Can’t Do The Math

You knew it all along, but now there's evidence. Most Americans are financially illiterate. Experts wonder how the millions who don't understand compound interest can possibly fashion successful retirements.

Bridge to Somewhere

"Liability-driven investing for individuals" is how J. Brent Burns, MBA, (left), and Stephen J. Huxley, Ph.D., describe Asset Dedication, which is the name of their bond-laddering methodology, their book and their company.

Luck of the Draw

In this second installment of our series on retirement risks, we examine sequence-of-returns risk: what it is, what it can cost, and how best to deal with it.

Holiday Cheer

Forget doom-and-gloom. Recent research suggests that the Crash of 2008 will not prevent most Boomers from retiring as planned.
Featured

The Passion of Anna

Economist Annamaria Lusardi started studying financial literacy in 2000. She soon realized that it's not a luxury for the few. It's an empowerment tool for the many.

Test Your Financial Sophistication

Here are 18 true-or-false questions that economists asked Americans over age 55. The average score among the college-educated was 68%. Perhaps you'll fare better.
News

New York Life SPIA Sales Up 35% in 2009

In the third quarter, the largest U.S. mutual life insurer led all issuers in sales of fixed immediate annuities and sales of fixed annuities in the bank channel.

The Medical-Industrial Complex

Thirty years ago, Arnold Relman coined the term, "medical-industrial complex." He calls the Senate health care bill "half a loaf," but hopes it passes.