I’m interested in investing in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. What do I need to know to get started?

Mitzi and Steve Deal of Charlotte, North Carolina, like to think of their mountain house as a gift to their family—one that will keep giving for generations.

We all know people who have made less-than-rational investment decisions, like pulling out of the stock market during a downturn or continuing to fund expensive repairs for a battered but beloved car.

No matter how sophisticated their investment knowledge, investors of all kinds are prone to make suboptimal choices, second-guess long-term decisions based on short-term occurrences, and lose sleep over investment portfolios. These are natural and understandable behaviors, but they’re rooted in a faulty assumption: that all dollars have equal value.

For many people, creating a financially secure retirement means years of disciplined saving and meticulous financial planning. Amid visions of leisurely days and newfound freedom, however, it’s easy to underestimate the looming reality of taxes in retirement. To make the most of your accumulated wealth, tax planning should continue long after you stop working.

In 2023, consensus expectations proved wildly incorrect. Most market watchers predicted a recession, but the economy showed resilience instead. Today, a soft landing has become the expected scenario for 2024. But last year’s lessons are still true, and a soft landing is no sure thing.

In 2024, most market watchers are predicting an economic soft landing, where growth slows but the country avoids entering a recession. This is the most likely and best-case scenario. But last year, consensus expectations were solidly wrong, proving that the future is unpredictable, even when there’s widespread agreement about the path ahead. In this edition of our quarterly Market Update video, Chief Investment Officer Mike Vogelzang explains several factors that could lead the U.S. economy in a different, and possibly less favorable, direction.

Insurance is one way to manage financial risk. Most people understand the basics of insurance through their experiences with auto, health, or home insurance. But there are other types of insurance that may help you protect your financial health, including disability, life, and long-term care. This video explains major types of insurance that you may want to consider as part of your financial plan.

The beginning of the year is an ideal time to refresh your budget and your financial goals. Did you get a raise or a promotion? Have you checked your beneficiaries and withholding amounts? What can you do now to make tax season easier? Watch our panel discussion as we examine and suggest smart financial steps you can take this year to reach your financial goals.