Indexed Annuities—What Are They and Why Are They So Confusing?
The "Money Talks" hosts talk with insurance expert Jim Crone from CNT Financial about Index Annuities and what purpose they serve in an investment portfolio.
Annuities in an IRA
Insurance expert Jim Crone from CNT Financial talks with "Money Talks" about holding annuities in an IRA.
Converting Holdings in an Index Fund to an Index ETF
Portfolio Director Ted Parrish, CFA, offers a listener advice on moving funds from an Index Fund to an Index ETF to save on ongoing expenses.
Income Portfolios
At Henssler Financial, we have established our Henssler Model Portfolio, which is a mix of our recommended high quality, individual common stocks. Our Model generally yields between 1.5% and 2% in terms of dividends. Over the years, we have also created a couple of income portfolios, one that has a higher current yield with slower…
The Nasty, and How to Invest Through It
The "Money Talks" hosts discuss the BP Oil Spill disaster, our firm’s outlook on regulating the rating agencies and the European economic crisis and how investors should continue to invest through such bad news.
Investing for the Long-Term
Let’s create a visual here. Picture an editorial cartoon of a Prius driving down the road. In that Prius are two graduates hanging out the windows drinking from what looks like vodka bottles, but instead of vodka, the bottle says “Power.” There is also a sign under the window of these graduates that says “Young…
Our Thoughts on Gold, Again
Dr. Gene, Ted and Bil discuss a recent Wall Street Journal article on gold, reiterating why it is not a good investment.
Benefits of Financial Planning
Now is a great time to assess your financial needs and set achievable goals for your financial future. One way to accomplish this is to develop a financial plan. Simply, financial planning is a process in which you determine what you want to achieve in life and how best to do it with the money you have and will earn.
The Emergency Fund
If you were faced with an emergency, would you have the funds to cover it? Emergencies may vary from needing a new roof for the house to unemployment. An emergency fund with cash and cash equivalents in low-risk investments provide easy access to money should you need it. For more information on how much you should have in your emergency reserve, read this Financial Strategy.
Municipal Bonds
Municipal bonds are issued by a city or other local government, such as counties, redevelopment agencies, special-purpose districts, school districts, public utility districts, publicly owned airports and hospitals and any other state government entities. Also known as “munis,” municipal bonds are attractive to many investors within taxable accounts, because the interest income is exempt from federal income tax, and in many cases, state and local taxes as well.