Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Retirement Savers Challenged by Global Pandemic

Wed, 30 December 2020  |  retirement workplace pandemic 

A global survey of more than four thousand retirement investors conducted by MFS has cast new light on the challenges encountered by millions potentially facing an uncertain retirement. The current retirement savings gap is estimated at US$70 trillion on a global basis and is projected to increase to approximately US$400 trillion by 2050.1 The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on jobs, income and the economic outlook has yet to be fully felt but points to a real danger that the crisis will likely exacerbate.

In the United States, 1,005 individuals actively contributing to a workpl... Read More

Home Prices Up 14%, Pending Sales Rise 34%

Tue, 29 December 2020  |  housing real estate 

The median home sale price increased 14% year over year to $320,714 during the 4-week period ending December 20, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.

Below are other key ho... Read More

Annual Home Price Gains Remained Strong In October

Tue, 29 December 2020  |  housing real estate 

S&P Dow Jones Indices reported today that annual home price gains remained strong through October. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported an 8.4% annual gain in October, up from 7.0% in the previous month. The 10-City Composite annual increase came in at 7.5%, up from 6.2% in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted a 7.9% year-over-year gain, up from 6.6% in the previous month.

Phoenix, Seattle and San Diego continued to report the highest year-over-year gains among the 19 cities (excluding D... Read More

Pandemic Brings Heightened Awareness to Need for Planning

Mon, 28 December 2020  |  pandemic financial planning 

The global focus on COVID-19 over the past year has caused people to evaluate aspects of financial security that they may have previously put off — most importantly, creating a will and an estate plan. But the Q4 Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index shows that while some progress has been made in this area, many investors have more work to do. Close to half of investors in the new survey (45%) report they have neither a will nor an estate plan. About a third say they do have a written will (34%), 4% have written estate plans, and 17% have both.

“The pand... Read More

Mortgage Rates Hit Record Low at Yearend

Mon, 28 December 2020  |  interest rates mortgage 

Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 2.66 percent, the lowest rate in the survey’s history which dates back to 1971.

“The housing market is poised to finish the year strong as low mortgage rates continue to fuel homebuyer demand and refinance activity,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Moving into 2021, we expect rates to hold steady but the key driver in the near term will be the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and the execution of the vaccine... Read More

Zillow Predicts Stronger Housing Market Across the Board in 2021

Mon, 28 December 2020  |  housing 

The for-sale housing market showed incredible strength in 2020, and Zillow® predicts 2021 will be even stronger. Demand continues to grow, and is expected to surge in the cities as economies reopen. Zillow forecasts annual home sales growth will be the highest in nearly 40 years as life and financial certainty brings more sellers into the market to meet the heavy demand and technology allows for faster connections with interested buyers. Home prices, mortgage rates and rents will rise, bringing affordability challenges that must be faced.

Zillow predicts 2021 will be a year u... Read More