AFA Blog

Robo-advisors have been heralded as the “future of investing” by their fans, but can computer algorithms really replace human financial advisors?

Financial planning is a lifelong endeavor, but people often seek out investment advice that doesn’t fit their current stage in life. When it comes to saving for retirement, most Americans invest and manage those savings for six decades or longer. It’s important to consider how your resources and risk tolerance change as you move through different life stages. Saving for your retirement looks very different at age 30 compared to age 60. As financial advisors, we strive to help our clients develop retirement savings plans that are appropriate to the changing circumstances they face at every age. Here are some areas that we consider when giving age-appropriate retirement advice.

Ever find yourself daydreaming about retirement? Whether your dream retirement entails traveling the world, dedicating time to beloved hobbies, or helping your children and grandchildren, saving enough for retirement is critical to enjoying all of these endeavors. Everyone deserves the best retirement possible, but numerous planning mistakes can cause retirement plans to fall short.

Americans are living longer. That’s the good news. The bad news is that most people aren’t financially prepared. Many Baby Boomers will be in retirement for over 20 years and unfortunately, many aren’t saving and investing with a longer life-expectancy in mind.

As a financial advisor, I learn a lot about clients’ short and long-term financial goals through many conversations and building relationships with them. I also often learn about their frustrations and regrets regarding past financial decisions. During these conversations about financial regrets, I often remind clients that it is important to remember that with time comes perspective and experience. So while they, as adults, may have regrets about past financial blunders, they can use their knowledge and experience to help their children steer clear of the same mistakes. With April being Financial Literacy Month, there is no better time to learn about the importance of teaching children about financial matters and helping them form good habits.

"The ratio of upgrades to downgrades for U.S. large caps (corporate earnings) stands at the highest level since the data series started in 1988."

Below is an excerpt from an interview this past September with JP Morgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon at the The Economic Club in Washington, D.C. with David Rubinstein, CEO of the Carlyle Group. If after reading the snippet below you are interested in watching the complete 45 minute interview on YouTube, we think it's well worth your time as Mr. Dimon has a clear and knowledgable thoughts about what can make the global economy thrive again - and specifically, the USA.