We would love to hear from you. Click on the ‘Contact Us’ link to the right and choose your favorite way to reach-out!

wscdsdc

media/speaking contact

Jamie Johnson

business contact

Victoria Peterson

Contact Us

855.ask.wink

Close [x]
pattern

Industry News

Categories

  • Industry Articles (21,155)
  • Industry Conferences (2)
  • Industry Job Openings (35)
  • Moore on the Market (414)
  • Negative Media (144)
  • Positive Media (73)
  • Sheryl's Articles (800)
  • Wink's Articles (353)
  • Wink's Inside Story (274)
  • Wink's Press Releases (123)
  • Blog Archives

  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • August 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • November 2008
  • September 2008
  • May 2008
  • February 2008
  • August 2006
  • Where to Turn When Bonds Aren’t the Investment They Used to Be

    October 24, 2017 by Andrew M. Costa

    Bonds have long been viewed as a great alternative for people who were in search of a good—and relatively conservative—investment.

    They provided a nice way to balance the portfolio, so that a steep drop in the stock market—like we experienced in 2008—wouldn’t do quite as much damage to your overall financial picture as it would if you owned nothing but stock.

    But times may be changing, and bond investors could be about to discover that every investment vehicle—bonds included—has a downside.

    For a long time, we’ve been in a low interest rate environment; so low, in fact, that rates really couldn’t go any lower.

    Now it appears that interest rates may be headed in the opposite direction, and as they rise, bonds can lose market value. Here’s why: When you buy a bond, you are essentially lending money to a company or a government entity for a fixed term at a fixed interest rate.

    That sounds simple enough. But if your bond is paying a low interest rate—say 2%—and new bonds being issued are paying higher than that, then no one may want to buy your bond if you want or need to sell it before the maturity date. And so the price of that bond can fall.

    That seemingly conservative investment maybe wasn’t a conservative as so many people thought.

    So that’s the bad bond news. The question then becomes: What do you do about this? Where do you go to find a reasonably (though not completely) safe place for your money that could still provide a decent return?

    One possibility to explore is annuities. Of course, annuities come in various forms, but there’s a type of fixed-index annuity that can provide competitive interest credits without the interest-rate risk associated with bonds.

    With one of these annuities, an investor is able to take advantage of market-linked interest credits and when in retirement, receive a steady income stream that cannot be outlived. These insurance products are tied to a specific market index that allows consumers to receive a limited level of interest credits based on market gains. And because the money is never actually invested in the market, their principal is protected from downside market risk.

    Are there drawbacks? Absolutely. These products often have a cap that limits the interest earnings that you can enjoy. If the index’s return is negative, no loss is posted to your account. If the index’s return is positive, interest is credited to your account—but with a cap. It can only go so high and no higher.

    As with any financial product, you should know what you’re getting. Here are some questions to ask before buying:

    • What is the guaranteed minimum interest rate?
    • Which index will determine the amount of my interest credits?
    • Will the interest credits be calculated annually, quarterly or for some other length of time?
    • What are the surrender penalties and tax implications of an early exit from the contract?
    • Will the insurance company have the right to lower the cap at some point in the future, and by how much?

    Finally, be sure to talk with your financial professional and a tax adviser about how a fixed-index annuity might fit with your overall retirement plan, particularly with regard to taxes and inflation.

    Read more at http://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T003-C032-S014-bonds-aren-t-the-investment-they-used-to-be.html#WWVkyoy1omLT44EA.99

    Ronnie Blair contributed to this article.

    Securities offered through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS) Member FINRA & SIPC. Advisory services offered through Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory (GWM) a Registered Investment Advisor. MAS and GWM are not affiliated entities.

    Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

    Andrew M. Costa is managing director and co-founder of Global Wealth Management in Fort Lauderdale. He co-authored the book “SuccessOnomics” with Steve Forbes and is co-host of The Global Wealth Show, a financial radio show on 610 WIOD and iheartradio.com. Costa, a recognized professional in the investment management business, also has provided financial insight in “The Wall Street Journal,” “USA Today” and “Newsweek,” and has appeared on CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox.

     

     

    Originally Posted at Kiplinger on October 2017 by Andrew M. Costa.

    Categories: Industry Articles
    currency