Wednesday, May 5, 2021
In March 2021, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6%, the largest one-month increase since August 2012. Over the previous 12 months, the increase was 2.6%, the highest year-over-year inflation rate since...
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Friday, March 12, 2021
The House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion relief package focused on economic relief following the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was signed into law at the White House on Thursday.1Beyond the much-discussed $1,400 stimulus...
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Thursday, January 28, 2021
When you see this seemingly crazy behavior in the markets and hear this strange language of shorts, halts, and hedge funds, it might not make sense to those who should long term investors. In fact, when we see this happen, I often hear...
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Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Much ink has already been spilled on the woes of 2020 …. so what’s a little more! As always though, our focus is on your investments and of course the pandemic loomed large over the markets. How remarkable was the 2020...
Read MoreThe NTSA Leadership Council and the NTSA 2021 Ford Volunteer Service Award Judging Committee are proud to announce the 2021 Awardees of the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award. Congratulations to: Tamara Indianer, CFP®, AIF®,...
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Thursday, January 7, 2021
READ TIME: 3 MIN Social Security is a critical component of the retirement financial strategy for many Americans, so before you begin taking it, you should consider three important questions. The answers may affect whether you make the...
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Thursday, January 7, 2021
Hardly a day goes by that the topic of bitcoin or other cryptocurrency assets doesn’t come up in meetings with clients and prospects or from friends and relatives who want to know, “what all the buzz is about?” The...
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Monday, January 4, 2021
Among the many indicators we follow is one taught by famed investor Benjamin Graham (Warren Buffet’s teacher). It is a simple comparison of the earnings yield for stocks compared to interest rates. While the stock market is...
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Monday, January 4, 2021
With control of the Senate hanging in the balance I don’t think the market is paying attention much less expecting a Democrat sweep. If the Democrats control all three branches, the preferences shift somewhat dramatically and the...
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Friday, December 18, 2020
Bidens's White House -Executive actions: increased regulation, unwinding Trump era policies -Dovish Treasury -Easing of trade tensions Split Congress -Some stimulus, aid -Infrastructure (skinny) Democrats Control Congress (due to GA)...
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Tuesday, December 15, 2020
If your still connecting election year politics with stock market investing you need to disconnect the two. The market has moved on. Right now the vaccine (vax) is center stage. As long as positive news on the vax continues it can...
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Friday, October 9, 2020
As the U.S. presidential election draws near, expect to see more and more headlines that propose, "What will happen next if this person is elected?" or, "What policy changes to prepare for in the next four years?"In reality, however,...
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Wednesday, October 7, 2020
During this "stay at home" season our clients have been reaching out to us wanting to get their financial house in order. Check those lingering financial matters off your list. What should be at the top of your list is getting your...
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Tuesday, September 15, 2020
READ TIME: 4 MIN MUTUAL FUNDS VS. ETFS The growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been explosive. In 1998, there were only 29; at the end of 2018, there were over 1,900 investing in a wide range of stocks, bonds, and other...
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Wednesday, September 2, 2020
These are extraordinary times, and traditional expectations and measures of value may not tell the whole story. On August 18, 2020, the S&P 500 set a record high for the first time since COVID-19 ushered in a bear market on February...
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Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Lately, it can feel like each day brings a new headline about fluctuating market behavior. But amid the ups and downs of 2020, there may be some potential good news on the horizon. On July 16, 2020, the interest rate for a 30-year...
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Monday, August 3, 2020
Retirees who took RMDs in 2020 have until August 31, 2020, to roll the money back into a qualified account. This rollover will not affect the one-rollover-per-year rule. IRS Clarifies COVID-19 Relief Measures for Retirement Savers The...
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Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Based on the "intermediate" assumptions in this year's report, the Social Security Administration is projecting that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which will be announced in the fall of 2020, will be 2.3%. This COLA would...
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Wednesday, July 22, 2020
The IRS provided COVID-19 guidance for health Flexible Spending Arrangements and section 125 cafeteria plans related to high-deductible health plans through Notice 2020-29. The amended rules under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and...
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Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Most economists believe that GDP will turn upward in the third quarter, but it will take sustained growth to return the economy to its pre-recession level. On June 8, 2020, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), which has...
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Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Have you received what's known as "Form CRS" from your broker-dealer and/or registered investment advisor? Have you received what's known as "Form CRS" from your broker-dealer and/or registered investment advisor? If not, then sometime...
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Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Understanding your biases may help you avoid questionable calls in the heat of the financial moment. When it comes to your finances, "go with your gut" might not be the wisest adage to follow. In fact, it may work against you,...
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Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Consider how a cash position could enhance your ability to make thoughtful investment decisions. Holding an appropriate amount of cash in a portfolio can be the financial equivalent of taking deep breaths to relax. It could enhance...
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Smart investors are prepared to weather the inevitable rough patches. Anyone can look good during a bull market. Smart investors are prepared to weather the inevitable rough patches, and even the best aren't successful all the time....
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Wednesday, June 10, 2020
In May 2020, the IRS sent Economic Impact Payment (EIP) prepaid VISA debit cards to individuals who qualified for a stimulus payment under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and didn't receive a payment via...
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Thursday, June 4, 2020
Headline-induced price swings suggest that investors are making investment decisions driven by hopes and fears, and possibly based on limited information. As hundreds of companies race to develop vaccines and drug therapies that could...
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Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Making a last-minute contribution to an IRA may help you reduce your 2019 tax bill. If you qualify, your traditional IRA contribution may be tax deductible. And if you had low to moderate income and meet eligibility requirements, you...
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Friday, May 22, 2020
Try not to let short-term anxiety make you forget your long-term plan. In the current market environment, the value of your holdings may be fluctuating widely — and it's natural to feel tentative about further investment. But...
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Thursday, May 21, 2020
I have made retirement planning my specialty, focusing in on the needs of educators and employees of non-profit organizations. Student loans are a problem for many educators when developing a retirement plan. The more I researched, the...
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Tuesday, May 12, 2020
During periods of market volatility, avoid making investment decisions based on emotions If you've been watching the market lately, perhaps the first question on your mind is, "Should I make a big change in my investments?" In reality...
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