POST CATEGORY : Finance

Justin Gelbman: Wise Strategies for Steady Retirement Income

Retirement planning

Key Takeaways

  • Retirement income stability depends on timing, diversification, and coordinated planning.
  • Delaying Social Security benefits can significantly increase lifetime income, especially for couples.
  • Diversified investment portfolios, including the bucket strategy, help balance growth and stability.
  • Annuities provide predictable income but should complement – not replace – broader retirement strategies.
  • Tax-efficient withdrawal planning can extend retirement savings and improve long-term financial security.
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Trevor Lunsford: Mergers and Acquisitions Trends in 2025

Mergers and acquisitions

Key Takeaways

  • M&A activity rose 10% in 2025, driven largely by technology, TMT, and financial services sectors.
  • North America dominated deal flow, with $1.938 trillion in transactions within the first nine months of 2025.
  • Telecom sector consolidation accelerated, highlighted by major deals like Swisscom–Vodafone Italia and Nokia–Infinera.
  • Shareholder activism and private equity take-private transactions reshaped corporate strategies amid market pressure.
  • Cross-border M&A increased, with European firms acquiring U.S. companies and U.S. buyers targeting Europe for valuation arbitrage.
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Gerard Dougherty: Retirement Planning and Sequence Risks

Retirement planning

Key Takeaways

  • Sequence risk occurs when market downturns and portfolio withdrawals overlap, reducing long-term retirement income.
  • Market declines early in retirement are especially harmful because retirees must sell investments at low valuations.
  • Shifting toward cash and short-term bonds can reduce volatility and provide liquidity during periods of market stress.
  • Adjusting spending and withdrawal rates during downturns helps preserve principal and improves long-term outcomes.
  • Longer retirements heighten sequence risk, making structured withdrawal planning essential for lifetime income stability.
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Eric Poe: A Brief Overview of Auto Insurance Income Proxies

Automotive insurance

Key Takeaways

  • Income proxies like credit score, education, and job status raise rates without improving driver safety.
  • Low-income drivers often face inflated premiums that limit mobility, employment, and economic opportunity.
  • Income-based rating factors disproportionately impact minority and underserved communities.
  • Reform efforts face resistance due to political pressure and low public awareness of discriminatory practices.
  • Organizations like CURE advocate for fair pricing models that eliminate salary-based insurance discrimination.
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Bassem Mansour: Understanding the Role of Limited Partners in Private Equity

LPs in private equity

Key Takeaways

  • Limited partners supply the essential capital that enables private equity funds to pursue long-term investment strategies.
  • LPs include institutional investors such as pension funds, endowments, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals.
  • LP oversight ensures transparency, ethical fund management, and strong accountability from general partners.
  • Many LPs promote ESG standards, influencing how private equity firms approach sustainability, risk, and long-term value.
  • LP participation builds confidence in private equity markets by reinforcing discipline, governance, and strategic alignment.
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How to Protect Your Business Financial Assets in 2026

Financial asset protection

Key Takeaways

  • Diversifying beyond cash helps protect against inflation by moving part of your reserves into assets that maintain or grow in value.
  • Adopting Bitcoin and other digital assets strategically can hedge against currency devaluation while keeping exposure limited.
  • Investing in precious metals like gold and silver provides tangible security and stability when markets or currencies weaken.
  • Strong liquidity and risk management – including multiple bank relationships and accurate forecasting – help businesses stay agile in volatile conditions.
  • Investing in productive assets such as property, equipment, or intellectual property strengthens long-term business resilience and growth.
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What Business Leaders Can Learn from the UK’s Car Finance Mis-Selling Scandal

Car finance mis-selling scandal

Key Takeaways

  • The UK’s car finance scandal highlights the dangers of poor transparency and weak oversight in sales practices.
  • Ethical leadership and open communication build long-term trust and protect a company’s reputation.
  • Organizational culture should reward honesty and fairness, not just short-term sales performance.
  • Strong oversight, audits, and accountability frameworks prevent ethical lapses before they escalate.
  • Reputation management requires continuous transparency, swift responses, and genuine accountability.
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How to Start an RESP for Your Child’s Future

RESP

Key Takeaways

  • A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) offers tax-free investment growth and government grants to help fund higher education.
  • The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) adds 20% to annual contributions, up to $500 per year and $7,200 lifetime per child.
  • Families can choose individual or family RESPs, depending on the number of beneficiaries and education goals.
  • Automatic contributions and diversified investments help maintain consistent growth over time through compound interest.
  • RESPs remain flexible even if a child doesn’t attend post-secondary school, with transfer options to an RRSP or extended timelines.
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5 Secure Ways to Enhance Your Online Payment Experience

Woman using online payment platform

photo credit: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels

Key Takeaways

  • Use trusted online payment platforms like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet to reduce fraud risks and protect transactions.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts to block unauthorized access and add an extra layer of security.
  • Keep all software, browsers, and payment apps updated to close vulnerabilities and strengthen encryption.
  • Shop only on secure websites with “https://” and avoid public Wi-Fi when making payments.
  • Regularly check bank statements for suspicious charges and enable instant alerts to detect fraud early.
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Jeremy Durham: The Role of Investors in Real Estate Transactions

Real estate investors

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate investors guide projects through every phase—from acquisition and financing to occupancy and management.
  • Market evaluation and due diligence help investors identify profitable opportunities and avoid legal or structural risks.
  • Securing the right financing structure is essential to balancing cash flow, profitability, and long-term investment goals.
  • Compliance with local building codes and fair housing laws safeguards investments and ensures sustainable property value.
  • Strong project oversight and management systems allow investors to expand portfolios efficiently and maintain steady returns.
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