Is Naming Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Halal?
We are often asked if Muslim retirement savers can choose beneficiaries outside of Islamic inheritance rules. After all, naming beneficiaries on IRAs and 401(k)s a basic part of keeping accounts in order. Generally, an owner of an employer retirement plan or pension account preselects the beneficiaries of his or her retirement account, which means that […]
Plan Ahead to Help Ease the Burden of Tax Season
Most U.S. taxpayers “completely agree” (68%) or “mostly agree” (26%) that paying their fair share of taxes is a civic duty.1 However, no one wants to pay more than his or her fair share. To help avoid doing so, consider addressing some important priorities before you begin filling out your tax forms. Here are some steps […]
Don’t fall victim to halalwashing
Have you ever wondered about the authenticity of a halal investment? Companies throw around terms like “halal” or “Shariah-compliant” often without defining them. Sometimes, your financial advisor might be claiming adherence to Islamic finance principles without really understanding what they mean–maybe unintentionally, maybe not. This is especially the case when a financial firm offering “halal” […]
Weekly Market Recap – January 10, 2022
The Markets (as of market close January 7, 2022) After beginning the week on a high note, stocks couldn’t maintain that momentum, ending the week in the red. Following a record close on Monday, the S&P 500 ended the week down 1.9%, the worst start to a year since 2016. Some investors may be concerned […]
Retirement Plan Limits on the Rise in 2022
Many IRA and retirement plan limits are indexed for inflation each year. Although the amount you can contribute to IRAs remains the same in 2022, other key numbers have increased, including how much you can contribute to a work-based retirement plan and the phaseout thresholds for IRA deductibility and Roth contributions. How Much Can You […]
Weekly Market Recap – January 3, 2022
The Markets (as of market close December 31, 2021) The last week of 2021 saw stocks close generally higher, with only the Nasdaq slipping lower. The Dow ended the week up 1.1%, followed by the S&P 500, the Global Dow, and the Russell 2000. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is generally marked […]
Are You a HENRY? Consider These Wealth-Building Strategies
HENRY is a catchy acronym for “high earner, not rich yet.” It describes a demographic made up of young and often highly educated professionals with substantial incomes but little or no savings. HENRYs generally have enviable career prospects, but many of them feel financially stretched or may even live paycheck to paycheck for years, especially […]
Weekly Market Recap – December 27, 2021
The Markets (as of market close December 23, 2021) Wall Street closed the holiday-shortened week at record levels as investors seemed to speculate that the economic recovery could weather the growing number of coronavirus cases. The S&P 500 closed the week at a record high. The Nasdaq and the Russell 2000 ended up over 3.0%. […]
Weekly Market Recap – December 20, 2021
The Markets (as of market close December 17, 2021) Omicron, escalating prices, and the tightening of monetary policy by central banks in the United States and around the world took center stage last week. The prospect of higher interest rates in 2022 could make it less appealing to own riskier investments. All of the stock […]
Azzad Asset Management announces 1st Islamic family trust in United States
‘Waqf’ product created in collaboration with estate planning firm Shariawiz Falls Church, Virginia, Dec. 16, 2021 — Azzad Asset Management announced today the debut of a family trust product specifically designed for American Muslims. The Shariah-compliant family trust, a first in the United States, is also known by the Arabic term waqf and is designed to […]
