Investing & Retirement Basics Articles

What Americans’ Savings and Investments Looked Like in 2024—and What It Means for Your Money Plan

Household finances in 2024 showed a mixed picture: many adults had at least some emergency capacity and retirement assets, but a sizable share still lacked enough savings to handle even modest disruptions—especially when the hardship is bigger than a one-time bill....
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401(k) Plan Overview for Employers: How It Works, Key Plan Types, and Core Rules

A 401(k) plan is a qualified retirement plan that lets employees choose to have a portion of their wages contributed to an individual retirement account under the plan. The 401(k) feature can be built on top of several underlying plan structures (for example, certain...
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ETF vs. Mutual Fund: How to Choose the Right Fund Type for Your Investing Style

ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and mutual funds can both be smart ways to build a diversified portfolio—often holding similar baskets of stocks, bonds, or other assets. The “better” choice usually comes down to how you prefer to buy and sell, how hands-on you want to...
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Asset Allocation vs. Diversification: What’s the Difference (and Why You Need Both)

Many people use asset allocation and diversification like they mean the same thing. They’re related, but they solve different problems—and understanding the difference can make your investment plan more resilient over time.  Asset allocation is the “big picture”...
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