As of 2024, 55% of adult Social Security beneficiaries were women. Also, approximately 40% of women aged 62 and older in the United States were receiving at least some of their Security benefits based on the earnings record of a spouse or ex-spouse. These spousal and survivor benefits are more common for women, who often Read more
Bowen Reports
Summer Book Reports: What We Have Been Reading
Though we never stop working for you, summer gives us at Bowen Asset Management a chance to leave our electronic devices in the RV or mountain cabin and take some time for a swim or a hike (while always checking for news and messages the minute we get back). What we look forward to most Read more
Life After Work: Retirement Questions
When people think about retirement, they usually think about two things: Whether they can afford it and what they will do when they retire. Most people think about retirement and immediately jump to the financial challenges they will face. While it’s important to have a solid plan for your finances, there are other challenges you Read more
Which IRA Is Right for You? Traditional IRA or Roth?
An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is one of the most common tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts outside of employer-sponsored plans. But not all IRAs are the same. IRAs take two main forms: the traditional IRA and the Roth IRA. You may be trying to decide which type you want to invest in–or maybe even if you Read more
With Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair, What Could Change?
Financier and lawyer Kevin Warsh was confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve by the U.S. Senate on May 13 and officially took his position on May 15. The Fed’s dual mandate from Congress is promoting maximum employment and stable prices (i.e., controlling inflation). Warsh’s first meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Read more
The Real Price of Oil? It Depends
The severe physical shortage in oil markets and uncertainty over what might happen next in the Iran War has caused disruption over oil futures, with the price of a physical barrel of oil being significantly higher than suggested prices in financial markets. The disconnect is especially stark for Brent, the international benchmark. Dated Brent, which Read more