Recent findings from the New Retirement Mindscape® City Pulse indexsuggest that a person’s gender may influence the ways they plan for retirement, and it appears both men and women can learn a lot from one another. Regardless of your marital status, it’s beneficial to understand that the ways you approach retirement may be different from your spouse or partner, family and peers. Though there may never be absolute agreement among couples or families when it comes to planning financially for retirement, different perspectives are often very valuable.
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It’s natural to feel a bit apprehensive about retirement, especially as concerns about the economy continue to linger and career setbacks remain prevalent. The options and advice available to you can often seem overwhelming and complex, but there are several simple things you can do if you’re feeling unprepared for your retirement years. Suzanna de Baca, vice president of wealth strategies at Ameriprise Financial shares the following steps to help you prepare for — and feel more confident about — your retirement.
A quick glance at the U.S. Dollar (DXY) Index shows that, since the start of the year, the dollar is fractionally higher. But this index, which is an often-cited proxy for relative dollar strength, has its limitations. It is a weighted index of the dollar's value against six foreign currencies: the euro, yen, pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, and Swiss franc. The euro alone accounts for over half of the weighting. Because of the narrow composition of the index, it can provide an incomplete picture of how the dollar is faring against excluded currencies, including those of some important investment destinations for U.S. investors.
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While U.S. markets were closed Monday for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, foreign markets were, indeed, open and active. European equities rallied after a successful debt auction in France. Last week, Standard and Poor’s not unexpectedly downgraded the sovereign debt ratings of nine Eurozone countries—including France and Austria, which lost their AAA ratings. And on Monday, S&P followed through by lowering the rating of the European Financial Stability Facility—which raises money for the financial bailouts of Portugal, Ireland, and Greece, and whose debt is secured by its now less creditworthy member states—from AAA to AA+. Despite these downgrades, the yield on most Eurozone government bonds fell on Monday. The notable exception was Portugal, whose ten-year note yield skyrocketed by 178 basis points to 13.17 percent, after its downgrade left it with a below-investment grade rating.
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Financial planning is a complex process for most people, and it can be especially so for those who live in our country temporarily on special visas. When families in these circumstances seek financial advice, they require someone who understands the intricacies of their unique situation.2011 was a year full of surprises and challenges — unrest in the Middle East, including the deaths of Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gaddafi, Japan’s violent earthquake, U.S. and European debt woes, political gridlock and more. While we may be glad to see 2011 behind us, looking ahead we have no expectations that markets are done climbing the wall of worry or that structural issues will dissipate any time soon.
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