I’m writing this blog on the first day of Spring, thinking about how different our lives are now from a year ago. I’m painfully aware that many Americans are still struggling due to COVID and our thoughts and prayers go to those folks. At the same time there is some reason to be optimistic as […]
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is massive and complicated – impacting individuals, businesses, educators, state and local governments, while addressing the pandemic itself. The one aspect that would appear to be straight forward is the provision for stimulus checks, which are currently being sent out to most Americans. But that is not entirely […]
In honor of women’s history month, we acknowledge the many achievements and contributions women have made throughout the years, but we also recognize the unique challenges they face. From a financial perspective, women are faced with certain realities that shape how they think of their future stability. Understanding what obstacles may lie ahead can help […]
Many folks took advantage of the fact that required minimum distributions (RMDs) from qualified accounts were suspended in 2020 due to the CARES Act. Some people stopped their distribution ahead of time, while others received their distribution and then decided to roll the money back in if they did not need it. With tax season […]
When my clients ask me for my 2021 Market Outlook, I gently laugh and say, “Well, let’s hope it is more accurate than last year’s.” On January 6, 2020 I noted that the upcoming year would likely be a “decent one” for the US economy. At the time, that statement seemed like a pretty safe […]
One of the shining spots in the US economy right now is the housing market. Between seeing it firsthand in my own neighborhood and hearing the experiences of clients buying and selling homes, the housing market appears to be as hot as it was in 2006-2007. “For Sale” signs are popping up one week, and […]
Our investment committee went into the election feeling quite positive about the equity markets for 2021. The outlook looked constructive whether the election produced a blue/red wave or divided government. As of this writing, the country is likely to end up with divided government: Democratic President and House of Representatives along with a Republican Senate. […]
Before COVID hit, a few family members and I were competing in our own version of Biggest Loser, trying to see who could lose the most weight over a set period of time. For the month of January, besides trying to exercise more, I took bread and cheese out of my diet entirely. By the […]
The question I get most often from clients is, “Why is the stock market doing so well when the economy is suffering?” For most of the summer, the stock market has been buoyant. According to Barron’s, equity investors are up $13.1 trillion or 55.7% from the March 23rd lows and up $2.2T or 6.3% since […]
Before we get to why I believe that we should finally put an end to the outdated and unnecessary Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) rule, it is important to see how we got here. In 1986, as the popularity of the use of IRAs, 401(k)s and rollover IRAs grew, Congress began to become worried that these […]
