Earnings For All Seasons
While nature offers four seasons, Wall Street offers only one – four times a year. It’s called “earnings season,” and it can move the markets. So, what is earnings season and why is it important? Earnings season is the month of the year that follows each calendar quarter-end month (i.e., January, April, July, and October). […]
Retiring Earlier Than Expected? What To Know
Many Americans, through circumstances beyond their control, find themselves needing to retire earlier than anticipated. Whatever the circumstances, it’s difficult not to feel wrongfooted and hurried by the situation. However, it’s important to get yourself back on track as soon as possible. Here are some things to consider as you make the transition: Don’t Make […]
4 Steps to Protecting a Child with Disabilities
Raising a child is expensive and can cost about a quarter of a million dollars, excluding college. For a child with special needs, that cost can more than double. If you’re the parent of a child with special needs, it’s vital to ensure your child will continue to be provided for after you’re gone. It […]
Caring for Aging Parents
Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in modern medicine, the worldwide population over age 65 is growing. In the past decade, the population of Americans aged 65 and older has grown 38% and is expected to reach 94.7 million in 2060. As our nation ages, many Americans are turning their attention to caring for aging […]
How to Make the Tax Code Work for You
By May 20, 2022, over 145 million taxpayers had dutifully filed their federal income tax returns.1 And they all made decisions about deductions and credits – whether or not they realized it. When you take the time to learn more about how it works, you may be able to put the tax code to work for […]
SECURE Act 2.0: An Overview
In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to facilitate contribution to retirement plans and access to those funds earmarked for retirement. The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it is a follow-up to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act passed in 2019. The […]
Choices for Your 401(k) at a Former Employer
One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹ Individuals have four choices with the 401(k) account they accrued at a previous employer.2 Choice 1: Leave It with Your Previous Employer You may choose […]
What Is A Roth 401(K)?
While many people are familiar with the benefits of traditional 401(k) plans, others are not as acquainted with Roth 401(k)s. Since January 1, 2006, employers have been allowed to offer workers access to Roth 401(k) plans. And some have introduced offerings as part of their retirement programs.1 As the name implies, Roth-401(k) plans combine features […]
Is The Fed Ready To Pause?
Over the years, the Fed has followed a similar pattern with interest rates. It raises interest rates, then pauses, so it can see how the economy is adjusting to the higher rates. The chart below shows the Fed’s pattern with short-term rates during the past 30 years. So, when will the Fed be ready to […]
Women and Financial Strategies
Women who share money management duties with their partner tend to take on a lion’s share of the responsibility for the household finances. Yet only 18% of women feel very confident in their ability to fully retire with a comfortable lifestyle.1,2 Although more women are providing for their families, when it comes to preparing for […]
