Blog
Shipping Traffic to US Nears an All-Time High
Sometimes unconventional indicators can shed some light on what’s happening with the economy. As you can see, traffic from 20-foot ocean containers is at its highest level since January 2022. That’s a solid rebound from earlier in the...
Read MoreWho's Right on Inflation? Fed, Shoppers, or Investors
Tracking inflation is like herding cats these days. Should you believe the monthly updates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, what the Fed says about future prices, or your own experience at the grocery store? The answer is maybe a...
Read MoreThe Fed Started to Ease. Did You Miss It?
Some have been waiting for the Fed to lower interest rates and confirm it will ease monetary policy, which may result in lower home mortgage rates, credit card rates, auto loans, and so forth. However, the Fed went another route at...
Read MoreThe Fed Started to Ease. Did You Miss It?
Some have been waiting for the Fed to lower interest rates and confirm it will ease monetary policy, which may result in lower home mortgage rates, credit card rates, auto loans, and so forth. However, the Fed went another route at...
Read MoreUse Doubt to Defeat Scammers
Interrupt the Conversation - If you feel something might be wrong, pause and let the caller know you will call them back. It's essential to call back using a publicly available number; do not use a number provided by the caller (no matter h
Read MoreShow All
How to Keep Your Identity Safe
In case you didn’t know, June is National Internet Safety Month. With nearly 4 billion people on social media worldwide, plus the risks of using online brokerage and bank accounts, the need for digital security has never been...
Read MoreEstate Taxes May Be Amended Soon
To help raise revenue to pay for President Biden’s Build Back Better Plan, Congress is considering a number of tax law changes, including adjusting estate taxes. One of the proposals would reduce the estate tax exemption to...
Read MoreTax Changes: What's In, What's Out?
While it’s still too early to draw any final conclusions, Congress is getting closer to outlining what tax law changes are under consideration to pay for the proposed $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Plan.1 For now, it appears...
Read MoreGridlock in the Supply Chain
While the world has begun to recover from the economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, the delayed reaction has been felt in the supply chain. Industrial shutdowns around the world slowed production to a relative crawl, leaving...
Read MoreAre Capital Gains Taxes Changing?
There are a lot of questions about President Biden’s Build Back Better plan and potential tax law changes, including an adjustment to capital gains taxes. One of the proposals Congress is considering sets the top rate for taxing...
Read MoreAre Capital Gains Taxes Changing?
There are a lot of questions about President Biden’s Build Back Better plan and potential tax law changes, including an adjustment to capital gains taxes. One of the proposals Congress is considering sets the top rate for taxing...
Read MoreAre Capital Gains Taxes Changing?
There are a lot of questions about President Biden’s Build Back Better plan and potential tax law changes, including an adjustment to capital gains taxes. One of the proposals Congress is considering sets the top rate for taxing...
Read MoreFallout from the Chinese Property Market
There’s a famous saying about a hurricane starting from a butterfly flapping its wings on the other side of the world. That “butterfly effect” is certainly happening in terms of the Chinese property market’s...
Read MoreChinese Stocks Under Pressure
With overseas investments, we remind people that, “international markets carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risk, foreign taxes and regulations...
Read MoreChinese Stocks Under Pressure
With overseas investments, we remind people that, “international markets carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risk, foreign taxes and regulations...
Read MoreTeenage Wage-Land
Summer jobs are a perennial aspect of the American workforce. It’s a time when teenagers are filling out applications and, in many cases, earning wages of their own for the first time. But some of what we’ve become...
Read MoreA Roaring Start to Earnings Season
Corporate earnings season has begun, and the results are turning heads on Wall Street. Of the 120 companies in the S&P 500 index that reported numbers as of Friday, July 23, 89% of them beat the Street’s earnings-per-share...
Read MoreA Roaring Start to Earnings Season
Corporate earnings season has begun, and the results are turning heads on Wall Street. Of the 120 companies in the S&P 500 index that reported numbers as of Friday, July 23, 89% of them beat the Street’s earnings-per-share...
Read MoreA 6.1% Bump in Social Security?
The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients. It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1,2...
Read MoreSummer Travel is Back!
One of the most anticipated comebacks of 2021 isn’t an athlete, rock star, or movie franchise. It’s summer travel, and it appears to be back with a vengeance. Travel agents are working 14-hour days to meet the needs of...
Read MoreAre You Ready for the Second Act of the S.E.C.U.R.E. Act?
Recently, you may have seen headlines regarding the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, also referred to as the second version of the SECURE Act, or SECURE Act 2.0. As the bill moves from the House of Representatives to the Senate, many...
Read MoreThe Cryptocurrency Conundrum
Recently, you may have seen a number of major cryptocurrencies fall thanks to a continuing sell-off that began last week. In fact, over $250 billion was lost in the crypto market alone.1 It may be tempting to view this as another...
