Market Update: Friday, April 3
Apr 3, 2020
“Every decade or so, dark clouds will fill the economic skies, and they will briefly rain gold. When downpours of that sort occur, reach for a bucket.” —Warren Buffett (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Investing
CARES Act and Coronavirus Relief
Apr 2, 2020
From Our Partners at PAI: The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act has been a topic of discussion for weeks as legislators discussed the best way to give Americans a much-needed boost as the economy has faltered due to the Coronavirus. Signed into law in late March, there are several provisions that will help students, workers, and retirement plan participants to maintain more financial stability during this challenging time.
CARES Act changes retirement plan provisions for loans and tax-advantaged withdrawals
Retirees and workers alike have likely been groaning when looking at stock values over the last several weeks. While it takes some time for market volatility to level out, these provisions included in the CARES Act may provide retirement plan participants with additional flexibility and more options for loans and penalty-free withdrawals during this stressful time.
PENALTY-FREE WITHDRAWALS FROM RETIREMENT PLANS
Workers who are experiencing financial difficulty due to the effects of COVID-19 on their careers, health, and overall financial wellness will be able to take a penalty-free distribution from a retirement account, like a 401(k) or IRA, between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020.
Under normal circumstances, there is a 10 percent penalty tax added to the taxes paid on distributions from a retirement plan before a participant reaches age 59 1/2. However, the CARES Act includes a provision that allows eligible participants to take up to a $100,000 distribution from a retirement account without the addition of the 10 percent tax that normally accompanies an early withdrawal. This tax-favored withdrawal may be repaid to an eligible retirement plan within three years of taking the distribution, with the option to repay beyond the normal annual contribution limits.
Eligible participants for a coronavirus-related distribution are those who have been diagnosed with the virus (or have a spouse or dependent diagnosed), experience adverse financial consequences as a result of being quarantined, unable to work, laid off, or those who had work hours reduced due to the virus.
TEMPORARILY INCREASED LIMIT ON RETIREMENT PLAN LOANS
Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events, Investing, Retirement Planning
Market Volatility Stresses Liquidity
Mar 25, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented market volatility in recent weeks that has investors and traders scrambling to assess the economic and market impact of the aggressive containment measures. (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events, Investing
Circuit Breakers Explained
Mar 16, 2020
Over the past few weeks, investors may have been introduced to a new term they weren’t previously familiar with: circuit breakers. Today, we answer a few simple questions about circuit breakers: (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events, Financial Planning
Signs of a Washout?
Mar 13, 2020
The S&P 500 Index’s historic washout continued yesterday, culminating in nearly a 10% loss for the day, and leaving the benchmark index officially in bear market territory, just 16 trading days after setting a record high on February 19. In addition, the S&P 500 has now moved more than 4% each day this week, leaving investors and professionals alike wondering when this volatility could end. While nobody knows for sure, one thing we always look for at market bottoms are signs of extremes, both from a sentiment and price perspective. (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events, Investing
Coronavirus Impact on Market Continues
Feb 28, 2020
“The stock market takes an escalator up, and an elevator down.”
Classic Wall Street saying. The last week has sure felt like taking an express elevator down, as the end of February brought a historic stock market sell-off, with the S&P 500 Index moving from an all-time high to a 10% correction in only six days—the quickest such move ever. Along the way, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) experienced multiple 1,000- point drops, including Thursday’s biggest one-day point drop ever, adding to fears. As the coronavirus spreads around the globe, what was once a promising start to 2020 now has the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq Composite all negative year to date. (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events, Financial Planning
When a Windfall Comes Your Way
Feb 21, 2020
Getting rich quick can be liberating, but it can also be frustrating. A sudden wealth windfall can help you address retirement saving or college funding anxieties, and it may also allow you to live and work on your terms. On the other hand, you’ll pay more taxes, attract more attention, and maybe even contend with jealousy or envy. You may also deal with grief or stress, as a lump sum may be linked to a death, a divorce, or a pension payout decision. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Investment Planning, Personal Finance, Retirement Tax Savings, Wealth Building
Measuring the Value of a Financial Advisor
Dec 4, 2019
What is a relationship with a financial advisor worth to an investor? A 2019 study by Vanguard, one of the world’s largest money managers, attempts to answer that question.
Vanguard’s whitepaper concludes that when an investor works with an advisor and receives professional investment advice, they may see a net portfolio return about 3% higher over time. (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc
Spotting Credit Trouble
Nov 1, 2019
Americans aged 45 to 54, who have credit card balances, carry an average debt of $9,096 per individual.
The wise use of credit is a critical skill in today’s world. Used unwisely, however, credit can rapidly turn from a useful tool to a crippling burden. There are several warning signs that you may be approaching credit problems: (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, Credit Repair, financial advisor, Financial Planning
Systematic Withdrawal Strategies
Oct 25, 2019
Some retirees wish they could simplify money management.Estimating investment income, annual retirement plan distributions, and quarterly taxes can be a chore.
This is why some retirees choose to make systematic withdrawals. Just as they contributed a set amount per month to their retirement accounts while working, they now withdraw a set amount from their accounts each month, quarter, or year.
The simplicity of this may appeal to you. The potential drawback is that a systematic withdrawal strategy can risk oversimplifying the complex matter of retirement income distribution. (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, retirement, Retirement Planning
More Insights
Apr 3, 2020
“Every decade or so, dark clouds will fill the economic skies, and they will briefly rain gold. When downpours of that sort occur, reach for a bucket.” —Warren Buffett
Apr 2, 2020
From Our Partners at PAI: The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act has been a topic of discussion for weeks as legislators discussed the best way to give Americans a much-needed boost as the economy has faltered due to the Coronavirus. Signed into law in late March, there are several provisions that will … Continue reading “CARES Act and Coronavirus Relief”
Apr 1, 2020
Factor #1 in our Road to Recovery Playbook is finding confidence in the peak of COVID-19 cases in the United States. At Epic Capital, we are monitoring this factor daily, and we wanted to provide an update into what we are seeing. As shown in the Chart of the Day, while the number of new … Continue reading “Road to Recovery: COVID-19 Case Update”
Mar 30, 2020
The big equity bounce has continued, with the S&P 500 Index up more than 17% from the multi-year lows hit last Monday. The big question on many investors’ minds is could this be a bear market rally? After all, some of the most spectacular short-term bounces took place during bear markets.
Mar 27, 2020
Market gives up some gains into the weekend. Following the historic run over the past three days, US equities are lower in early trading Friday. The United States now has more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than China, though far fewer deaths. The stimulus package is expected to pass through the House of Representatives today before … Continue reading “Market Update: Friday March 27, 2020”
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