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☆ Money market funds were hot in 2023. Here's what to expect in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-26 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Next year should be another good one for money market funds, even amid anticipated rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, experts predict. An estimated $950 billion has gone into money market funds so far this year, bringing the total net assets to $5.87 trillion as of Dec. 20, according to the Investment Company Institute . The Federal Reserve has indicated three rate cuts for 2024, which means the yields in short-term assets like money market funds and online savings accounts will follow suit. That's because money market funds are competing with bank savings accounts for cash, not necessarily equities and fixed income assets, he said. Certified financial planner Cathy Curtis, founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning, would look at money market funds for cash you will need in six months or less.

Persons: Shelly Antoniewicz, Peter Crane, Crane, it's, Christine Benz, Cathy Curtis, Curtis, Kristy Akullian Organizations: Federal Reserve, Crane Data, Investment Company Institute, Federal, Crane, Morningstar, Benz, Curtis Financial, CNBC, BlackRock

☆ Money tips for single moms: 'It can be very challenging to raise kids on one income,' advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"It can be very challenging to raise kids on one income," said Cathy Curtis, founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning in Oakland, California. Experts shared these 3 financial tips for single mothers. After accounting for fixed expenses, Curtis said, "closely monitor and budget for variable and miscellaneous expenses." Single mothers also should make sure they're preparing for their own future, said Jennifer Bush, a certified financial planner with Mainstreet Financial Planning in San Jose, California. To manage fears and be prepared for such a scenario, Curtis said, single mothers should take some additional precautions.

Persons: Christopher Hopefitch, Cathy Curtis, Curtis, That'll, Jennifer Bush, Bush, Emma Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Bank, Getty, National Women's Law, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Curtis Financial, CNBC FA, Fidelity Investments Locations: Oakland , California, overspending, San Jose , California

ETFs are a wrapper for individual assets such as stocks and bonds, similar to mutual funds. However, many ETFs have better tax efficiency and lower expense ratios than mutual funds, driving many investors to make the switch. "ETFs have come a long way over the past 15 to 20 years," said certified financial planner Barry Glassman, founder and president of Glassman Wealth Services in McLean, Virginia. In 2022, investors sold more than $900 billion from mutual funds and poured roughly $600 billion into ETFs, according to Morningstar data. The most attractive feature of an ETF is that most don't distribute capital gains at the end of the year.

Persons: Barry Glassman, " Glassman, Cathy Curtis, Marguerita Cheng, Kamila Elliott, Cheng Organizations: Wealth, CNBC's, Morningstar, CNBC's FA Council, Curtis Financial, Blue, Global Wealth, Wealth Partners Locations: McLean , Virginia, Oakland , California, California, Gaithersburg , Maryland, Atlanta

☆ More unmarried couples are buying homes together. What to know before you do
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

'Housing affordability really is a struggle'Many young, unmarried couples live together, often for financial reasons. About 3 in 5 unmarried couples in the U.S. live with their partners, according to a report by the Thriving Center of Psychology. But unmarried couples should carefully approach making a commitment of this scale. To protect their investments in the property, unmarried couples ought to carefully consider how it is titled. Four factors unmarried homebuyers should considerHere are four things that certified financial planner Cathy Curtis, founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning, in Oakland, California, says unmarried couples should think about before buying property together: 1.

Persons: Gary Burchell, homebuyers, Jessica Lautz, Lautz, Melissa Cohn, William Raveis, they're, it's, Cohn, Cathy Curtis, millennials, Curtis, Roth Organizations: Getty, National Association of Realtors, D.C, NAR, William Raveis Mortgage, Curtis Financial, CNBC Financial Locations: Washington, U.S, New York, Oakland , California

☆ Many young unmarried couples don’t split costs equally. Experts weigh in on what's 'fair'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Millennial couples are more likely to live together, with 65%, versus 37% of Gen Z couples. More than half of couples, 54%, said finances were part of their decision to move in together. Half of couples don't split the mortgage or rent equally, and 39% do not split pet costs equally, the survey found. Experts say the survey results underscore that when it comes to sharing expenses, equal isn't always equitable, or fair. "I think it's almost not fair to split finances 50-50 without taking into account your partner's financial situation," said Daigle, who is also a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council.

