Financial News and Articles with Katie Garber in Chicago IL

Insights

Why are dividends and capital gains in mutual funds important?Knowing how to strategize anticipated income from both dividends and capital gains may give you an advantage in your wealth planning picture.

5 Things to Do Now to Retire in 3 to 5 YearsChecklist to Retire in 3 to 5 Years: 1. Set a retirement date but also formulate a backup plan 2. Get big-ticket expenditures out of the way 3. Take advantage of catch-up contributions 4. Build out safer assets in taxable accounts 5. Get some professional financial/tax advice See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

5 Things to Do Now to Retire in 10 YearsChecklist to Retire in 10 Years -Take advantage of peak earning years to grow income. -Turbocharge retirement savings. -Begin building out an allocation to safe investments. -Start visualizing your in-retirement lifestyle. -Formulate a long-term-care plan. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

What New Graduates Need to Know About 401(k) PlansA 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan that allows employees to contribute savings earmarked for retirement. Employers may also contribute money to these accounts, often through a company match, which is one of the most valuable benefits offered. The bottom line: If your company offers a 401(k), you should enroll. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

Do You Need a 529 Savings Account? Yes, for Many ReasonsOnce viewed narrowly as college savings tools, 529 plans are now among the most flexible and tax-efficient financial tools available, covering everything from K–12 education to retirement planning. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

A new survey suggests Americans may be in a “fun drought,” with 48% of adults saying their lives are currently lacking fun. Cost appears to be one of the biggest hurdles, with 57% saying budget constraints keep them from making fun plans, though a majority of adults acknowledge having fun with others can strengthen relationships, reduce stress, and boost motivation. (Source: Morningstar) See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

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Long-term investing strategies to help increase gainsIt’s a good practice to review your overall investing strategy yearly to make small balancing adjustments, but also to confirm that the strategy is meeting your current financial goals.

4 Financial Tasks You Shouldn’t Put OffHere are some financial tasks that (1) frequently fall by the wayside and (2) don’t take a lot of time to rectify. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

Choosing between stock and bond investmentsConsider your investment goals and the role stocks and bonds may play in building, balancing and diversifying your portfolio with Thrivent mutual funds.

The break-even rate, the gap between yields on traditional Treasuries and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), has hit its highest level since October 2022. Though stocks have shrugged off the impacts of the US-Iran conflict, the threat of extended higher fuel prices is raising more concern in the bond market. (Source: The Wall Street Journal) See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

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4 reasons mutual funds may work for youOne of the benefits of mutual fund investing is that it allows you to own a diversified portfolio for potentially less than it would cost you to build a prudently diversified portfolio on your own. Although diversification cannot eliminate risk, it may help mitigate losses in a down market.

Nearly three quarters (70%) of teenagers say they’re eager to learn about investing, and 73% of parents say the subject is very important for teens to understand. Despite the subject’s importance for both teens and their parents, only 14% of teens say they know a lot about investing. (Source: Charles Schwab) See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

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May 2026 Market Update: Optimism inflates equitiesThrivent's May Market Update breaks down what’s driving recent volatility, how stocks and bonds are responding, and why staying diversified and focused on fundamentals remains important.

Thrivent was recently recognized by Forbes Advisor as among the best no-exam term life insurance companies. In their review they point out that Thrivent has the lowest level of consumer complaints among our competitors. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

Investment habits you can share with your kidsKids learn by watching, so it makes sense to involve them early in your investing process. With the right approach, you can help shape how they think about investing for goals and the future.

Mutual funds for every objectiveMutual fund companies offer products in a wide variety of styles to meet the varying needs of investors. When deciding which mutual fund or funds would be best for you, it’s important to learn about all the types of funds available.

How to handle market volatilityFinding comfort in market volatility is the key to investing in the markets. Markets go up and down, and volatility can also vary greatly with the types of investments you select.

Investing for short-term goalsInvesting isn’t just for retirement; you can use it to help pay for other expensive goals.

S&P Global Ratings recently issued its annual credit rating report for Thrivent and maintained our AA+ (Very Strong) long-term issuer credit and financial strength rating with stable outlook. This strong rating reinforces Thrivent’s long-term financial strength and stability and affirms our ability to fulfill the promises we make to our clients. Rating is based on Thrivent’s financial strength and claims-paying ability. Does not apply to investment product performance. For information on this rating, visit the rating agency's website. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.

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A tax refund is less about a windfall and more about an opportunity. Whether the amount is small or substantial, how you choose to use it can either reinforce your financial discipline or undermine it. See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.