Dividend money manager Federated Investors is out with their latest investment commentary, which discusses their outlook for the economy and the performance of their Strategic Value Dividend Managed Account Strategy. From the commentary: "December capped a year-long rally in U.S. stocks that saw the major indexes reach record highs.The advance was fueled by a domestic economy that, nearly five years after the recession, finally appeared to be gaining enough traction to allow the Federal Reserve to begin easing off the gas." Download Federated's Full Commentary Here Get Free Research Reports on Federated Investors [+] Read More

Before we discuss the three items, we’d like to be clear about something first and foremost—there’s nothing really “magic” about a “magic number.” Many investors place a lot of focus on setting a “magic number” (the amount of assets that, in theory, gives a person the ability to retire while maintaining the same standard of living and meeting all of their needs) and reaching it, but it’s important to understand that reaching that number in and of itself doesn’t solve every retirement income need. An investor has to constantly assess their asset levels relative to their needs throughout retirement. 3 Important Factors to Determining a Retirement Nest Egg Target 1) Be Conservative When Establishing Your Life Expectancy According to the Social Security Administration, a man reaching 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 84. For a woman, that number is 86. But those are just averages—about one in every four 65-year-olds today will live past age 90, and one out of 10 will live past age 95. [+] Read More

For investors seeking income-producing alternatives to fixed income/bond investments, many turn to dividend focused strategies. WrapManager evaluates and conducts research on many dividend focused money managers, though one in particular has stood out in recent years: the Brookmont Dividend Equity Strategy. It could be a solution for an investor looking to allocate a portion of their portfolio to a dividend focused strategy. [+] Read More

During our working years, the amount of income we earn is ultimately what shapes the spending and lifestyle choices we make. Over time, we become accustomed to living a certain way and having certain resources available to us and our families. These parameters are what create a person’s standard of living. Retirement is different, of course, since we derive retirement income in different ways and from different sources. As a person makes the shift from the working world to the retirement world, an important question must be addressed: do you have the resources and assets needed to maintain the same standard of living in retirement as you did during your working years? Is your nest egg big enough? Almost Half of American Households Won’t Have Enough Retirement Income Research suggests that when it comes to maintaining a standard of living during retirement, many investors could be in trouble. [+] Read More

With uncertainty surrounding the current and future interest rate environment, some investors are seeking potential alternatives to holding bonds in their portfolios. Dividend strategies surface as a popular alternative, given they can provide income and the potential for equity-like returns. When searching for dividend strategies, many investors inquire about money manager Zacks Investment Management, which has appeared on our Monthly Top Ten Most Researched Money Managers. For investors wanting to learn more, below we’ll provide information about Zacks’ Dividend Strategy and its investment objectives. (This is for informational and comparison purposes only. WrapManager is not affiliated with Zacks Investment Management, and it has not approved for use nor entered into contracts with them.) [+] Read More

In today’s fast paced investment world, it’s often tempting for investors to search for the “next hot thing,” or to seek out an investment approach they think could be the future of innovative investing. But what about looking for veteran money managers whose investment disciplines have withstood the test of time? ClearBridge Investments, a money manager with 45 plus years of experience.1 Below, we’ll take a closer look at the firm and its Multi-Cap Growth strategy. [+] Read More

An investment plan is a tool you can use to help you understand where you stand in retirement at every step of the way. Are you still on track to reach your retirement goals? How likely is it you be able to maintain your current lifestyle throughout retirement? Can you afford your current and potential healthcare costs? How much will you be able to leave behind for your loved ones? A well-constructed investment plan can give you a good sense of the answers to these questions. Instead of figuring it out as you go, you can examine a variety of outcomes to help you make more informed choices. Factoring Spending Goals into Investment Plans Before you can use an investment plan to help monitor your spending in retirement, it’s important to provide detailed answers to some fairly basic questions: what are your income needs/desired income in retirement? How might those needs change over time? [+] Read More

Many investors are increasingly seeking out alternative income sources such as dividends. Perhaps recognizing this, Charles Schwab strategically acquired dividend money manager ThomasPartners and their Dividend-Driven Income strategy to provide this investment option to their clients. [+] Read More

As we enter the New Year, many folks will set out to focus more attention on their health and wellbeing. Indeed, the month of January experiences almost 50% more gym membership sign ups than other months. According to the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association, “more than 12 percent of gym members join in January, compared to an average of 8.3 percent per month for the full year.”1 While improving your personal health is a wonderful goal, we are encouraging investors to put more time and energy into strengthening their financial health. Taking a fresh look at your investment plan—or creating one for the first time—is a great way to get started. Four Steps to Strengthen the Health of Your Investment Plan Taken together, the below four steps can help put you on a better path to knowing where you stand financially, relative to your long-term goals. Try you to review these four things in detail with your financial advisor. If you don’t have one, it could be a good opportunity for you to seek one out, using this process as a means to evaluate the type of job a financial advisor could do for you. [+] Read More