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You have been able to earn solid returns by parking your money in fairly safe places, our columnist says. But that won't last much longer. While stocks and bonds have [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Take a deep breath and make sure you're well positioned for a potential storm, our columnist says. But stick it out for the long haul. Time can [...]

After big gains in stocks and mediocre returns for bonds, investors are taking on undue risk if they don't rebalance their holdings, our columnist says. All eyes were on the [...]

After big gains in stocks and mediocre returns for bonds, investors are taking on undue risk if they don’t rebalance their holdings, our columnist says. All eyes were on the [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Market sectors sometimes move when the political winds shift, but trading is hazardous for your financial health, our columnist says. 'Sell in May and go away,' is [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Traders appear to be focused on possible Fed rate cuts and corporate earnings, and are remarkably indifferent to political fortunes, our columnist says. With the Republican Convention [...]

Traders appear to be focused on possible Fed rate cuts and corporate earnings, and are remarkably indifferent to political fortunes, our columnist says. With the Republican Convention behind us, the […]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Stocks prospered in the first half of 2024 but national politics clouds the outlook. Midyear is a good time to assess investing strategy, looking back at where [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer After years of horrendous returns, core bonds were beginning to look like attractive, ho-hum investments. Then the debate happened. Bonds have begun to recede into the background, [...]

Stocks prospered in the first half of 2024 but prudent portfolio adjustments may be advised because national politics is adding an element of risk, our columnist says. Midyear is often […]

Byline: Jeff Sommer With one big caveat, our columnist says most people are likely to be better off if they forget about politics when it comes to investing for the [...]

With one big caveat, our columnist says most people are likely to be better off if they forget about politics when it comes to investing for the long haul. The [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer The S&P 500 has been buoyant mainly because of A.I. fever, while bonds are having another mediocre year. But as an investor, our columnist is staying the [...]

The S&P 500 has been buoyant mainly because of A.I. fever, while bonds are having another mediocre year. But as an investor, our columnist is staying the course. The Federal [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer With new executive pay disclosures, the big picture is still riches at the top and lagging wages for most of the rank-and-file, our columnist says. The annual [...]

With new executive pay disclosures, the big picture is still riches at the top and lagging wages for most of the rank-and-file, our columnist says. The annual tallies of chief [...]

With new executive pay disclosures, the big picture is still riches at the top and lagging wages for most of the rank-and-file, our columnist says. The annual tallies of chief [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer The prospects for future commerce, and peace, are intertwined, our columnist writes. If you follow the news, you know that tensions between the United States and China [...]

A small tax increase would make the essential national retirement program secure for decades, our columnist says, but lawmakers would have to take action. Millions of Americans worry about Social [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer U.S. residents can still gamble on the presidential race - but regulators are trying to stop the practice. I can't watch a basketball game on TV without [...]

The prospects for future commerce, and peace, are intertwined, our columnist writes. If you follow the news, you know that tensions between the United States and China are high and [...]

U.S. residents can still gamble on the presidential race -- but regulators are trying to stop the practice. I can't watch a basketball game on TV without seeing ads urging [...]

Using index funds to make bets on these key categories is hazardous, our columnist says. Growth and value are basic categories in stock investing. They are so widely used that [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer The Federal Reserve is shedding assets at a glacial pace, exposing the financial system to continuing risks, our columnist says. The Federal Reserve is engaged in a [...]

Using index funds to make bets on these key categories is hazardous, our columnist says. Growth and value are basic categories in stock investing. They are so widely used that [...]

The Federal Reserve is shedding assets at a glacial pace, exposing the financial system to continuing risks, our columnist says. The Federal Reserve is engaged in a colossal transformation of [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Strong reactions to rising prices and misunderstandings about the value of money are rampant, our columnist says. Rising prices have made people grumpy. They have depressed consumer [...]

Strong reactions to rising prices and misunderstandings about the value of money are rampant, our columnist says. Rising prices have made people grumpy. They have depressed consumer confidence, despite a [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Euphoria has been replaced by a much more somber mood, changing the value calculations in a host of markets, our columnist says. The markets are mercurial but [...]

Euphoria has been replaced by a much more somber mood, changing the value calculations in a host of markets, our columnist says. The markets are mercurial but their tone has [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Prediction markets say former President Donald J. Trump has a good chance of winning. So far, the stock market is fine with that. The markets assume that [...]

Robert Shiller, the Nobel laureate, says valuations adjusted for high inflation suggest stock returns for the next decade are likely to be modest. It's been a splendid run for the [...]

The latest enticing lottery prizes are the product of misleading advertising and high interest rates, our columnist says. Lottery fever is rising again in the United States. But buyer beware. [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer On Wall Street, excitement about A.I. outweighs concern about interest rates. But rocketing stocks could make it tough for the Federal Reserve to cut rates. It isn't [...]

The latest enticing lottery prizes are the product of misleading advertising and high interest rates, our columnist says. https://www.nytimes.com/article/lottery-jackpot-record-powerball-megamillions.html is rising again in the United States. But buyer beware. The [...]

On Wall Street, excitement about A.I. outweighs concern about interest rates. But rocketing stocks could make it tough for the Federal Reserve to cut rates. It isn't much of a [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer A.I. fervor has rocketed the chip company's share price upward. Our columnist asked A.I. chatbots how big Nvidia would become if it kept growing as fast as [...]

A.I. fervor has rocketed the chip company's share price upward. Our columnist asked A.I. chatbots how big Nvidia would become if it kept growing as fast as it had over [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Underlying economic and market factors mattered in previous presidential rematches. They may help President Biden, even if polls aren't showing that so far. Politics and economics have [...]

Underlying economic and market factors mattered in previous presidential rematches. They may help President Biden, even if polls aren't showing that so far. Politics and economics have always been intertwined, [...]

Important regulations expire at the end of next year, thwarting tax planning and creating a monumental fiscal challenge for Congress. Navigating the byzantine U.S. tax rules and completing your return [...]

Important regulations expire at the end of next year, thwarting tax planning and creating a monumental fiscal challenge for Congress. Navigating the byzantine U.S. tax rules and completing your return [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard have opened up voting on environmental, social and management issues. It's not true shareholder democracy, but it's progress. Index fund investing has [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Most active fund managers beat the market at the start of the year. But history suggests that they're not likely to keep doing so for long. Over [...]

Most active fund managers beat the market at the start of the year. But history suggests that they're not likely to keep doing so for long. Over the last 20 [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer The company has stopped making contributions to 401(k) accounts, and instead gives workers cash credits in a new version of its old pension plan. Traditional pension plans [...]

The company has stopped making contributions to 401(k) accounts, and instead gives workers cash credits in a new version of its old pension plan. Traditional pension plans haven't come back. [...]

Vague comments about possible future rate cuts were all that central bankers gave the markets. Patience will be difficult at this tricky moment, our columnist says. U.S. economic reports have [...]

Fear of missing out isn't a great reason for investing in the new Bitcoin funds, our columnist says. Plus, Bitcoin may already be hidden in your portfolio. Exchange-traded funds come [...]

Byline: Jeff Sommer Compound returns that grow as stocks rise over the decades are far more important than the latest high, our columnist says. If you've been in the stock [...]