892 articles · page 27 of 45
Politicians and average citizens do not typically discuss the unfunded liability of public pension funds, but they should. That’s because unfunded pension liabilities affect the fiscal stability of entire states and millions of public employees, from teachers and firemen to city hall secretaries and anyone who works for state and county governments.
Social or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing is getting more attention from large institutional investors in five parts of the world than it did only five years ago. Two separate studies, one conducted by RBC Global Asset Management and another by Callan Associates, show a trend toward a greater acceptance of ESG investing. According…
When political emotions run high, there is a higher probability of civil rights abuses, especially by people with political or administrative power. This is the danger of a provision in Amendment 10–the so-called “Protection Amendment–which calls for a constitutional amendment that would, in part, mandate the establishment of an Office of Domestic…
Since the first corporate pension plan was created in 1874 by the American Express Company, there has always been a blind spot in how small business owners offered retirement benefits to their employees. For over 70% of business owners, this decision to offer any form of retirement was simple: They didn’t. The reason was most…
Traditional marketing theory and business practices have long argued that politics and religion should be avoided at all costs in daily business practices. But the new reality is that politics is ever-present. It is now part of social relationships, dating, religion, and business. It is now being injected into most industries and…
The combination of an overly corrupt presidency, headed by a mentally unstable president, combined with largely unaccountable 24-hour internet and cable TV commentaries has transformed American journalism cable TV beyond recognition. Traditional reporting, defined in the book Reporting for Journalists (Chris Frost, 2003; London: Taylor & Francis) as “a duty to seek the…
Financial advisors who want to be honest with the clients, should tell them the reason they feel poor is because they are. Real wages and wage stagnation have been developing since the ’70s as a by-product of Ronald Reagan’s neoliberal policies, compounded by the Fed’s view that any wage growth contributes to inflation. That was…
Making tuition loans to college students is a huge business. Some $1.5 trillion in loans are outstanding to student borrowers and some of these loans have been flagged for being abusive in terms of bad disclosure or aggressive collection practices from loan servicers and debt collectors. College tuition debt now exceeds credit card debt. The…
While economics is a cornerstone of the progressive agenda, many people, including some in the DNC, don’t know the specifics of how changes in the economic and financial systems can benefit Americans. Money drives politics, so it is in the interests of informed investors to know how these policies can advance liberty,…
As the Trump Administration continues to steamroll democratic institutions, accompanied by concerns about the income gap, wage stagnation and economic security continue, financial advisors have a choice: They can continue to provide clients with financial plans based on a no- or small-wage growth scenario, accompanied by admonitions to save more and reduce…
The recent decision by Fidelity Investment to not charge fees for certain index funds through its Fidelity Zero Total Market Index Fund for US stocks and the Fidelity Zero International Fund for stocks outside the U.S. raises some critical questions for advisors and investors. The main question is: Now that more investment products (ETFs and…
Retirement and financial security are issues that are not often discussed by the general news media and most politicians (except Progressives), but these are major events affecting people worldwide. In the U.S., here are some retirement-related news events worth noting: Americans Not Saving Enough for Retirement; 40% Have Saved Nothing A new study by Fidelity…
The level of bankruptcies affecting Americans aged 55 to 74 is increasing and it’s just another example of how poor retirement alternatives, rising health care expenses, combined with low savings levels are all making the retirement crisis even more dire. A new report by the Consumer Bankruptcy Project found that “the…
A new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) finds “unprecedented wage stagnation.” Despite a more robust economy with record low unemployment rates and a far-reaching and controversial tax cut, the average wages of American workers have not budged since the late 1970s when “the average American has been…
It sounds simple, but hiring a financial writer for a corporate job in the financial services industry is complex. The reason is that many corporate hiring managers don’t have a realistic idea of what a financial writer is supposed to do. Will they write speeches, quarterly market commentaries, marketing materials, shareholder newsletters, webcasts, work with…
A financial forensic investigator has been rewarded for his years of work on a financial scam involving JP Morgan, resulting in a $267 million settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The investigator, Edward Siedle, who formerly worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission, received $78 million as a reward for his efforts in…
Many political commentators belittle the progressive social and economic agenda as unrealistic, too radical and pie-in-the-sky. Not true. Progressive financial policies are being used in various degrees by developed nations worldwide and especially in nations that have accessible health care for their citizens, lower infant mortality rates, a retirement safety net for their citizens and…
Since this website was created in 2011, Mutualfundreform.com has sought to educate investors and future retirees about securing a more financially stable retirement. Now, something is happening that can increase your odds of having a more financially stable retirement. That is the start of a progressive political caucus that can address various…
Have you just become eligible with Medicare and don’t know how this federal medical benefit system works? If so, you are in the right place. Here is a new guide to Medicare from some good people in Texas who believe in Medicare unlike many of their elected representatives. They got together to put this introductory…
During the summer, teacher strikes in West Virginia, Arizona, Oklahoma and Kentucky all focused on issues relating to pay and benefits, but one important factor was also addressed: Teachers working full time cannot afford to buy or rent homes near where they work. This is especially true in school districts close to major cities…
