Retirement Planning In Today’s Society

One day in 1884, Charles Henry Dow averaged the closing prices of 11 stocks he considered representative of the U.S. economy in a paper that preceded The Wall Street Journal.

Probably the most broadly based market index is the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index. Originally comprising 5,000 stocks, the Wilshire 5000 now includes the stocks of more than 6,700 publicly traded companies. This market capitalization-weighted index tracks the overall performance of stocks actively traded on the American stock exchanges; the companies are all headquartered in the United States.

Market indexes are useful for assessing the historical performance of investment portfolios over time, but they don’t reveal important details about the companies they track. They also have certain biases inherent in their statistical calculations. Remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained from your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.

All the stocks in an index have at least one element in common. They might trade on the same stock market exchange, belong to the same industry, or have similar market capitalizations. Some of the more widely known indexes are the Dow, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, the Wilshire 5000, and the Russell 2000.

Dollar cost averaging does not ensure a profit or prevent a loss. Such plans involve continuous investments in securities regardless of the fluctuating prices of such securities. You should consider your financial ability to continue making purchases through periods of low price levels. Dollar cost averaging can be an effective way for investors to accumulate shares to help meet long-term goals.

If you’re concerned, take a look at that company’s rating. The four main insurance company rating agencies are A.M. Best, Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings. You can access these services online, or you should be able to find copies of these guides at your local library.

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