Tag: Current Events

Green Shoots in the Economy

Apr 23, 2021

Investors looking for “green shoots” to confirm that the economy is on the mend have seen plenty of examples in recent weeks. (more…)

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Paying for the Infrastructure Bill

Apr 16, 2021

President Joe Biden introduced the much-anticipated American Jobs Plan, which outlines an approach to spend roughly $2.2 trillion on the nation’s infrastructure and other projects.

As part of the legislative process, the Biden administration also laid out a proposal for paying for the domestic investment. The plan includes raising the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, cracking down on companies that use overseas operations to manage profits, and eliminating tax breaks for some industries. (more…)

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Volatility Tests Your Mettle

Mar 15, 2021

Reflecting on Stock Market Volatility
Some changes may be unsettling

Most people understand that stock prices don’t go straight up. But when market volatility increases, the price action can test the mettle of even the most seasoned investor.

In recent weeks, stock prices have trended lower with a few eye-popping, one-day rallies as the financial markets appear to adjust to higher interest rates on long-term Treasuries. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve seen a jump in the yield of the 10-year treasury. (more…)

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The Emergence of ESG Investing

Mar 12, 2021

ESG: what does that acronym stand for? Those three letters stand for “Environmental, Social, and Governance” and signify an investment that has particular merit to investors of all ages.

A recent Morgan Stanley Bank survey found that almost 90% of millennials would prefer to have investments that suit their values. With young adults, ESG investing could become more and more of an element in investing strategies.1 (more…)

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Spotlight Shifts to Bonds

Mar 10, 2021

One time-tested principle of investing is, “when yields on bonds move higher, bond prices tend to move lower.”

Investors are doing a “double take” on the 10-year Treasury yield, which recently topped 1.5% — its highest level in about a year. With the increase in yield comes a drop in price.1

For some, the first time they experience a change in bond prices is when they open their monthly statement and review their investments. (more…)

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The Shadow of Inflation

Mar 8, 2021

I’m sure you’ve heard that the House recently passed the Senate another round of stimulus to try and counteract the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new stimulus package could narrow income eligibility to receive a stimulus check, while expanding other types of eligibility and broadening unemployment benefits. But is inflation looming? (more…)

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Changes to Paycheck Protection Program

Mar 5, 2021

On Monday, Feb. 22, the White House announced several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that went into effect on Wednesday, Feb. 24. These changes are intended to further target “the smallest businesses and those that have been left behind in previous relief efforts.”1

If you’re a small business owner in need of financial assistance, you may find these changes helpful in securing a Paycheck Protection Program loan: (more…)

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What is a SPAC?

Mar 3, 2021

The acronym “SPAC” is showing up more often these days because there is some big money behind the revitalized investment approach.

SPAC stands for Special Purpose Acquisition Company, and they are sometimes referred to as blank check companies. SPACs raised more than $80 billion through 237 initial public offerings in 2020, accounting for more than half of the money raised through IPOs. By comparison, SPACs raised just $10 billion two years earlier.1,2 (more…)

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The New Inherited Beneficiary IRA Rules

Feb 24, 2021

New inherited IRA rules took effect on January 1, 2020. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act became law on that day, altering the regulations on inherited Individual Retirement Account (I.R.A.) distributions.

The big change: the introduction of the 10-year rule for beneficiaries.

Most people who inherit a beneficiary IRA now have to empty that IRA of assets within ten years of the original owner’s death. You can do this as you wish; you can withdraw the whole IRA balance at once, or take incremental distributions on the way to meeting the 10-year deadline.1

(more…)

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Oil Prices on the Move

Feb 19, 2021

At this time last year, it was still unknown that a deadly global pandemic was on the rise, eventually stalling economic growth and sending crude oil prices into negative territory. But recently, oil prices have surged, with crude hitting highs not seen since before the pandemic. (more…)

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More Insights

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) … Continue reading “Market Performance is a Tale of Haves & Have-Nots”

Jul 12, 2024

Investors are people, and people are often impatient. No one likes to wait in line or wait longer than they have to for something, especially today when so much is just a click or two away.

Jul 10, 2024

You can prepare for the transition years in advance. In doing so, you may be better equipped to manage anything unexpected that may come your way.

Jul 8, 2024

When developing your estate plan, you can do well by doing good. Leaving money to charity rewards you in many ways. It gives you a sense of personal satisfaction, and it can save you money in estate taxes.

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 … Continue reading “Retirement Wellness”

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