WORTH THE READ
Taking the time to bring you the most important news from the finance world each week.
January 24, 2024 - 2 MINUTE READ
The current lower inflation compared to a year ago carries significant importance, as does the decreasing inflation expectations among the public.
October 24, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
Many people frequently inquire about the duration for retaining tax returns and related documents, seeking a specific timeframe to declutter their tax-related paperwork. The period for preserving these records varies based on the nature of the documents and your financial activities.
August 15, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
In the past month, Americans demonstrated a surge in their shopping activities across various sectors, including clothing, dining, and sporting goods, highlighting the continuous strength of consumer expenditure driving the robust U.S. economy.
August 7, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
From a financial planner's perspective, it's crucial for parents to handle estate planning in a way that minimizes potential conflicts among family members. Open communication is key to setting clear expectations and avoiding misunderstandings. Here are some recommendations to achieve this.
July 17, 2023 - 3 MINUTE READ
From a financial advisor's perspective, the decision to financially support adult children should be carefully considered, considering both short-term and long-term financial implications. While it's natural for parents to want to help their children, it's essential to strike a balance between support and maintaining your own financial stability.
June 28, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
The Federal Reserve has decided to take a break from raising interest rates after more than a year of increases. There are several reasons for this decision. Firstly, the job market is strong, with the unemployment rate at a low 3.7%. Additionally, inflation rates for both consumers and businesses are coming down, which means there is less urgency to raise interest rates to control inflation.
June 7, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
According to the 2022 National Poll on Healthy Aging from the institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan, most adults ages 50 to 80 say it’s important to stay in their homes as long as they can. Staying in your home is a big decision and you must consider the costs such as home maintenance, renovations, and caregiving.
May 16, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
We all hear the news from all the major media outlets, will the debt ceiling get raised before the deadline? This is not new news; it seems like every year there is another showdown in the U.S. over raising the debt limit. Here is a fun fact you might find interesting; the debt ceiling has been raised over 100 times since World War II. What has changed is the media coverage and the politics behind the issue from both sides.
April 10, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
The recent changes made to Medicare Part D will eventually make prescription drugs more affordable but what is Medicare doesn’t cover your specific drug? Coverages vary by plan, and you may not be able to switch immediately to a plan that covers your drug. There are options to consider if your prescription isn’t covered by your Medicare plan.
March 22, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
With the recent closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, all eyes are now on the Fed to see if these recent events will influence their trajectory of rate hikes. News is still coming out about what happened at the banks but let’s dive into what we know so far.
February 23, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
Tax season is upon us, everyone’s favorite time of year. Tax forms are arriving in our emails and mailboxes and many dread this chore year after year. Whether you owe money or are expecting a refund, getting started early may help make your tax-filing season less stressful. Beginning your tax preparation may help you avoid surprises, reduce your taxable income, and protect you from identity theft.
January 23, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
Here we are in 2023 still talking inflation and how it drives up the price of everything from gas to groceries. You notice it when you go to the store for “just a few things” and see a higher than usual amount on your receipt. The good news is IRS inflation adjustments and the new 2023 federal tax brackets are updated accordingly.
January 2, 2023 - 2 MINUTE READ
President Biden is expected to sign the Secure 2.0 Act in the coming weeks, providing a slate of changes that could help strengthen the retirement system. The bill builds on previous legislation that increased the age which retirees take required minimum distributions (RMDS), along with dozens of other provisions.
December 19, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
Believe it or not, the end of the year is upon us, which means it’s time to review year-end tax moves. With inflation up and markets down in 2022, there’s plenty to track and be aware of. Most actions for tax-year 2022 must be made before January 1st, 2023.
November 10, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
Election day has come and gone, with the votes still being counted. Which party will control the House and the Senate are yet to be decided. While the outcome of the election will impact what legislation has a chance of getting passed through Congress, the present uncertainty may not have as big of an effect on markets in the long term.
October 28, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
When it comes to inflation, the last few decades have been unusually tame compared to the rest of modern history. From 2000 through 2020, inflation averaged around 2.1% per year, as measured by the US Consumer Price Index (CPI).
October 13, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
Inflation is causing increases at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, which is tough for seniors living on fixed incomes. Facilities are raising prices and adding new fees to help offset their costs, straining older Americans and their families.
October 5, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
High inflation in 2022 means that Social Security benefits will increase about 8.8% next year, which would be the highest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) since 1981. COLA for 2022 was already higher than usual, at 5.9%. Consumer prices have spiked this year, along with high inflation, leading to higher benefits for seniors.
