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January: 6 things investors need to know

January: 6 things investors need to know
USAToday 3:39 p.m. EST January 5, 2015 Revelers cheer under falling confetti at the stroke of midnight during the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square.(Photo: John Minchillo, AP)It's the same big question at this point every year: Will 2015 be happy for stocks?The Standard & Poor's 500 index — the stock market benchmark — is coming off its third straight year of 10%-plus gains. The bull market is bearing down on its sixth birthday.Investors can't help but wonder if the party is about to end. 1. January effect.January could provide the answer, because how stocks do during the month has historically been a reliable indicator of how the year will play out. FULL STORY: 'Getting off to a good start is always important'[1] Some analysts say that sticking with stocks that have already gathered momentum could be a winning strategy.(Photo: Jupiterimages, Getty Images)2. Momentum matters. In terms of individual stocks, some analysts say that letting 2014's winners ride could turn out to be fruitful in the new year because the forces that lifted groups such as health care won't be going away anytime soon.FULL STORY: Biotech's big surge continues[2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.(Photo: Jewel Samad, AFP/Getty Images)3. Fund surprises.Mutual fund investors also can learn a thing or two from 2014. The winning categories were the ones almost nobody predicted would shine because few thought interest rates would fall as much as they did.FULL STORY:Mutual head scratching over S&P 500 bigger gains[3]4. Crude price keeps slipping.Speaking of the drop nobody saw coming, the 46% plunge in price of crude last year singlehandedly created groups of winners and losers. The possibility that oil could fall even more in 2015 means there are several categories of exchange-traded funds that offer a way to try and…
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Morgan Stanley fires employee, cites data theft

Morgan Stanley fires employee, cites data theft
Morgan Stanley fires employee, cites data theft 7 7 Share This Story!Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutMorgan Stanley fires employee, cites data theftMorgan Stanley said Monday it fired an employee in its wealth management division who stole "partial client data" and that account information of about 900 clients had been "briefly posted on the Internet." Post to Facebook Try Another Audio CAPTCHA Image CAPTCHA Help {# #} CancelSendSent!A link has been sent to your friend's email address.Posted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Staff reports, USA TODAY 11:44 a.m. EST January 5, 2015A window washer cleans off the lettering at Morgan Stanley headquarters in New York.(Photo: Mark Lennihan, AP)Morgan Stanley said Monday it fired an employee in its wealth management division who stole "partial client data" and that account information of about 900 clients had been "briefly posted on the Internet."In a statement on its website Monday, the investment banking giant said it "detected this exposure and the information was promptly removed."The company "today began advising certain Wealth Management clients" of the incident, the statement said. In addition to the firing, the statement continued, "law enforcement and regulatory authorities have been advised of the incident."There is "no evidence of any economic loss to any client," the company said. "Overall, partial account information of up to 10% of all Wealth Management clients was stolen.""The data stolen does not include account passwords or social security numbers," the statement said. "The Firm is taking the precaution of notifying all potentially affected clients and instituting enhanced security procedures including fraud monitoring on these accounts."The company says it is contacting affected clients. Anyone seeking more information can call 855-398-6437 in the U.S. and Canada or 512-201-2186 outside the U.S. and Canada.Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1BqMXuw 0)…
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5 fears you shouldn't have about retirement

5 fears you shouldn't have about retirement
Emily Starbuck Crone, NerdWallet 10 a.m. EST November 15, 2014 Many feel financially unprepared for retirement.(Photo: SimmiSimons, Getty Images/iStockphoto)Retirement should be like dessert — a well-deserved treat following a lifetime of hard work. But an increased average life expectancy and shaky economy may have you feeling financially and even emotionally unprepared. Retirement can also be scary because there are few role models for the type that most Baby Boomers want, says New York City psychologist Vivian [1]Diller. "We've grown up thinking of retirement as closing down," she says. "It's relatively new to think about retirement as opportunities for more rather than less. Baby Boomers are pioneering into a different kind of retirement psychology." It's time to start looking forward to retirement again. Here's why some common retirement concerns really shouldn't be cause for alarm.[2]1. I won't get Social SecurityWith talk of Social Security's uncertain future rampant in the media, soon-to-be-retirees may fear there will be nothing left for them. "That's a lot of fear-mongering," says Peter Mallouk[3], president and chief investment officer of Creative Planning, Inc., and author of The 5 Mistakes Every Investor Makes and How to Avoid Them."If you look at Social Security, it's a huge national liability that's recurring and expanding, and it's absolutely not sustainable as it is today," he says. "But almost any feasible solution that would pass won't impact anybody within 10 to 15 years of retirement." While Mallouk predicts that people under 40 may not get Social Security until later in life, he says that "the idea that someone who is 58 won't get it is borderline ridiculous." 2. I won't have enough moneyIt's easy to worry you won't have enough, especially when experts often cite $1 million as a retirement savings goal. This number seems unattainable, but Mallouk says most people won't…
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Is your life insurance worthless?

