The Markets in June 2019 June, and the whole second quarter, was full of ups and downs for stocks. The trade war between the U.S. and China ebbed and flowed as news went from positive to negative and back again. Employment was steady and the unemployment rate remained low, but wage growth was moderate at best. Manufacturing and industrial production hit a snag, as did business fixed … [Read more...]
Single women and money
July 3, 2019 by
Study: Single women and money Single women – those who have never married, those who have experienced divorce, and those who have outlived a spouse – need to take a more proactive approach to growing and protecting their finances, according to a new study. The Single Women and Money Study found that while the overwhelming majority of single women (97%) believe it is important to be engaged in … [Read more...]
Keep Your Eye Out for Scams
May 3, 2019 by
Scams to Watch Out For While scams are especially prevalent during tax season, they can take place any time during the year. A client recently had a call from someone at Social Security, or so they told her. They coaxed this very intelligent woman into revealing quite a bit about her financial life, using profoundly professional-sounding authority and a sense of urgency about her Social Security … [Read more...]
The Markets in April
May 2, 2019 by
The Markets in April As April came to a close, major benchmark indexes posted strong returns. Both the Nasdaq and S&P 500 reached new highs during the month, amid a shrinking trade deficit, favorable economic projections, low inflation, and stable interest rates. The Nasdaq led the way, nearing a monthly gain of almost 5.0%, followed by the large caps of the S&P 500, the small caps of the … [Read more...]
Talking to Your Kids About Money
May 1, 2019 by
Talking to Your Kids About Money Do you feel comfortable talking to your children about money? It can be a tricky topic, and of course it’s only one of the many tricky topics and conversations with teens. But by being open with your kids about money, you can share your values as well as teach them basic financial management skills. According to a report by the Consumer Financial Protection … [Read more...]
Why Name a “Trusted Contact”
February 3, 2019 by
Why name a “Trusted Contact” Do you need a Trusted Contact? Not everyone needs one, as cozy and protective as it sounds. We suggest that you take this step with intention and careful thought, not just because the custodian sends you a form to name someone. In an effort to prevent senior financial fraud, FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) created a rule to allow custodians to … [Read more...]
Hidden Gem: HSAs
February 1, 2019 by
Hidden Gem: HSA in Retirement The health savings account or “HSA” is a little-understood vehicle for tax-deferred savings for medical expenses. This tax-preferred account can prove useful not only during your working years but also in retirement. Many people think it is just to defer current-year taxes for medical out-of-pocket costs, but it can be used much more strategically, even in … [Read more...]
Medicare Costs in 2019
February 1, 2019 by
What Will You Pay for Medicare in 2019? Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts change annually. Here’s a look at some of the costs for 2019 for those enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Medicare Part B premiums Most with Medicare who receive Social Security benefits will pay the standard monthly Part B premium of $135.50 in 2019. However, for some whose premiums … [Read more...]
The Markets in January
February 1, 2019 by
The Markets in January Several markets indexes saw their best January performance in three decades. A strong labor market, low inflation, and a patient Federal Reserve Board all sent encouraging messages, and several market indexes rose to their best January results in three decades. That followed precipitous plunges in December and November. The Russell 2000 led, closing the month more than 11% … [Read more...]
Don’t Fear the Volatility
January 4, 2019 by
We have long known of the media’s – and our own – infatuation with extremes: Best! Worst! Delight! Despair! These sentiments fuel our dreams and inspire works of art. But if you allow superlatives to rule your investing, it could lead to trouble. If you get caught up in reports highlighting the near-term extremes and devaluing the tides of time, you risk losing a clear understanding of what’s … [Read more...]
Famous People Who Didn’t Plan
January 4, 2019 by
Famous People Who Didn’t Plan Properly It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of taking the time to plan your estate. Nevertheless, many haven’t done so, for many different reasons. You might think that the rich and famous would be way ahead of the curve when it comes to planning their estates properly, considering the resources and lawyers presumably available to them. Yet there are … [Read more...]
2019: Key Retirement and Tax Numbers
January 2, 2019 by
Every year, the IRS makes cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and set thresholds for tax deductions, exclusions, and exemptions. Here are the key adjustments for 2019: Employer retirement plans Employees in 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans can defer up to $19,000 of their compensation in 2019 (up from $18,500 in 2018). Those age 50 and older can … [Read more...]
The Markets in 2018
January 1, 2019 by
Trade wars, midterm elections, and market volatility were hallmarks of 2018. In an attempt to reduce the trade deficit, the U.S. Administration pushed to rewrite trade agreements with several long-time trade partners. The White House amended the trade agreement with South Korea, imposed tariffs worldwide on steel and aluminum, and renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (now the … [Read more...]
More Women on Boards
December 4, 2018 by
Why Aren't There More Women on Corporate Boards? Why doesn’t your company have more women on its board? That’s the question that BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset managers, asked companies that had fewer than two women on their boards. BlackRock nudged companies that make up the Russell 1000 Index (the 1000 largest US companies) to explain their strategy, saying that a diverse board … [Read more...]
Sustainable Investing, Part 2
December 3, 2018 by
Sustainable Investing, Part 2 In the first part of our discussion of Sustainable Investing, we looked at key building blocks and summarized strategies for building them into a portfolio. Now we’d like to dig a little deeper into sustainable investing. A Standard Challenge First the promising news: As we touched on before, there are ways to factor in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) … [Read more...]