September 21, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
Death and taxes are the two certainties in life we have always heard of but there may be something we can do about the latter. If leaving money to charity is important to you and part of your estate planning, leaving traditional IRA assets has its advantages.
September 9, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reinstated on Thursday that the central bank is still “strongly committed” to taming inflation. Many believe they will raise rates again at this month’s meeting, targeting to bring inflation down to the 2% mark.
August 18, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
With the new bill being signed into law this week by President Biden, there are several facets of the law that could help reduce expenses for American consumers. A few of these items include: Energy-efficient purchases, health insurance expenses, and drug prices for seniors.
August 12, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
With the Federal Reserve sticking to the mandate of taming inflation, we are starting to see a slowdown in the housing market. The increase in interest rates is putting pressure on potential home buyers who plan on taking out a mortgage. After more than 2 years of a seller’s market, we are seeing fewer homes being sold above their asking price.
August 1, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative gross domestic product growth but there are more indicators to consider than just GDP. If you have been watching the news, it can feel like most of the reporting being done around the US economy has been negative.
July 15, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
A special needs trust can be set up to ensure that a loved one is well taken care of now and in the future. We all most likely know someone with a disability that requires special attention or have a family member of our own that we look after. A special needs trust can only be established for those under the age of 65 and is designed for an individual with a physical or mental disability.
July 5, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
It has been an eventful 2+ years in the world, with many of us just now making up for lost time due to Covid-19. We all experienced what it felt like to hunker down, order our meals at home, and avoid large indoor crowds. People are now traveling at record numbers, with airlines struggling to support the surge in summer travel and many flights being canceled.
June 8, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
We all have our favorite channels, websites, and newspapers we get our news from. Whether it be from what our parents watched growing up that influenced us or a certain well-respected writer you loved to read. We can all agree today’s news is more complex and dynamic than ever and trying to find an opinionated source is hard to fund.
MAY 23, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
The way we receive our news today has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Technology has allowed news outlets to get ahold of us 24/7/365. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all know this and target ads based on what you watch and read. What many of us do not realize is, the impact of negative news on our mental health.
May 9, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
The Federal Reserve last week stuck to their original plan and raised interest rates by 0.50%, continuing their ongoing efforts to combat inflation. This move was expected by most Wall Street economists, with more hikes expected during the Fed’s June and July meetings.
May 2, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
Inflation continues to be one of the major risk factors we are seeing in 2022. Since the start of 1980, the purchasing power of a dollar decreased by more than 70% by the end of 2021. You can see in the chart below the impact inflation has on returns over time.
APRIL 22, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
2022 has been a volatile year in the markets but the chart below by Ritholtz Wealth Management highlights what the drawdowns of the bond etf market has been thus far. All of these bond losses are worse than the current drawdown in the S&P 500 at -6.9%1 .
April 7, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
Despite headwinds, the general economic backdrop remains favorable, according to Raymond James Chief Investment Officer Larry Adam.1 The recent volatility was mostly driven by geopolitical events that are unlikely to dissipate soon, a Fed rate increase, and higher prices. We had a late rally that softened some of the bigger losses from earlier in the month.
MARCH 31, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
According to the IRS, those who have already filed their taxes averaged $3,352 for the week ending March 11th. That is a 13% increase from a year ago and the largest average refund since 20101. Many Americans are still benefiting from the pandemic relief measures, as well as the expanded child tax credit.
MARCH 17, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
The Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point, as they took their first step toward trying to tame inflation by cooling off the economy.
MARCH 8, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
The recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia has created even more uncertainty around what the Fed might do when they meet in a couple weeks on March 15th and 16th.
MARCH 4, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
The chart below highlights war times and the stock market dating back to the Chaco War and shows the current Russian- Ukraine conflict. Maintaining a long-term view on the market and staying within your current risk tolerance is key to riding the volatility wave.
MARCH 3, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
The following chart shows annualized returns and annualized standard deviations during times of war. The market returns date back to 1926 and run thru 2021.
MARCH 2, 2022 - 1 MINUTE READ
The illustration below shows the max drawdown after major geopolitical events dating back to 1941. You will see the returns after a 1-year period and the number of days until the market recovered. The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine is something we are monitoring closely on a daily basis.
FEBRUARY 14, 2022 - 2 MINUTE READ
The last couple weeks seems like a roller coaster when it comes to the stock market. With the hectic nature of these last couple years, chances are you barely remember those declines. Investors are human and do a great job of retroactively revising their memories during times like these.