Read MoreInflation & the Real Rate of Return
The real rate of return is an important personal finance concept to understand. It’s the rate of return on your investments after inflation. The real rate of return indicates whether you are gaining or losing purchasing power...
Read MoreInflation Outlook for 2021
As our nation continues to recover from the effects of COVID-19, one economic trend has been capturing news attention as of late. Consumer prices are rising amidst economic recovery. In fact, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.8%...
Read MoreInflation Can Be a Scary Word
Inflation can be a scary word for people who are retired. It’s code for “prices are going up, but my income may stay the same.” The most recent reading on consumer prices put inflation back into the conversation. The...
Read MoreWhat in the World Are NFTs?
Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been the recipient of the latest buzz. NFTs are digital files attached to blockchain codes. If you know anything about digital currencies, you’re probably aware that these blockchain codes are...
Read MoreBuffett and Powell Talk Inflation
What does it mean when two of the most powerful voices in American financial life seem to be saying two different things? In one corner, we have the “Oracle of Omaha,” investor Warren Buffett. As one of the nation’s...
Read MoreThe Call for a Minimum Global Corporate Tax
In a speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has called for a minimum corporate income tax that would be shared by countries all over the world.1 The decrease of corporate tax rates around...
Read More529 Plan Contributions
In most states, December 31 is an important deadline for parents and grandparents contributing to 529 plans. To qualify for a state tax credit or deduction this year related to your contribution, you may have to meet that year-end...
Read MoreThe IRS Extends Additional Tax Deadlines for IRAs, HSAs, and More
Previously, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year had been automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021.1 More time for allHowever...
Read MoreLife Insurance at an Early Age
Perhaps you’ve heard the maxim, “Preparation is the key to success.” But when it comes to life insurance, knowing when to prepare is almost as important as the preparation itself. Sure, it can be difficult to think...
Read MoreAre Americans Saving Too Much?
Among the many changes arising from the pandemic, one of the most noticeable was a change in American spending habits. A survey released in March 2021 by Pew Research shows that Americans have increasingly chosen to put away what...
Read MoreChanges to Paycheck Protection
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...
Read MoreEconomic Predictions: What Lies Ahead?
It can be easy to overlook the nation’s solid economic fundamentals when the financial media splashes stories every day about an army of amateur traders, short-selling mania, and initial public offerings (IPOs) that double in...
Read MoreHow Soon Might the Stimulus Arrive?
While many in the United States are beginning to receive vaccinations and people are starting to foresee a life after COVID-19, it remains clear that things aren’t yet back to normal. As a result, there has been a great deal of...
Read MoreHow the Internet Gamed Wall Street’s Short Sellers
You may have heard the news about stocks for certain companies suddenly ballooning, quickly going from lunch money prices to several hundred dollars a share. In one case, the shares rose over 1700% since December 2020.1 So, what...
Read MoreHow the Internet Gamed Wall Street’s Short Sellers
You may have heard the news about stocks for certain companies suddenly ballooning, quickly going from lunch money prices to several hundred dollars a share. In one case, the shares rose over 1700% since December 2020.1 So, what...
Read MoreMarkets & Marriage
Your investment strategy is a lot like a marriage. One day you may feel like everything’s going swimmingly. The next day, there might be an argument over who forgot to load the dishwasher. And even the best marriages and...
Read MoreDoes Main Street Need a Wall Street Strategy?
As Wall Street pushes higher, a pandemic-weary Main Street is relearning how to manage cash flow with the hope of keeping its retirement dreams alive. Self-employed Americans, and the people working for them, account for roughly 30...
Read MoreInterest Rates and Your Mortgage
With the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates at or near zero, you may wonder about your mortgage. Is it a good time to refinance or even pay off the debt entirely? After all, your mortgage is one of the biggest expenses you may...
Read MoreDoes Main Street Need a Wall Street Strategy?
As Wall Street pushes higher, a pandemic-weary Main Street is relearning how to manage cash flow with the hope of keeping its retirement dreams alive. Self-employed Americans, and the people working for them, account for roughly 30...
Read MoreCoronavirus Vaccines and the Economy
As the United States sees a rise in cases of COVID-19 across the nation, news of two promising vaccines out of hundreds being tested has offered a ray of hope for a fatigued world.1 A positive reaction to these vaccines affects every...
Read More2021 Limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and More
On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note. 401(k)sThe salary...
Read MoreEarnings Season: 3rd Quarter Results
Earnings are coming in, reflecting the third quarter of 2020. However, it’s important not to jump to any conclusions about the state of the overall economy based on the results reported from a small handful of companies....
Read MoreKnow your 401(k) options between jobs
Few life events are more stressful than a job loss. If you or someone you know is in this situation due to COVID-19, you’ll likely have several questions about job hunting, unemployment insurance, and health care. You may also...
Read More