Brian Baker

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Johna Strickland

Investors have seen a lot of volatility so far in 2025, as they try to grapple with the impact of new tariffs from the Trump administration on the economy. The S&P 500 rose to start the year, but fell sharply, ultimately entering a bear market, following the announcement of the new tariffs on so-called “Liberation Day.”Since then, the market has recovered much of its losses, with certain tariffs being reduced from their initial levels or delayed.

2 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Emmanuel Nyame |Erin Kennedy

There are many different types of retirement plans, but one of the lesser known is the cash balance plan. These plans have grown in popularity in recent decades and are often used by high earners in smaller businesses to set aside more for retirement than they could in traditional plans such as a 401(k) or IRA. Here’s what investors should know about cash balance plans. What is a cash balance plan?

2 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Lisa Dammeyer

Dividend investing can be a great way to generate passive income from your investment portfolio, but identifying the best dividend stocks can be a tricky process. One approach involves looking at the stocks that qualify as Dividend Kings, which means they’ve increased their dividend for at least 50 consecutive years. In general, Dividend Kings have been successful companies that generate consistent profits for their shareholders that they share in the form of dividends.

2 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Erin Lowry |Lisa Dammeyer

New investors may be surprised to see how expensive a single share of a stock or exchange-traded fund (ETF) can be. A single Class A share of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) sells for more than $767,000 as of May 2025, and the Class B shares (BRK-B) are more than $500 each. But there’s good news for investors who may not be able to afford entire shares of certain companies or ETFs. Fractional shares allow you to invest a set dollar amount, rather than having to purchase whole shares.

4 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Lisa Dammeyer

The United States is home to nine of the top 10 richest people in the world, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t significant wealth outside the U.S. In fact, the top three richest people outside the U.S. are all worth more than $100 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Most of the wealthiest people achieve their status through their investments and holdings, often in just one or two key businesses.