Investing, Student of the Market
Ryan Weiser
Student of the Market - May 2025
Student of the Market - May 2025
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Giving More Thoughtful Gifts

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Giving More Thoughtful Gifts

We all want to find that "perfect gift" for everyone on our nice lists. But in the online shopping age, most people swipe and click to whatever they want every day of the year. Teens and children might be disappointed by any present they can't load onto their screens. Clothes might not fit. Food and beverages might not be to everyone’s taste. Older relatives might grumble that you spent money on them at all.

The secret to less stressful gifting is to think outside of the box – literally. Shopping from these three holiday gift categories will make the season a little merrier for your loved ones and for you

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The Pros and Cons of Retiring Early for Medical and Dental Professionals

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The Pros and Cons of Retiring Early for Medical and Dental Professionals

Once your degrees are earned and jobs are secured, many doctors and dentists find themselves on the fast track to some major financial goals -- including, perhaps, early retirement. After all, between those extra years of studying and the daily demands of working in medicine, doctors and dentists might feel like they've worked a full career well before they hit their 60s.

If you're considering adding early retirement as a life goal, discuss these pros and cons with your spouse and your Life-Centered Financial Planner.

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Should You Purchase a Second Home with Friends?

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Should You Purchase a Second Home with Friends?

Owning a home away from home can add some significant value to your portfolio and your ROL. A second home can be an escape, a change of scenery, a place to immerse yourself in specific interests, sports, or hobbies, or the focal point of meaningful get-togethers for generations to come.

But if you can't make owning a second home work on your own, should you consider sharing the costs, responsibilities, and space with another family?

While the logic might seem compelling, sharing real estate will add a complex business arrangement to your friendship. Make sure you and your prospective co-owners talk through these three important issues.

Choosing a Retirement Withdrawal Strategy for ROL

Choosing a Retirement Withdrawal Strategy for ROL

What's the right balance between enjoying your wealth in retirement and making sure your nest egg lasts all the way through retirement?

To answer that question, many retirees turn to a number: 4%. But as many of the assumptions about both personal longevity and economic stability continue to change, longstanding assumptions about spending and withdrawal rates in retirement are changing as well.

Each of these three withdrawal strategies can be useful in preparing a successful retirement spending plan. But is any one of them comprehensive enough to improve your confidence about your retirement and your ROL?

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Pursuing Unretirement for a Better Return on Life (ROL)

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Pursuing Unretirement for a Better Return on Life (ROL)

Unretirement is on the rise. According to a recent survey by F&G Annuities & Life, 29% of retirees are considering a return to work. That includes 54% of Gen Xers who retired early.

While many retirees jump back into the workforce because they are worried about running out of money or feel like they're lacking purpose, you can also approach unretirement from a positive perspective. 

Here are three ways that unretiring might help settle some of your money concerns while boosting ROL in the process.

Three Overlooked Considerations When Relocating in Retirement

Three Overlooked Considerations When Relocating in Retirement

Moving to the proverbial beachfront condo or gated golf and tennis community are still popular retirement goals. Many seniors also plan to relocate to be closer to friends and family, to immerse themselves in their interests and hobbies, or to shake up their retirement routines with a little adventure.

But while retirees who want to move often focus on the financial and logistical challenges, relocating also involves some significant lifestyle challenges that shouldn't be overlooked.

As you're plotting your big retirement relocation, don't forget to discuss these three issues with your spouse and your financial planner.

Choosing a College for ROI and ROL

Choosing a College for ROI and ROL

The "best" college for your student isn't the college with the highest ranking in a magazine or online poll. It's the school where the investments of time and money that you and your student make will generate the highest ROI and Return on Life (ROL).

 Talk to your student about whether the schools on their short list find this ideal balance between tangible and intangible returns.