Michael Bonevento has been an Ameriprise financial advisor for 17 years, but the events on September 11, 2001 forever changed the way he approaches discussions about risk management with his clients. After the tragedy, he was approached by a number of families who were directly impacted and were experiencing severe financial strain as a result of their unexpected loss. This experience has led Bonevento to passionately encourage his clients to protect themselves and their families with adequate insurance as one of the most important parts of a financial plan.
If the economy is “muddling through,” why should we expect anything different from corporate earnings? That has been the question from the “top-down” types like strategists and economists for some time now. This same time last year, the “bottoms-up” company analyst types replied that the concerns were valid, but that there were still plenty of opportunities for earnings to outpace the economy: margin recovery still to come, acquisitions, new products that could outperform the general economy, etc. The analysts were more or less right, but as they look at fourth quarter 2011 results and parse the CEO commentary to formulate estimates for 2012, the extra earnings levers are more scarce, and the Earnings Per Share estimates are on more of a “muddle through” trajectory.
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The January employment report surpassed all expectations in both its strength and its breadth. The creation of 243,000 new non-farm jobs was the highest total since April, 2011. The three-month moving average of job growth rose to 201,000 from 157,000 in December, even after factoring in a 57,000 job upward revision to November's total. The unemployment rate fell from 8.5 to 8.3 percent, its lowest level since February, 2009.
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Last week, as expected, the Federal Reserve announced no change in the target fed funds rate at the conclusion of its scheduled meeting. But, it also went one step further. For the first time it included in its economic projections the calendar year in which each of the members of the Open Market Committee anticipates that the first increase in the fed funds rate will occur, consistent with the Fed's dual mandate of full employment and stable prices.
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Recent findings from the New Retirement Mindscape® City Pulse index suggest that a person’s gender may influence the ways they plan for retirement, and it appears both men and women can learn a lot from one another. Regardless of your marital status, it’s beneficial to understand that the ways you approach retirement may be different from your spouse or partner, family and peers. Though there may never be absolute agreement among couples or families when it comes to planning financially for retirement, different perspectives are often very valuable.
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It’s natural to feel a bit apprehensive about retirement, especially as concerns about the economy continue to linger and career setbacks remain prevalent. The options and advice available to you can often seem overwhelming and complex, but there are several simple things you can do if you’re feeling unprepared for your retirement years. Suzanna de Baca, vice president of wealth strategies at Ameriprise Financial shares the following steps to help you prepare for — and feel more confident about — your retirement.