Is your life insurance worthless?
AJ Smith, Credit.com 8:02 a.m. EST November 15, 2014 Knowing why you need life insurance and comparing policies to find the right one for you is only the beginning.(Photo: Thinkstock)Everyone will tell you about the importance of having life insurance, but life insurance is only valuable when you understand it. Knowing why you need life insurance and comparing policies to find the right one for you is only the beginning. It is just as important to read the fine print, find the exclusions and discover the loopholes that could render life insurance worthless.LyingThe most common mistake people make when it comes to life insurance is being dishonest to get a lower rate. The law in all 50 states includes something called a contestable period, the first two years of coverage where an insurance company can cancel your policy and deny your claim if they find out you lied on your application. This could be about the year, month or even day of your birth as well as health conditions. It usually doesn't even matter if the way you died has nothing to do with the lie you used. Be assured, insurance companies will thoroughly investigate any claimmade before paying out. It's a good idea to always tell the truth … especially on your insurance application.[1]Suicide & Illegal or Dangerous ActivitiesThere are several other technicalities that can render your life insurance policy useless. Usually, the suicide clause specifies that a company does not need to pay out death benefits[2] for anyone who brings about their own death during the first two years of coverage. (It is assumed a suicide more than two years after insurance was purchased or increased was not planned at the time of purchase.) Some companies refund your beneficiaries the premium payments you made until the time of…
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Test Drive: Lincoln's tidy MKC not quite complete

Test Drive: Lincoln's tidy MKC not quite complete
Lincoln is hoping the 2015 Lincoln MKC small premium utility vehicle juices U.S. sales and is a big entree into China. MKC went on sale in the summer starting at $33,995..(Photo: Lincoln)AutoplayShow ThumbnailsShow CaptionsLast SlideNext Slide[1][2]Ford Motor's premium Lincoln brand is struggling to reclaim the lofty respect it had decades ago.To update its models lineup at a quick pace, it's had to rely on redoing Ford brand models and trying to make them as distinctive as possible.It has some proprietary hardware under development, and Ford Motor says it's committed to the billions of dollars it'll take to truly set Lincoln apart.But for now, it's surviving on its ability to take Ford vehicles and scrub out the Ford-ness, while infusing Lincoln-ness.Latest: 2015 MKC, a small SUV. It's a variation of the Ford Escape. Lincoln has put enough of its own mojo into the MKC that we doubt many people would guess it's a corporate cousin.Using the "authentic" mantra, MKC has actual wood, aluminum and leather interior trim. It is what it looks like it is, Lincoln says.The brand's sales are up 14.5% this year through October in a market up 5.5% and the MKC is a big reason — even though it's been on sale only since May.It's clear why it would be a hit:• Looks distinctive. Certainly doesn't look like the Ford Escape on which it's based, though we like the Escape's styling better.• Has a handsome interior; A lot of the reason why is that "authentic" business. And a lot is because the leather upholstery has a bit of the old-style over-stuffed look to it.• Goes quickly. Our test vehicle had the big engine, 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder rated 285 horsepower and 305 pounds-feet of torque. Thus, not much dawdling when the gas foot goes down. The other one's a…
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Top 10 worst car redesigns since 2000

Top 10 worst car redesigns since 2000
David Thomas, Cars.com 1:26 p.m. EST November 14, 2014 2013 Chevrolet Malibu(Photo: Cars.com)Typically when a car gets redesigned, it gets better. An automaker has likely spent years improving its performance, styling and comfort to make car shoppers take note. A redesigned model can spark sales, and the most successful ones can change the course of an entire brand.However, not every redesign is a success. The editors at Cars.com have come up with 10 of the worst attempts at overhauling a car since the millennium turned in 2000. And to prove first impressions count we've included some of our thoughts from the cars' original reviews that seem to still resonate today.1. 2013 Chevrolet MalibuThere is no more competitive segment in the auto industry than that of midsize sedans. When the Malibu got a redesign two years ago it delivered a decent-looking, quiet-riding and well-equipped four-door. There was just one big problem: The backseat was too small. OK, the interior could have been finished better ... and the transmission wasn't great. But almost anything in a car can be fixed quickly for a refresh ... except the size. 2008 Ford Focus(Photo: Cars.com)2. 2008 Ford FocusThe first generation of the Focus to hit the States was a European compact that featured a high-quality interior and a unique style that were lacking in the segment up to that point. Then Ford decided to make a cut-rate Americanized version that was all basic transportation and no flair. It took years before we got the Euro-Focus back on our shores to right this wrong. 2011 Scion tC(Photo: Cars.com)3. 2011 Scion tCThe first Scion tC was a well-rounded compact coupe with styling and content just right for its target demographic. How could Scion go wrong? It cheapened what our editors considered an upscale cabin for the class.…
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