Headlines
- At Least Nine Killed in German Train Collision
- Hong Kong Police Clash With Protesters in Lunar New Year Riots
- White House to Try New Cybersecurity Plan
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Five Things to Do Before Meeting With an Advisor
There Americans' financial lives are increasingly complex. It's not unusual to have checking and savings accounts, a 401(k), IRAs, and other personal investments. Keeping track of all your savings and investments has prompted many individuals to seek guidance. If you are part of this growing majority, you may have already scheduled a meeting with an advisor. To make the most of your time together, keep this premeeting checklist in mind: - Do some research. Entire sections of bookstores are dedicated to personal finance and investing topics. Read a book or magazine to get familiar with planning strategies and terms.
More on 'Meeting With an Advisor'.
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The Markets
There was bad news and good news in last Friday's unemployment report.
In the negative column, fewer jobs were created in the United States than economists had predicted, and January's jobs gains were not as strong as December's had been. In addition, the December jobs increase was revised downward from 292,000 to 252,000, according to Barron's.
On the positive side of the ledger, more than 150,000 new jobs were added in January. The unemployment rate fell below 5 percent for the first time since February of 2008 and earnings increased.
More on 'Market Commentary' here.
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By the Numbers
Notes: S&P 500, Gold, DJ-UBS Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized ... more important disclosure mentions found here. (We urge you to read the entire disclosure statement.)
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