion, or 63% of total AUM among the top 500 firms [2] - Japan's asset managers saw a decline, with AUM falling by 9.5% in 2024, indicating regional disparities in economic performance [3] Group 2: Investment Strategies - There is a significant shift towards passive investment strategies, which now represent 39.0% of total AUM, a 6.1% increase from the previous year [4] - Actively managed assets decreased to 61%, down 3.6% year-on-year [4] Group 3: Market Concentration - The top 20 asset managers control 47% of total AUM, up from 45.5% in 2023, with combined assets rising to USD 65.8 trillion [5] - Among the top 20, 15 firms are based in the U.S., representing 83.9% of this segment, with BlackRock, Vanguard, and Fidelity Investments as the top three [5] Group 4: Emerging Trends - Private-market specialists are experiencing rapid AUM growth, with Brookfield's AUM increasing from USD 240 billion in 2017 to USD 1,061 billion in 2024, reflecting a 20% annualized increase [6] - The Middle East is becoming a strategic hub for asset managers due to regulatory reforms and thematic opportunities in Shariah-compliant investing, ESG, and digital assets [7] Group 5: Technological Adoption - 47% of firms are investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for strategic and operational improvements, although 78% allocate less than 10% of their tech budgets to AI [8] - 61% of firms expect AI spending to grow over the next five years, while 64% express concerns about AI-related cyber risks [8] Group 6: Industry Perspective - The asset management industry is undergoing a transformation influenced by the rise of passive strategies, private markets, and AI, reshaping its foundations [9] - The growth in North America and concentration among top managers signal both opportunities and responsibilities for the industry [10]

Core Viewpoint - The financial sector is poised for growth with the potential for additional rate cuts, presenting an investment opportunity for active ETFs like the Fidelity Disruptive Finance ETF (FDFF) [1] Group 1: Financial Sector Dynamics - Falling interest rates can stimulate demand for loan products, benefiting financial services companies that rely on consumer lending such as mortgages, car loans, and business loans [2] - As demand increases, companies in the financial sector will seek innovative ways to conduct business, creating opportunities for funds like FDFF [3] Group 2: Fund Characteristics and Holdings - FDFF's holdings include companies focused on digital solutions that provide cost-effective, efficient, and customized financial services, such as digital payments, data processing, and internet banks [4] - The fund also invests in companies utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for innovation within the financial sector [4] - Top holdings of FDFF as of September 30 include BlackRock, Capital One Financial Corp, and Equifax [4] Group 3: Investment Strategy - Fidelity's disruptive strategies aim to identify innovative developments that could reshape the delivery of financial products and services [5] - FDFF offers an active management solution, allowing portfolio managers to leverage their expertise in the disruptive financial sector to tailor holdings for future growth [5] - This active approach contrasts with passive funds, which lack the same level of flexibility [6] Group 4: Cost Efficiency - FDFF has an expense ratio of 50 basis points, which is lower than the FactSet Segment Average of 65 basis points, indicating cost efficiency for investors [6]

Core Insights - A significant percentage of retirees are concerned about the impact of rising prices on their financial security, with 84% wishing to better protect their savings from inflation [2][4] - The Schroders survey indicates that 62% of retired Americans are uncertain about the longevity of their savings, while 45% report higher-than-expected expenses in retirement [4] Group 1: Retirement Concerns - 71% of retirees are unsure about optimal spending and income-generating strategies [3] - 86% express concern over healthcare costs in retirement, with an average of 15% of monthly income spent on these expenses [14][15] - Nearly 20% of older Americans have returned to the labor force for personal or economic reasons [4] Group 2: Investment Strategies - Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) are suggested as a way to add inflation-resistant assets to portfolios [1] - Dividend-growing equities and annuities are also recommended to bolster fixed income sources against rising prices [5] - First National Realty Partners (FNRP) offers accredited investors access to grocery-anchored commercial properties, allowing diversification without landlord responsibilities [7][8] Group 3: Financial Planning and Support - The 4% rule is a traditional retirement withdrawal strategy, but alternative flexible approaches are available [10] - Financial advisors can provide valuable guidance for creating sustainable income strategies in retirement [11][17] - Long-term care insurance options are available to help manage healthcare costs and protect retirement funds [15][16]

Core Insights - The SEC's recent decision to allow fund companies to create ETF share classes of traditional mutual funds is expected to lead to a significant increase in new ETFs in the market, but State Street Investment Management plans to take a different approach by offering mutual fund share classes of its ETF strategies in the U.S. retirement plan market [1][2][11] Group 1: Market Opportunity - State Street identifies the retirement plan market, particularly 401(k) and 403(b) plans, as a $4 trillion opportunity where ETFs have not been traditionally represented as core index fund options [3] - The company aims to leverage its existing $1.7 trillion in ETF assets to create competitive offerings in this market [5][12] Group 2: Competitive Advantages - State Street's scale and low fees provide a competitive edge in offering portfolio options to investors and retirement plan sponsors [4][12] - The "in-kind flows" used in ETF management can lead to lower costs and better performance over time for retirement investors, as large institutions can redeem ETF shares without forcing the sale of investments [6][7] Group 3: Industry Context - The mutual fund industry is expected to rapidly adopt the SEC's new ETF provision, with over 70 fund providers having applications pending [9][10] - The current government shutdown has delayed State Street's plans to introduce ETFs as mutual funds in the retirement market [11] Group 4: Strategic Focus - State Street's strategy is not solely about marketing specific ETF strategies but about creating a structure that integrates the efficiency of ETFs into more markets [16] - The fragmentation in the retirement industry, with various legal wrappers for portfolio strategies, presents a challenge that State Street aims to address [17][18]

Core Insights - The healthcare industry is experiencing potential disruption from artificial intelligence (AI) technology, presenting investment opportunities for the Fidelity Disruptive Medicine ETF (FMED) [1] Investment Focus - FMED targets companies that are positioned to disrupt the healthcare sector with innovative solutions, including Boston Scientific Corp, Alynlam Pharma, and Argenx, which may not be as recognizable as larger firms like Eli Lilly or UnitedHealth [2] - The ETF is actively managed, allowing portfolio managers to adjust holdings based on market conditions, with exposure to areas such as robotic surgery, gene therapy, genomics, rare diseases, medical devices, immunotherapy, and technology-based healthcare platforms [3] AI Integration in Healthcare - FMED includes companies utilizing AI to provide innovative healthcare solutions, with rising capital investment in the sector supporting the investment case for such funds [4] - A report from the World Economic Forum highlights ongoing challenges in healthcare, noting that 4.5 billion people lack access to essential services and forecasting a shortage of 11 million healthcare workers by 2030, creating opportunities for AI-driven delivery services [5] - AI digital health solutions are expected to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes globally, emphasizing the need for further investment in AI [6]

How and where do you want to live in retirement? What if you have a major health incident? And who will help you if you can’t manage your own finances as you age? These are hard questions, but the answers can impact generations of your family. That’s why Dr. Tim Habbershon, head of Fidelity’s Center for Family Engagement, says we need to stop avoiding the conversations and start talking about generational wealth and planning together. Tim joins Ally to share ways we can build the skills to have better conve ...