With all the fun and activity of summer, it can be hard for investors to maintain their concentration. The stock market, though, has been picking up that slack for some time now. Peaking under the hood of the U.S. stock markets, we see them attaining a degree of concentration not seen for many years. This “concentration” refers to the outsized influence that a few stocks have on stock market indices, because of how the indices are put together. Fundamentally, you can think of concentration as the opposite of diversification. While an index may appear diversified on the surface, in reality it may be substantially skewed toward a handful of companies or a particular sector. So how does market concentration work? Learn more.

As the U.S. stock market hits new highs in 2024, it begs the question, “Should I diversify some of my stock market risk into non-traditional assets like alternatives?” While the answer varies from person to person, the concept is one worth exploring for many investors.

Alternative investments are financial assets that fall outside the traditional categories of stocks, bonds, and cash. They are often used in investment allocations to diversify portfolios, hedge against risks, and seek higher returns. Learn more about the common types of alternative investments and their characteristics.

Protecting your personal information is more important now than ever before. With the increasing number of data breaches and identity theft cases, it's crucial to take proactive steps to safeguard your credit. One effective way to do this is by freezing your credit. Let's dive deeper into what credit freezing is, how to freeze your credit, and the benefits of taking this precautionary measure.

Protecting ourselves and seniors from fraud schemes requires awareness, education, and vigilance. By understanding the common schemes used against seniors, we can empower them to recognize scams and avoid becoming victims. Learn about the three most common fraud schemes against seniors and how to avoid them.

Did you know your property ownership is vulnerable to cyber thieves? In this article, we dive into the world of property title protection and explore ways that you can add layers of defense against potential property fraud. Your dream home deserves more than just your investment, it deserves your vigilant protection.

Have you heard of the 80/20 Rule? The 80% Rule is an insurance industry standard that stipulates policyholders must carry enough homeowners insurance to cover at least 80% of their home’s replacement cost. If a policyholder’s coverage falls below 80% of the home's replacement cost, the policyholder becomes a co-insurer in their loss, which can be a significant financial burden. Learn more

FDIC and SIPC insurance provide important protections to individuals and businesses in the banking and securities industries, respectively. FDIC insurance offers coverage for deposits at FDIC member banks, protecting the principal amount of the deposit in case of bank failures. SIPC insurance provides limited coverage for securities and cash held by customers of failed brokerage firms, helping to facilitate the recovery of assets in case of insolvency or fraud. Learn more.

Protecting your home and auto assets is an important piece to your LifePlan. But finding the right Homeowners and Auto insurance can seem overwhelming. Do you just go with what's easiest and choose someone you know? One way people navigate this complexity is by talking with an independent insurance agent. Independent agents are licensed to sell insurance products from multiple companies instead of being direct employees of just one company. Learn more.

Two years ago I turned 65 and had to select a Medicare Plan. There are several levels of options that must be chosen and they can be very confusing. Keep in mind I have my insurance license and it still took me about two weeks to research and make a final decision. Learn more from my experience to determine if you may have overlooked your Medicare choices.