Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
Jul 17, 2024
As a business owner, you should carefully consider the advantages of establishing an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Generally, you’re allowed certain tax benefits for establishing an employer-sponsored retirement plan, including a tax credit for establishing the plan and a deduction for contributions you make. In return, however, you’re required to include certain employees in the plan, and to give a portion of the contributions you make to those participating employees. Nevertheless, a retirement plan can provide you with a tax-advantaged method to save funds for your own retirement, while providing your employees with a powerful and appreciated benefit.Tags: financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Personal Finance, retirement, tax guide, Wealth Building
Market Performance is a Tale of Haves & Have-Nots
Jul 15, 2024
The S&P 500 strung together 37 record highs this year aboard an 18.1% rally, as of July 10. The advance has largely been powered by a handful of mega cap names tied to technology and/or artificial intelligence. In fact, six stocks — NVIDIA (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), and Alphabet (GOOG/L) — are responsible for nearly two-thirds of the S&P 500’s total return this year. As highlighted in the chart below, the Magnificent Seven, which adds Tesla (TSLA) to the aforementioned six stocks, is up 51% on an equal weight basis. Without these seven stocks, the S&P 493 (ex Magnificent Seven) would only be up 8.3%.
Tags: Current Events, Investing, Investment Planning
Retirement Wellness
Jul 5, 2024
How healthy a retirement do you think you will have? If you can stay active as a senior and curb or avoid certain habits, you could potentially reduce one type of retirement expense.
Each year, Fidelity Investments presents an analysis of retiree health care costs. In 2023, Fidelity projected that the average 65-year-old couple would spend around $285,000 on health care during retirement, including about $11,000 in the first year. Both projections took Medicare benefits into account. (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, financial advisor, Retirement Planning
Sneak Peek into Second Half Seasonality of Stocks
Jul 1, 2024
Key Takeaways
- Stocks are heading into the second half with impressive momentum. Historically, a strong first half tends to be followed by above-average second-half returns.
- Perhaps unsurprisingly, 1995 had the highest correlation to 2024 (based on first-half progressions) — a year that included a soft landing, the launch of the internet, and extremely low volatility.
- Despite the bullish precedence from a positive first half, bull markets are not linear. The maximum drawdown for the S&P 500 during the second half has averaged -10.3% since 1950. However, seasonality data suggests dips should be bought in the second half.
- Technically, the S&P 500 remains in a bull market and above its long-term uptrend, but overbought conditions — especially in technology and semiconductors — and notable divergences in market breadth point to a potential short-term pause or pullback in this rally.
The Texas Stock Exchange Aims to Buck Wall Street
Jun 26, 2024
The Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) is saddling up as a new electronic stock exchange to be located in Dallas. Underpinned by a significant investment of $120 million from industry heavyweights like BlackRock and Citadel Securities, the TXSE aims to shake up the status quo and provide another competitive alternative to the globally recognized New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ.
Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events, Stock Market
Optimizing Required Minimum Distributions
Jun 17, 2024
Seventy-three is an important age milestone for those in or near retirement, as it marks the time when required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin to be withdrawn annually from IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans (previously, the threshold was 70 ½). The milestone carries with it tax consequences that are not fixed. Rather, there are a few rules to consider that can help you optimize the impact on your bottom-line. (more…)
Market Update – Reaction to Softer Inflation
Jun 14, 2024
Bottom Line at the Top Line
Markets reacted positively to this week’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) release. Softer inflation is good news for the Federal Reserve (Fed). Despite a good report this morning, the Fed will still likely communicate this afternoon their intentions to keep rates higher for longer in their updated Summary of Economic Projections. The updated dot plot will likely signal only two rate cuts this year, a change from the three cuts communicated back in March.
Tags: charlotte NC
Market Update – Seasonal Tailwinds and Easing Interest Rates
Jun 10, 2024
After a solid 2023 in which the Bloomberg Municipal Index was up over 6% (including a positive 8% in November and December), it’s been a slow start to the year in 2024. Changing Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut expectations and already rich relative value ratios (versus Treasury yields) have, so far, offset still high tax-equivalent yields and solid fundamentals for the asset class. But with the unofficial kick-off to summer behind us, the muni market, we think, is set up for a number of potential tailwinds that could help push the index back into positive territory by yearend.
Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events
Market Update – Stocks Benefit From Solid Fundamental Foundation
Jun 7, 2024
April showers brought May flowers as markets placed greater importance on economic growth and corporate profits than the “higher for longer” interest rate messages from the Federal Reserve (Fed). In fact, the S&P 500 ended May above where it ended March. So, as you prepare for summer vacations, how much should you worry about your stock portfolios? (more…)
Tags: Current Events
Record Keeping for Your Own Business
Jun 3, 2024
Keeping good business records will not only help you stay in business but may also help you increase profits. Your business records let you analyze where your business is and where it’s going. They point out potential trouble spots and serve as a guide to where you want your business to be.Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance, Tax Planning, taxes
More Insights
Jul 9, 2025
Few terms in personal finance are as important, or used as frequently, as “risk.” Nevertheless, few terms are as imprecisely defined. Generally, when financial advisors or the media talk about investment risk, their focus is on the historical price volatility of the asset or investment under discussion.
Jul 7, 2025
As Americans get their grills and beach chairs ready for the July 4th holiday, the stock market and the weather across much of the country have both been on heaters. Stocks and bonds continue to effectively navigate a complex policy landscape shaped by evolving trade dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and fiscal stimulus. The market’s resilience in … Continue reading “Market Update – America Gets Record High Stock Prices for Its Birthday”
Jun 20, 2025
Birthdays may seem less important as you grow older. They may not offer the impact of watershed moments such as getting a driver’s license at 16 and voting at 18. But beginning at age 50, there are several key birthdays that can affect your tax situation, health-care eligibility, and retirement benefits.
Jun 18, 2025
During times like these when geopolitical headlines can be unsettling for investors, we at LPL Research like to remind ourselves of one of our key investing principles. Markets have always faced challenges —ranging from geopolitical conflicts and economic downturns to natural disasters, political upheaval and health crises. These events often trigger short-term volatility and shake … Continue reading “Why Long Term Investing Beats Selling in Volatile Times”
Jun 16, 2025
Are you concerned about the inheritance taxes your heirs may have to pay? Then you may want to consider creating charitable lead trusts.
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