In the last article, I talked about how a husband can improve his wife’s standard of living and retirement security in the event that he dies first by delaying the age he begins collecting his Social Security benefits. Now, let’s explore some of the key issues that surround the decision of w…

Taxes take a big bite out of investment earnings. An important goal of successful investing, therefore, is maximizing after-tax returns. This involves both assembling the correct mix of assets and placing them in the right types of accounts. Since different investments and different types of…

In our last article, we talked about how the increase in life expectancy presents a significant financial challenge for most retirees. In simple terms, the longer we expect to live, the more money it will cost to fund our retirement. The evidence suggests that most Americans are not are prep…

Portfolio rebalancing is an effective risk control strategy that should occupy a leading role in the management of every investor’s portfolio. Large institutional investors such as university endowments religiously rebalance their portfolios to bring allocations back in line with their origi…

In a recent article, I introduced the fields of classical and behavioral economics and finance. Classical finance assumes people make financial decisions in computer-like fashion — rationally and unemotionally. Behavioral finance which combines the study of economics and psychology argues th…

Members of Raytheon’s employee veteran network (RayVets) participated in a day of service at Ironstone Farm last week.

Underpinning the field of traditional finance is the assumption that people, when faced with financial decisions, act like computers. They weigh all the available information, calculate the option that maximizes their interests and unemotionally implement their decision.

Last week we talked about behavioral finance. This relatively new field has been attracting the attention of mainstream investors over the last 20 years. Behavioral finance is the area of economics that studies how the financial decisions we make are influenced by factors beyond a purely log…

The decision to retire is life-changing. As exciting as it is to start a new chapter, this decision also involves making difficult tradeoffs, some of which are irreversible and have uncertain consequences. It’s understandable that for many people, the process is fraught with emotion and anxi…

Helping your children pay for college is one of the biggest and most important challenges that you will face. Currently, a four-year education (tuition, fees, room and board, supplies and personal expenses) can range from almost $100,000 at a public college to over $230,000 at some of the mo…

For a handful of local leaders, 2018 was marred by a catastrophic disaster.

Investors, especially retirees, often use their portfolios to generate income. With bond yields and interest rates on CDs and money markets at record lows, these investors are searching for alternatives to meet their income objectives. Spurred by the headlines in some of the popular consumer…

After a four-month closure that included converting its gas service to electricity, McDonald's on North Main Street finally reopened last week and nobody is more thrilled than owner Carissa Haley.

Carlo and Danielle Berdahn, the Lynnfield couple who own the restaurant Yella in Andover, are branching out.

Investing your savings to achieve your retirement goals may seem like a daunting task. It doesn’t have to be. A well-designed portfolio is an important element for achieving a secure retirement. Although this portfolio will be different for each of you depending upon your individual circumst…

A jewelry manufacturing company will soon be moving into the RiverBend Mill at Dundee Park.

Planning for retirement is perhaps the most pressing financial issue facing most Americans in their 40s, 50s and 60s today. Although most people believe that realizing a secure retirement is their most important financial priority, few have taken the steps necessary to reach this goal. Perha…

Portfolio rebalancing is a powerful risk control strategy that should occupy a prominent role in the management of every investor’s portfolio. Large institutional investors such as university endowments religiously rebalance their portfolios to bring allocations back in line with their origi…

Investors, especially retirees, often use their portfolios to generate income. With bond yields and interest rates on CDs and money markets at record lows, these investors are searching for alternatives to meet their income objectives. Spurred by the headlines in some of the popular consumer…

Last week, we discussed specific obstacles that can get in the way of securing a comfortable retirement. In this article, we’ll offer some solutions to help improve the chances of securing a comfortable retirement.

Andover's annual quest to find Waldo is well underway, and local businesses say children and adults of all ages have been traversing Main Street to find the popular children's book character. 

Taxes take a big bite out of investment earnings. An important goal of successful investing, therefore, is maximizing after-tax returns. This involves both assembling the correct mix of assets and placing them in the right types of accounts. Since different investments and different types of…

Last week, I discussed how simplicity can improve your ability to make better financial decisions and talked about the importance of being properly insured. Let’s continue to talk about life insurance and also examine the role estate planning plays in simplifying your financial affairs.

Brides Across America is opening a new charity shop on North Main Street.

In our last article, we talked about how simplicity can help you achieve a sense of calm and control not only in your personal life, but in your financial life as well. Let’s continue to discuss how this concept can improve your ability to make better financial decisions.

Clean. Elegant. Simple. These words evoke a sense of calm and control. In fields as diverse as science, product design and business, simplicity is the holy grail for creators and practitioners. Why? Because simple approaches are easier to understand and execute and often yield better results…

Last week, we talked about the financial industries’ endless quest to find a way to develop reliable market forecasts. A fundamentally new way of thinking has evolved from a field far removed from economics or finance and offers a strong argument why those current models are destined to fail.