Investment choices lie at the heart of a company sponsored retirement plan, and having access to excellent choices gives the participants in the plan an investing advantage. Master’s internal Investment Review Committee (IRC) follows a structured process when evaluating and selecting investment options for a plan. Our investment analysis begins with an investment company’s plan platform. Many platforms create a “pay-to-play” arrangement where the employer is required to include a… Read More
Blog Series: The 401(k) Marketplace
Employers who have established a retirement plan for their employees have taken an important first step in investing in their employees’ futures. Plan participant education is an essential aspect of the 401(k), and our approach to participant education is holistic and intentional. Employees who choose to participate in the plan attend a series of individual meetings specifically designed to address key issues that help them gauge their retirement readiness. Each… Read More
Blog Series: The 401(k) Marketplace
Over the last few decades we have seen a massive shift in the retirement landscape. In the past the typical employee got a job at a stable company, stayed there for a few decades and retired with a pension that was guaranteed for life. Although a few of these situations still exist, in today’s ‘normal’ employees move freely from one employer to another and shoulder the bulk of the responsibility… Read More
Prudent Decision-Making for Investors
Earlier this month, the US stock market established new all-time highs, as measured by the Dow, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ. While we all have enjoyed the strong investment returns, it would be wise to take a step back and look at the facts. The markets have been, and always will be, cyclical in nature. The current “bull market” is now more than 8 years old. It’s been almost 9… Read More
Is Estate Planning for Everyone?
Most of the news we hear about estate planning involves the rich and famous who either planned poorly or failed to plan for the distribution of their assets after their death, but you don’t need to be rich and famous to have an estate planning need. Estate planning is very broad and can apply to just about anyone. What is an estate, and what is estate planning? “An estate is… Read More
Managing Transitions
Navigating a major life transition can be a very unsettling experience for any of us. If the change is unexpected and unwanted – the loss of a job or a sudden unexpected illness – the shock can be greater. We are out of our comfort zone as we face an unknown future. I remember two defining moments in my career that involved working with clients who were going through life… Read More
Habits
When I think of habits, I generally think of the bad ones: failing to exercise, not eating right, watching too many sports highlights instead of being productive around the house to name a few. However, habits can do just as much good as they can bad if we focus on the right things. A recent study estimated that 40% of our day is habit-driven, highlighting the importance of developing healthy… Read More
Give and Receive
I recently read a quote from Todd Harper, president of Generous Giving. He said, “People who have learned to be generous are the happiest people.” This quote has me thinking about the role generosity plays in our overall happiness and satisfaction with our life. His quote certainly seems contradictory to the prominent messages we hear most frequently. Our consumer culture preaches that only if we buy the right products or… Read More
Focus On Your Plan
Where is your focus? Are you preoccupied with the daily swings in the financial markets? Do your emotions rise and fall with the economic prediction of today’s financial “expert”? Do you worry about when to get in and when to get out of the market? With the constant bombardment of the financial media, is it even possible to live a life that is not obsessed with money and trying to… Read More
“That Age”
Two months ago I celebrated a milestone in my life. I use the term “celebrated” loosely. Actually, age 59 ½ came and went without a cake or candle, greeting card or bouquet of flowers. I would have never given it a thought had not my financial advisor brought up the topic of retirement in my recent review meeting – all because I have now reached “That Age.” I have a… Read More
