Roger Wohlner

On Thursday, AT&T (NYSE: T) showed just how much it was pinched by cord-cutting and closed theaters. However, it managed to beat lowered Q3 analyst estimates, causing its shares to rise 1% in premarket trading. Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) also managed to beat estimates on Wednesday due to strong demand for its phone and internet services. As offices and schools continued to operate in a digital framework to surf their way through the pandemic, this trend fuelled Verizon's growth. It see...

Asset allocation is a common term among financial advisers and those involved with providing financial advice and investing. While it might be a common term for those in the business, do most investors truly understand it and its value?
This is an area where financial advisers can provide expertise and guidance to their clients.
While advisers likely won’t want to go into excruciating details about this topic, it’s important to help clients understand why you invest their money in the way tha...

Single folks investing and saving for retirement have some special planning issues for which financial advisers can offer valuable expertise.
Unlike married investors, single people are on their own without the additional retirement savings of their spouse to help build their retirement nest egg. Here are some issues that financial advisers can consider when helping single clients plan for their retirement.
Saving as much as possible for retirement is important for all, but especially so for ...

For financial advisers whose clients are saving for their children’s college education, 529 college savings plans can be a good place to save and invest for this goal.
These plans offer the opportunity for money contributed to the child’s account to grow tax-free. If the money is withdrawn and used for qualified higher education expenses, there are no taxes or penalties on these withdrawals. Additionally, some states offer incentives for residents under certain conditions.
In advising savers ...

Each fall, many companies offer their employees a chance to choose their employee benefits options for the coming year. Employee benefits are a significant benefit of working for a company. Choosing the best benefits option can help your clients save money on things like healthcare and other services. As their financial adviser you can serve as a key resource for your clients as they make their choices.
Benefit Options
Typical benefit options include:
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Disabil...

Saving for retirement is a top financial priority for most Americans. People generally live longer these days and need a considerable amount of money for a comfortable retirement. The trend away from defined benefit pension plans has put the responsibility of retirement savings onto individuals. Here are some ideas on how to invest for retirement.

Saving for their children’s education is a priority for many parents. Financial advisers can provide particular expertise in helping their clients strategize ways to save for their children’s education while not taking their focus off saving for retirement.
Parents want the best for their children and in some cases divert money that should be going towards saving for their retirement to saving for their children’s education. There are no retirement do-overs and advisers should stress to their...

For investors who are charitably inclined, one giving option is making their donations using shares of appreciated securities.
Whether using shares of individual stocks, ETFs or mutual funds, this can be a good strategy for financial advisers to discuss with their clients who hold appreciated securities inside taxable accounts.
Donating appreciated securities allows investors to contribute the market value of the security while eliminating any capital gains taxes that would be due if they wer...

IRAs are one of the core methods of saving for retirement. When it comes to setting up an account, you have two options: a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. There are no age limits for opening a Roth IRA, and it's easy to set one up. Let's dive into how to invest in a Roth IRA.

Dollar-cost averaging Investing can be a powerful tool for investors looking to make regular investments over a long period of time. It doesn't involve the risks inherent with trying to time the markets. And it allows all types of investors to accumulate a position in one or more investments over time.

Restricted stock units (RSU) are a form of stock-based compensation used to reward employees. RSUs will vest at some point in the future and, unlike stock options, will have some value upon vesting unless the underlying company stock becomes worthless.
RSUs can be an important part of your client’s compensation package. As a financial advisor, your advice can assist a client in getting the most out of this portion of his/her compensation.
What to know about RSUs
An RSU is a grant whose worth ...

Financial advisers often emphasize the benefits of portfolio diversification to clients. While you don’t want them to go overboard and have too many holdings, diversification can pay off in reducing investment risk.
Sometimes clients end up in the opposite situation of having a concentration in one or two stock positions. If the stock happened to be Apple (AAPL) - Get Report or Amazon (AMZN) - Get Report and they are long-time shareholders, that has turned out well for them, but the risks for...

Much has been said about delaying Social Security benefits.
Taking benefits at age 62 versus waiting until full retirement age makes a significant difference, and so does waiting until age 70 to start claiming. Should you delay? As in most financial planning, it depends.
Do You Have an Immediate Need for the Money?
Waiting until full retirement age (66 years old for many, 67 for those born in 1960 or later) results in a benefit some 30% higher than taking benefits at age 62.1 Waiting until ag...

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Experienced financial writer whose work has been featured on Investopedia, Morningstar Magazine, Go Banking Rates, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, Money.com, and numerous other sites
Experienced financial ghostwriter for financial advisors, financial services firms, and asset managers
Veteran financial advisor with 20 years of experience in the industry
Experience
Roger is a financial writer who brings his extensive exp...