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News

U.S. payrolls surge, bolster Fed rate hike prospects

U.S. employment gains surged in February, the clearest sign yet of labor market strength that could further ease fears the economy was heading into recession and allow the ...
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News

Can the markets predict recessions?

Ben Bimson/BCJ Financial 2/8/2016 “This time is different.” We have heard that how many times? Yet, it is hard to resist temptation to buy into the rhetoric when ...
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News

Why Are Stocks Falling in Sync With Oil Prices?

Lower oil prices are supposed to be good for the economy and stock market because they provide consumers and businesses with more money to spend. But since early ...
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Annuities

Market Volatility Highlights Benefits of Guaranteed Income

Market volatility like we’ve seen so far this year can be particularly unnerving if you’re nearing retirement. Just one week into 2016, the S&P 500 lost almost 6% of its value ...
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Money

Are you the perfect person for fixed annuities?

If you want an annuity that is straightforward and simple — i.e., unencumbered by the likes of fees or so-called riders (a provision that provides additional benefits for ...
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Lifestyle

8 Months, 85 lbs Lost: How I Did It

Determination and data. When people ask how I lost 85 pounds in eight months, that’s what I tell them. Determination and data. When I’m feeling more breezy, I ...
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Money

8 Reasons to Stay Calm When the Market Tanks

It seems likely now that 2015 will be a mediocre year at best for anyone who invested in stocks. But the stock market does take a tumble from ...
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News

Confidence Rises to Five-Month High as Americans Cheer Discounts

Confidence ended the year on a brighter note as low prices put U.S. consumers in the holiday spirit. The University of Michigan said Wednesday that its final sentiment ...
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Income Retirement

You may need less retirement income than you think

New research indicates that retirees—especially in higher income brackets—might need to replace less of their pre-retirement income than they think. Financial planners have long suggested that individuals replace 80% ...
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Retirement

Forget About Your Net Worth: In Retirement, It’s All About Cash Flow

You’ll most likely spend your pre-retirement years accumulating assets through saving and investing. Once you hit retirement, the idea is to de-accumulate these assets in a way that ...
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