September 2019 Monthly Recap

Leverage Your 401 (k) to Build Roth Earnings

By Anne Zavaglia

Many investors are familiar with the “Backdoor Roth” IRA, which is an indirect way to contribute to a Roth when they are not eligible to contribute directly due to income limitations on Roth investors. Even in those circumstances, some investors can take a lesser-known Roth contribution dubbed the “Mega Backdoor Roth”. Read more!

All Aboard! Champaign County Train Trip

October 20

Check out Champaign County’s annual Train Trip next month! The train will be leaving from Miami Street in Urbana going to Maitland, northwest of Springfield. This is a great opportunity to take the family, grandchildren, or best friend and ride the rails! This event has sold-out for years, so get your tickets early. Read more!

Social Security’s Looming Challenges

Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system, which means that payments from current workers (in the form of payroll taxes) fund benefits for current beneficiaries. Because of demographic and economic factors, including higher retirement rates and lower birth rates, there will be a fewer workers per beneficiary over the long term, worsening the strain on the trust funds. Read more!

Market Strategies: Playing Defense

Defensive investment strategies share a common goal – to help a portfolio better weather an economic downturn and/or bouts of market volatility. But there are some key differences, including the specific criteria by which particular stocks are selected. Read more!

Five Lessons from Today’s Retirees

Each year for its Retirement Confident Survey, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) surveys 1,000 workers and 1,000 retirees to assess how confident they are in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement. Once again, retirees expressed a stronger confidence than workers. A closer look at the survey reveals various lessons today’s workers can learn from current retirees. Read more!