How Saving Habits Changed
Apr 5, 2021
Among the many changes arising from the pandemic, one of the most noticeable was a change in American spending and saving habits.
A survey released in March 2021 by Pew Research shows that Americans have increasingly chosen to put away what extra money they have rather than spending or investing. It spreads across all income levels, with a 32% increase of wealthier Americans saving more, 17% more for those at lower incomes, and an overall increase of 23%. Studies show that the total may amount to $1.8 trillion, and is expected to increase to $2.5 trillion by the summer. (more…)
Tags: financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance, Spending Habits
Financial Strategies for Athletes
Mar 29, 2021
Whether you are a professional athlete, a college amateur, or an aspiring Olympian, you probably know what success feels like. You also know a thing or two about being a good sport when things don’t go your way. Good news: this means you already have some of the basics needed to create a financial strategy.
Don’t think so? Building a strategy is all about having distinct goals, knowing the risks, and determining how much time you have ahead of you. It’s also about surrounding yourself with people who have your best interests in mind and share your goals. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Advisor Charlotte NC, Financial Planning, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning
The Shred Party – Identity Theft Protection
Mar 24, 2021
If a shred party happens to spring up in your area, you may want to mark your calendar for some spring cleaning and protection from identity theft. For many years, shred parties, where a business or organization hosts clients or the public to the use of giant paper shredders, have presented a fun and easy way for folks to rid themselves of paper clutter. Sometimes, it’s more than just paper, as some industrial-sized shredders even have the ability to destroy hard drives and other electronic storage devices. (more…)
Tags: Personal Finance
Qualified Charitable Distributions
Mar 22, 2021
Do you have an I.R.A.? As you enter your 70s, you may start to look at that I.R.A. not only as an asset, but also as a problem. By law, you must take required minimum distributions (R.M.D.s) from a Traditional I.R.A. once you reach age 72; there are very few exceptions to this. The downside of these R.M.D.s? The entire distribution is taxable. (You never have to take R.M.D.s from a Roth I.R.A., provided you are its original owner.) Qualified Charitable Distributions are a way you can take that RMD, but also reap tax-benefits as well. (more…)
Tags: Financial Planning, Personal Finance, Retirement Tax Savings, Tax Advantages, tax guide, Tax Planning, tax season guide, taxes
The Many Forms of Fixed Income
Mar 17, 2021
You want to draw some income while preserving some of your capital. So, you decide to take a look at fixed income investments. A little research shows you that 10-year Treasury notes haven’t yielded more than 2% since July 2019. One-year T-bills haven’t yielded 1% since February 2020. You shrug and think, “Ah, well, low-interest rates, what can you do.”1 (more…)
Tags: Bonds, Fixed income, Investment Planning, Investments, Personal Finance, Treasury Bills
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…)
Tags: Current Events, Personal Finance
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…)
Tags: Current Events, Personal Finance
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…)
Tags: Current Events, financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance, tax guide
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…)
Tags: Current Events, IPO, Personal Finance, SPAC, SPACs, Special Purpose Acquisition Company
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
Tags: Current Events, Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning, taxes
More Insights
Apr 19, 2021
Recently, you may have seen reports that a record-low number of homes are available for sale—roughly 1.03 million nationwide. If you compare that to the average number of homes for sale during the past 10 years, it’s no surprise that many hopeful homebuyers are having issues securing a home. But why exactly is the housing … Continue reading “Forces Driving the Housing Market”
Apr 19, 2021
It can be exhausting trying to keep up with the whims of Wall Street. Lately, the financial markets have been fixated on federal taxes and what may be proposed on Capitol Hill in the weeks and months ahead. Wall Street’s focus on taxes closely follows its attention on the 10-year Treasury yield. And it wasn’t … Continue reading “The Whims of Wall Street”
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% … Continue reading “Paying for the Infrastructure Bill”
Apr 14, 2021
Financially, many of us associate the spring with taxes – but we should also associate December with important IRA deadlines. This year, like 2020, will see a few changes and distinctions. December 31, 2021, is the deadline to take your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from certain individual retirement accounts.
Apr 12, 2021
There’s an old Wall Street maxim that says, “markets climb a wall of worry.” And these days, there’s plenty to worry about with the trend in long-term interest rates and bonds.
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