Of course, none of these paths are optimal — especially since one of the key rules of thumb for retirement readiness is to be debt-free, according to Cruze.With limited resources, many boomers may be forced to take on debt, rely heavily on Social Security, cut back their lifestyles or even return to work to maintain their quality of life.Meanwhile, a 2025 Northwestern Mutual research study found that the average “magic number” Americans think they will need for retirement is $1.26 million. With average savi ...

You Could Have Captured Gold's 73% Surge For Only 0.18% - 24/7 Wall St.[S&P 5006,845.00 -0.04%][Dow Jones48,874.20 +0.05%][Nasdaq 10024,803.70 +0.24%][Russell 20002,624.57 -0.15%][FTSE 10010,696.80 +0.13%][Nikkei 22557,675.30 +1.54%][Stock Market Live February 24, 2026: S&P 500 (SPY) Rebounding from Monday Disaster][Investing]# You Could Have Captured Gold's 73% Surge For Only 0.18%### Quick ReadGoldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) returned 73.1% over the past year with a 0.18% expense ratio.Goldman Sachs ...

The lesson here isn't that high yields are always bad, it's just that yield without content can be meaningless. A 9% yield from a well-structured covered call strategy backed by large-cap stocks is fundamentally different from a 9% yield propped up by a declining share price and a company that can't afford what it's paying out.This is what the market calls a yield trap, and 2025 produced plenty of them. Funds that screened for nothing but the highest-yielding stocks often held companies with deteriorating f ...

Core Insights - The typical American worker has less than $1,000 saved for retirement, indicating a significant retirement savings crisis [1] - For those aged 55 to 64, the median retirement savings is only $30,000, highlighting the struggles of many families to save adequately [2] - The report emphasizes that many workers are prioritizing immediate survival over long-term savings, with millions lacking access to employer-sponsored retirement plans [2] Group 1: Retirement Savings Data - The median savings for employed adults aged 21 to 64 is $955, based on analysis from the US Census Bureau [3] - Among Americans enrolled in employer-provided retirement plans, the average 401(k) balance is $144,400, and the average IRA account balance is $137,902 [4] - The average 401(k) savings rate for these individuals is 9.5%, with an average employer contribution rate of 4.7%, leading to a combined contribution rate of 14.2% [5] Group 2: Contribution Rates and Challenges - The typical employee contribution rate across the broader workforce is between 5% and 6%, with employer contributions just under 3% [7] - Contribution rates tend to increase with age, education, and income, but many workers do not start saving until mid-career [7] - Unpredictable events such as health crises or economic downturns can derail retirement plans, further complicating the savings landscape [7]

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are facing their most sustained period of institutional friction this year. This year, the funds have logged six weeks of outflows amid macroeconomic uncertainty that is driving capital toward traditional safe havens. BlackRock, Fidelity Lead Bitcoin ETF Exodus Amid Macro Jitters Since the start of 2026, the funds have bled nearly $4.5 billion, offset by just $1.8 billion of inflows during the first and third weeks of the year, according to data from SosoValu ...

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded a fifth consecutive week of net withdrawals, extending the longest negative streak since early 2025 as institutional demand softened alongside a broader pullback in digital assets. Key Takeaways: Spot Bitcoin ETFs posted a fifth straight week of withdrawals, losing about $316 million and roughly $3.8 billion over the streak. Midweek selling outweighed Friday inflows, showing cooling institutional demand despite stable prices. Capital appears to be rotati ...

I analyze securities based on value investing, an owner's mindset, and a long-term horizon. I don't write sell articles, as those are considered short theses, and I never recommend shorting.I was initially interested in a career in politics, but after reaching a dead-end in 2019 and seeing the financial drain this posed, I choose a path that would make my money work for me and protect me from more setbacks. This brought me to study value investing, in order to grow wealth with risk management in mind.From 2 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the journey of an individual transitioning from a potential career in politics to a focus on value investing, emphasizing the importance of risk management and long-term wealth growth [1]. Group 1: Career Transition - The individual initially pursued a career in politics but faced challenges that led to a shift towards finance and investment [1]. - After experiencing financial setbacks in 2019, the decision was made to study value investing to create wealth and mitigate risks [1]. Group 2: Professional Experience - From 2020 to 2022, the individual worked in a sales role at a law firm, where they became the top-grossing salesman and managed a team, contributing to sales strategy [1]. - The experience gained during this period was instrumental in assessing company prospects based on sales strategies [1]. - From 2022 to 2023, the individual served as an investment advisory representative with Fidelity, focusing on 401K planning, and excelled in the role due to prior personal study [1]. Group 3: Investment Philosophy - The individual identifies as a value investor, which contrasts with Fidelity's reliance on modern portfolio theory, leading to frustration and a decision to leave after a year [1]. - The articles written for Seeking Alpha serve as a platform to share investment opportunities discovered through personal investment experiences [1].

Core Insights - The article discusses various stock market indices and the advantages of investing in low-cost index funds, emphasizing the importance of expense ratios in determining investment returns. Group 1: Stock Market Indices - The Russell 3000 tracks about 98% of the investable U.S. stock market, while the Russell 2000 focuses on approximately 2,000 of the smallest publicly traded companies in the U.S. [1] - The Nasdaq Composite measures the performance of over 3,000 companies on the Nasdaq stock market, known for its technology sector exposure [2] - The S&P 500 tracks around 500 of the largest companies in the U.S., making it one of the most followed indices globally [2][24] Group 2: Index Funds - Index funds are passive investment vehicles that aim to match the performance of a specific index by holding the same assets in the same proportions [3][4] - Low-cost index funds are suitable for both beginner and advanced investors, providing broad diversification and reducing risk compared to individual stock investments [6][7] - The expense ratio of an index fund indicates the percentage of an investment paid as a fee to the fund company, with low-cost funds often charging below 0.10% [8][9] Group 3: Investment Strategies - Investors should focus on long-term returns and the cost of owning index funds, aiming for the highest possible returns while minimizing fees [17] - Researching available index funds involves filtering by expense ratio and sorting by returns over various time periods [12][13] - Broadly diversified funds are recommended to reduce overall portfolio risk [15] Group 4: Low-Cost Index Funds - The article lists nine low-cost S&P 500 index funds, highlighting their expense ratios, with Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX) at 0.015% and Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index (FNILX) at 0% [24] - Investors can find low-cost funds by searching broker sites, and many funds are available as either ETFs or mutual funds [25][27] - The key differentiator among index funds tracking the same index is the cost, making it essential for investors to focus on expense ratios [30]

Saving and investing are both important for building a sound financial foundation, but they’re not the same thing. It’s important to know the differences, and when it’s best to save vs. when it’s best to invest. The biggest difference between saving and investing is the level of risk taken. Saving typically results in earning a lower return but with virtually no risk of losing your money. In contrast, investing offers the opportunity to earn a much higher return, but you take on the risk of loss. Here a ...