Lisa Dammeyer

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Lisa Dammeyer

Deciding when to start taking Social Security is one of the key questions retirees and potential retirees face. The right answer can be different depending on your unique financial situation and life expectancy. Age 62 is the earliest you can start claiming Social Security retirement benefits, but there are significant advantages to waiting. Here are five things to consider before you rush to claim Social Security as early as you can. 1.

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Rachel Christian |Lisa Dammeyer

If you’ve ever had a gut-punch moment checking your 401(k) after a rough trading week, you’re not alone. During turbulent times, the idea of “safe haven” assets is appealing. These investments, by design, generally hold their value — or even gain ground — when broader markets decline. Of course, no asset is completely risk-free. But certain conservative strategies can help stabilize your portfolio and limit damage during downturns.

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Dayana Yochim |Lisa Dammeyer

This has certainly been the year for investors who want to try their hand at the “buy-the-dip” strategy. Even if you missed the most recent opportunity to take advantage of fire-sale prices on stocks, you’ll likely get another shot. (See also: Ongoing market volatility.)Are you ready? Like, really ready? Because jumping into a falling market isn’t as easy as it seems.

1 month 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.

1 month 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.