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What Types of Bonds Are There?
Bonds are divided into a several categories, and it is possible to get substantial diversification within a bond portfolio alone. Bonds may be categorized into several types. There are investment grade bonds which are conservative and safe, high-yield bonds which are relatively risky and profitable, floating rate bonds whose coupon rate is not fixed, zero coupon bonds which only pay at maturity, and foreign bonds, and so on. Continue reading...
Will My Cash-Balance Payments Affect My Social Security payments?
Social security can become taxable if a person has a certain level of income in retirement. Retirement income from pensions or 401(k)s and other taxable sources will contribute to the AGI of a person in retirement, but it will not ever disqualify a person from receiving their social security check in retirement if it is owed to them. Instead, social security benefits become taxable as income if a person has enough income in retirement to trigger the social security taxes. The level is actually quite low, and has not been adjusted for inflation recently. Continue reading...
Are Social Security Benefits Taxed?
Many people do not realize that their Social Security Benefits may be taxed. If you have a taxable income in retirement above a certain threshold, up to 85% of your social security benefits can be taxed. The calculation for the threshold income actually includes half of your social security benefits. Whether or not you trigger taxation on your benefits will depend on your “combined” income, which is a sum of your adjusted gross income (taxable income, which can include taxable sources such as qualified retirement plans), your nontaxable interest (from Muni bonds in particular, Roth IRAs are excludable), and half of your household Social Security benefits. Continue reading...
What are Housing Bonds?
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 took several steps to patch up the housing market after the subprime meltdown, one of which was the authorization of states and municipalities to issue mortgage revenue bonds (MRBs) which they could then use to help local lending institutions fund mortgages for lower-income Americans. Housing bonds are issued by state and local governments as a way to raise revenue that can help local banks and lending institutions fund mortgage loans to the community. Continue reading...
What is IRS Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income?
IRS Link to Publication — Found Here This IRS Publication describes the distinction to be made between taxable income and nontaxable income. Many types of individual income are described and many sources of non-taxable income are illustrated. Gross income is usually reduced by standard or itemized deductions to arrive at a portion of income which is taxable. The amount that was left out of this equation is called nontaxable income. Continue reading...
What is Chapter 9?
Chapter 9 is a form of bankruptcy filing that is reserved for municipalities which have defaulted on their debt obligations. This could include a school district or other entities which have a municipal affiliation and the ability to generate revenue from local taxes. They cannot be made to liquidate anything. In fact, it forces the lender to accept a refinancing of the debt obligation. Because municipalities fall under state jurisdiction, the federal government, which governs bankruptcy court, does not have the ability to force liquidation of a municipal entity’s assets. Instead, this provision of bankruptcy law governs refinancing arrangements to facilitate the repayment of debts owed. Continue reading...
What does PIP mean?
A PIP is the standard smallest increment of change or precision at which a currency is quoted and tracked in Forex markets. One ‘PIP’ equals .0001 of the size of a lot of currency being exchanged, in terms of the counter currency. A PIP stands for Percentage in Point and is the integer which appears in the 10,000th place when quoting currency exchange rates. It is actually the same as a Basis Point, used in bond and equity markets, which is 1/100th of 1%. If we were exchanging GBP (British Pounds) for USD (US Dollars), in a Mini-lot of 10,000, one PIP would equal $1. Continue reading...
What Is the E-mini S&P 500?
How Many Dollars do We Have in Circulation?
According to the Federal Reserve, there are over 1.7 trillion U.S. Dollars in circulation. This number has been drastically increasing throughout the last few years, mostly due to programs such as Quantitative Easing. As of 2016, QE programs have ended and the Fed's balance sheet is shrinking, but M2 money supply still remains at elevated levels. What is the Size of our National Debt? What is Currency in Circulation? Continue reading...
How many financial advisors do I need?
It’s good to have the opinion of advisors who are knowledgeable in various areas of your planning and portfolio, but for most portfolios this can be reasonably accomplished with one advisor. It’s a good idea to have one Financial Advisor who oversees all of your assets, and if the individual parts of your portfolio are of significant size, you might consider having a specialist in those fields to oversee them. Continue reading...
How many investment choices should I have in my portfolio?
You can get substantial diversification through mutual funds and ETFs, but it is good to have increasing amounts of diversification the larger a portfolio is. Here are some general guidelines: If your portfolio is less than $50,000, probably 4-5 Mutual Funds will suffice. If your portfolio is from $50,000-$100,000, you might consider adding a few more exotic Mutual Funds or buying a couple of ETFs. Continue reading...
FAQ: How many AI robots does Tickeron currently offer?
What is E-mini S&P 500 and What Makes It a Popular Futures Contract?
Unlock the intricacies of the E-mini S&P 500, a pivotal futures contract on the CME. From its origins to its modern-day significance, discover how this financial instrument shapes investment strategies and market movements. Continue reading...
What are the Withdrawal Rules From My 457 Plan?
457 plans are the only retirement plan that does not require you to wait until a certain age to avoid an IRS penalty on withdrawals. Unlike 401(k)s and 403(b)s, you are allowed to take money out of a 457 Plan before the age of 59½ without a 10% early withdrawal penalty, but only if you’ve separated from service. Separation from service can mean retiring or just leaving to take a job elsewhere. Roth IRAs allow you to withdraw your principal amount early without penalty, but you will incur taxes and penalties if the gains are withdrawn. 457 plans do not have such stipulations. All other retirement accounts require certain exception criteria to be met for the IRS not to penalize you for early withdrawals. Continue reading...
What is the mechanism behind the operation of S&P 500 Futures?
Unlock the secrets of S&P 500 Futures! 📈 Discover how these vital financial instruments work, from E-minis to micro E-minis, and why they matter in today's market. Dive into the mechanics and options to gain clarity in your investment strategy. #SP500 #Investing101 Continue reading...
What are index futures?
Index futures are futures contracts written on an index in which a large position can be held with a relatively small margin requirement. Index futures can be used for hedging or speculation. A "good faith" initial margin deposit (also called a performance bond) of a fraction of the contract size is all that is required to hold a substantial position, with a notional value worth significantly more than the amount invested. Continue reading...
What are the methods for trading Dow Jones Index Futures?
Trade Dow Jones Index Futures with confidence! Learn to leverage the movements of 30 major U.S. companies for speculation or hedging. Discover the power of e-Mini Dow contracts, understand price-weighted calculations, and explore strategies for both short-term trades and long-term investments. Continue reading...
What are the top 5 Transamerica Funds?
Secure Your Retirement with Transamerica Funds 🚀 Facing low-interest rates? Discover the top 5 Transamerica funds for a prosperous retirement. From tax-free munis to high-yield bonds, we've got your diversified nest egg covered. Explore now! 💰 #RetirementPlanning #Investing Continue reading...
What is Yield?
Yield is a term which describes the cash return on a security investment, and does not include appreciation. Yield is the cash paid out of an investment in the form of dividends and interest received. The term does not encompass the appreciation of the investment, and it may be evaluated in different ways for different types of investments, so comparisons of yield across asset types is not standardized or recommended. Continue reading...
How do options on S&P 500 Futures differ from other types of options?
Unlock the world of S&P 500 Futures options! Discover the unique features that set them apart from traditional stock options. Learn about the underlying asset, multiplier effect, pricing logic, and more in our comprehensive guide. Whether you're an experienced trader or new to options, this knowledge can elevate your investment strategy. Dive in now! 📈💼 #S&P500 #OptionsTrading Continue reading...