Persons: Gen Z, Michael Kraus, Cathy Curtis, Curtis, Sophia Bera Daigle, Daigle, Carli Blau, Blau, Kraus, Couples Organizations: Istock, Getty, of Psychology, Finance, Yale University, Curtis Financial, CNBC, Society Locations: U.S, Oakland , California, Austin , Texas, New York

☆ How many credit cards should you have? The answer isn’t zero, say experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Eighty-two percent of American adults had a credit card in 2022, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. Benefits to having more than one credit cardHowever, there can be drawbacks to having just one credit card. In addition, having a second credit card, or more, can help build a person's credit utilization ratio, said Curtis, founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning. Credit utilization is an important determinant in one's credit score and having one that's too high can reduce your score. Having more than one card raises one's overall credit limit, and with responsible use, can reduce one's credit utilization ratio.

Persons: Jose Luis Pelaez, Ted Rossman, Strong, cardholders, Bruce McClary, McClary, Rossman, Cathy Curtis, Curtis, Xavier Lorenzo, Cardholders Organizations: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc, CreditCards.com, Consumer Federation of America, U.S . Federal, National Foundation, Credit, Mastercard, Curtis, Curtis Financial

☆ A recession could hit single women especially hard, says financial advisor. Here's how they can prepare
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fotostorm | E+ | Getty ImagesFears of an upcoming recession and high inflation may be weighing most heavily on single women, according to a financial advisor who works with that demographic. "Rising inflation hits women harder with their smaller incomes," she said. If there is a recession later this year, as some economists predict there will be, many single women would enter it in a more financially vulnerable situation, Curtis said. For women who live alone, losing a paycheck can mean a pause in all income for the household, and lower wages relative to men may mean single women also have less savings to turn to. Look for ways to cut back on expensesWomen worried about an economic downturn may want to cut back on their discretionary spending as much as possible, Curtis said.

☆ After SVB and Signature failures, what small businesses should look for when choosing a bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Employees stand outside of the shuttered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) headquarters on March 10, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. The same holds true for customers of Signature Bank, which was shut down by regulators Sunday. Yet they now need to find another place to keep their money — and they and other small firms may fear a similar calamity elsewhere. For starters, the message is that when a bank fails, customer deposits will be covered for an unlimited amount, Boneparth said. FDIC coverage may be enough for some firmsAdditionally, for some small businesses, the FDIC coverage at their bank should be sufficient.

☆ A simple rule can help you build a savings habit, says advisor: ‘Do it no matter what’
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Budgeting and saving money may seem challenging — but the 50-30-20 rule is an easy way for people to get started, said Cathy Curtis, a certified financial planner based in Oakland, California. When using the 50-30-20 rule, you should "pay yourself first," said Curtis, founder of Curtis Financial Planning and a member of CNBC's Advisor Council. In other words, set aside the 20% for savings and debt immediately, and then budget the remainder (for needs and wants) afterward. "Saving [for the future] is as important as every other expense you have," she said. If you don't, it might mean not having enough money to fund your lifestyle later in life, perhaps even living in poverty, Curtis said.

Add to that mix the classic 60/40 portfolio model — a standard investing benchmark — that helps investors achieve that last point. Below, CNBC Select spoke to two financial professionals about how novices can put a 60/40 portfolio strategy in action. Once you're ready to invest, here are four simple ways to start putting money into a 60/40 portfolio. Vanguard Learn More Minimum deposit and balance Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Wealthfront Learn More Minimum deposit and balance Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected.

☆ 2022 was the worst-ever year for U.S. bonds. How to position your portfolio for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Interest rates started 2022 at rock-bottom — where they'd been for the better part of the time since the Great Recession. Bond prices move opposite interest rates — as interest rates rise, bond prices fall. Duration is a measure of a bond's sensitivity to interest rates and is impacted by maturity, among other factors. We can see why long-dated bonds suffered especially big losses in 2022, given interest rates jumped by about 4 percentage points. The traditional dynamics of a 60/40 portfolio — a portfolio barometer for investors, weighted 60% to stocks and 40% to bonds — will likely return, advisors said.

Instead, it may be a good time to make adjustments to your portfolio or take some tax losses. For those with a long enough time horizon of five- or 10 years, or more, the sell-off could be an opportunity to buy the right stocks at a discount. Finding shelter For those worried about risk, stability can be found in the Treasury market. You might consider putting some of your holdings in Treasury bills, Treasury notes or Series I savings bonds. You can also get exposure to the Treasury market without owning the actual securities through a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund.

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