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Stocks have benefited recently from increasing hopes of a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut, pulling the S&P 500 Index back to within 2% of its record high set April 30. But just how much help would a potential rate cut this summer actually provide?

Business confidence surged in May despite renewed uncertainty in the U.S.-China trade dispute. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, “Business Optimism Surges Despite Trade Uncertainty,” the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism gauge climbed to a seven-month high in May.

Life insurance may be a cornerstone of a sound financial plan, providing potential financial stability to a surviving spouse, children, or other family members in the event of your untimely death. Sadly, many Americans have no life insurance coverage whatsoever, and of those who do, many don't have enough.¹

Go out into your yard and dig a big hole. Every month, throw $50 into it, but don't take any money out until you're ready to buy a house, send your child to college, or retire. It sounds a little crazy, doesn't it? But that's what investing without setting clear-cut goals is like.

The managers of well-run businesses usually name "backups" to keep things going smoothly -- just in case. That's also a smart plan for your personal finances, where you risk experiencing financial losses or other difficulties if you can't make your own decisions because of a long illness or other unexpected problem.

With pensions on the decline, most modern workers need to rely on their own savings to amass enough money for retirement. One of the most powerful tools available is a tax-advantaged retirement savings program designed to encourage employees to put money away for the future, known as a 401(k) plan.

Saving for retirement is not a thought that crosses the mind of recent college graduates very often, or even those in their 30s. The excitement of earning a livable wage and enjoying all the perks of life that come with financial independence tend to distract younger workers from maintaining a long-term vision of their financial health.

Correct financial planning can help you pursue a variety of monetary goals, in addition to your desire of living out a comfortable life during retirement. Unfortunately, because the average individual only views financial planning through the lens of retirement, they in turn miss out on other opportunities that will set them up for financial independence.

Risk tolerance is known as your specific ability to tolerate ups and downs within the market, and over time this should impact the variety you have within your investment portfolio. Every investor has different ranges of acceptable risk when entrusting their money to the stock markets.