Monday, June 30, 2025

Investors Reacted to Market Crisis in Unprecedented Fashion

Thu, 01 April 2021  |  pandemic investing 

The latest QAIB report (Quantitative Analysis of Investor Behavior) from DALBAR, Inc. found that the Average Investor reacted in an atypical fashion during the market turmoil of last March; fleeing from fixed income investments but holding steady with their equity levels. The study reports that only 11% of investors cashed out investments in response to the market crash last March. The level of money movement among equity funds was similar to other times of crisis; however, in 2020, a much greater proportion of the money movement was via exchanges into other equity investments.

... Read More

Homeownership Remains Affordable For Average Workers Despite Price Spikes

Thu, 01 April 2021  |  housing real estate 

Median home prices of single-family homes and condos in the first quarter of this year were more affordable than historical averages in 52 percent of counties with enough data to analyze. That was down from 63 percent of counties in the first quarter of 2020 and 95 percent during the same period five years ago. But rising wages and falling mortgage rates still compensated for near-20 percent spikes in home prices over the past year, helping to keep median home prices affordable for average wage earners around the country.

The report determined affordability for average wage earners ... Read More

Two-Thirds of Consumers Have Forgotten About At Least One Recurring Payment

Thu, 01 April 2021  |  payments 

A new study from Chase around consumer habits related to recurring payments finds that consumers increasingly rely on recurring credit card payments, care about knowing where their credit cards are digitally stored, and remain focused on getting a better handle on their finances. However, the Chase survey found that sixty percent of respondents have forgotten about at least one recurring payment, and three-Quarters (71%) of respondents estimate they waste more than $50 each month, which can impact monthly balances and support expenses that are simply no longer needed

Recurri... Read More

Home Prices Hit an All-Time High of $370,000 in March

Thu, 01 April 2021  |  housing real estate 

Finding a home is only getting more difficult for this spring's home buyers who in addition to having more than 50% fewer homes to choose from are facing the double whammy of record-breaking prices and rising interest rates, according to the realtor.com® Monthly Housing Trends Report released today. And while more choices and slowing price growth may come to those who wait, mortgage rates will likely continue to creep up.

"In many areas of the country, there are half as many available homes for sale than a year ago -- and in some markets that number increases to less than one... Read More

The Pandemic Has Shifted Investors Financial Priorities

Wed, 31 March 2021  |  pandemic investing 

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the ways in which many investors are spending and saving their money – and they expect they’ll carry their newfound priorities into the future, according to new research released today from Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP). The Financial Priorities study surveyed more than 3,000 Americans with at least $100,000 in investable assets to understand what they care most about when it comes to their money, and how their priorities have changed amid the challenges of the last year.

A majority of respondents (63%) said their household income was not ... Read More

Boomers And Millennials Disagree On Work-Life Balance

Wed, 31 March 2021  |  pandemic workplace 

One year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced many U.S. employees across the country to transition to remote work, the youngest and oldest generations are divided on its impact. MetLife’s 19th annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study finds more than half of workers in their 20s (51 percent), including Gen Z and young millennials, say their work-life balance is better now than before the pandemic, while only one-quarter of baby boomers say the same.