The downgrade of the U.S. sovereign credit rating on Friday will likely mean higher borrowing costs on mortgages.

Indexed annuities and variable annuities can be useful options for retirement savings because interest earnings are tax-deferred until withdrawn. These annuities can also be converted to a stream of income payments that can last for the rest of your life (annuitization). However, annuitization generally requires that you exchange your annuity account balance for income payments. Due to growing demand for additional income options, many issuers are offering a rider, called a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB), to variable annuities and indexed annuities that allows you to get lifetime income payments while continuing to have access to the annuity's remaining cash value.

How do you want to be remembered? While it’s natural to focus on big goals and results, it’s the quieter choices that leave a deeper imprint. To shape that kind of legacy, begin by asking yourself these questions from Harvard Business Review.

Learn how to build a team that stays calm under pressure, adapts quickly and grows stronger in the face of change, no matter what the market throws your way.

Donating wealth and passing it to future generations are important financial goals. They need careful planning. Here's what expert financial and legal advisors suggest.