Behavioral Hurdles That Can Delay Necessary Rebalancing
Rebalancing looks simple: set a target mix, monitor your portfolio, and correct when it drifts. Emotionally, rebalancing is difficult, especially when selling top-performing investments.
Why Rebalancing Can Help Maintain a Consistent 401(k) Risk Level
There is a moment, often unnoticed, when the arc of a retirement account begins to bend. Years may pass—years in which the diligent saver, believing the hard work done, watches the balance rise and fall with the tides of the market.
How 401(k) Loans Fit Into a Broader Debt Picture
For many households, decisions about debt and retirement go hand in hand. A 401(k) account is often one of the biggest financial assets, while credit cards, auto loans, student loans, medical bills, or a mortgage can create ongoing monthly stress.
Understanding Duration: How Interest Rate Changes Affect Bond Fund Values
Many 401(k) investors think of bond funds as the “safe” or conservative part of their retirement savings. While they’re generally less volatile than stocks, bond funds don’t always hold steady—they rise and fall in value for several reasons.
Comparing Stable Value, Money Market, and Short-Term Bond Options
For many people saving for retirement, the "cash-like" part of a 401(k) plan seems straightforward.
What Bond Funds Do Inside a 401(k) Portfolio
Bond funds are often called the “safer” side of a 401(k), but that label can be misleading. They don’t eliminate risk or guarantee income. Within a retirement portfolio, bond funds typically provide income, diversify beyond stocks, and help smooth market swings.
Written Rules Can Help 401(k) Investors Stay Disciplined
Market volatility can make even long-term investors second-guess their 401(k) strategy. One way to reduce emotional decision-making is to write down neutral investment rules in advance, including when to review allocations, when to rebalance, and when a true change in risk may be appropriate.
Why 401(k) Changes Based on Daily Headlines Can Be Risky
Many investors feel the urge to react to the latest market headlines. News about inflation, interest rates, geopolitical conflict, or sharp market drops often creates a temptation to quickly adjust a 401(k) allocation.
Building a Personal “News Filter” for Your 401(k)
For many Americans, their 401(k) isn’t just a retirement account—it’s an emotional companion, something they think about often even if retirement is still decades away.
How Often Should You Look at Your 401(k) Balance?
For many of us, checking our 401(k) has become as routine as checking the weather. With just a few taps on your phone, you can see if your retirement savings are up, down, or holding steady.
Stocks Extend Weekly Rally as Tech Strength and Iran Diplomacy Lift Sentiment
Stocks finished the week on a strong note, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching fresh records and logging a fifth straight weekly gain as investors looked past geopolitical risks and focused on resilient earnings, improving economic data, and hopes for a durable Iran ceasefire. Technology led the advance after Apple’s upbeat outlook, while oil prices fell on signs of renewed diplomacy and Treasury yields were little changed.
What 401(k) Investors Can Learn From Long-Term Market History
For many Americans, a 401(k) plan is the foundation of their retirement savings. But when markets get rocky, it’s easy to lose perspective. Sudden drops, dramatic news stories, and economic uncertainty can make people feel anxious and tempted to make quick decisions based on emotion instead of a long-term plan.