COVID-19 has decimated global demand as lockdowns materially re-shaped consumer and business behavior. Even as states have begun to re-open, significant questions remain about how demand could recover. The May retail sales print provided one of the first glimpses of that answer, rising 17.7% month over month and marking the largest monthly gain since data [...]
The Federal Reserve (Fed) completed its third scheduled policy meeting of the year Wednesday, June 10, and continued to signal strong support for the economy, committing to keeping rates near zero until it is confident of a recovery and maintaining bond purchases (“quantitative easing”), at least at the current level. “Despite some early signs [...]
The S&P 500 Index has rallied mightily off of its March 23 low, climbing almost 40% through the close of the market yesterday, as market participants look ahead to the economy continuing to gradually reopen. While there are signs that bond market participants’ overall assessment of the economy is slowly edging toward a similar [...]
The stock market keeps going higher, yet the economic data remains some of the worst we’ve ever seen. This incredible disconnect has a lot of investors quite confused as to what is really happening. “Although this record rally has many scratching their heads, we need to remember the stock market is likely looking ahead [...]
Medicare contains many rules that beneficiaries and their caregivers are required to learn. Perhaps the best way to grasp the program's details is to review the major components of the Medicare program: Parts A, B, C, and D. Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance This insurance is designed to help cover the following: Inpatient care [...]
The SECURE Act - Top 10 Key Provisions to Provide Retirement Savings Benefits for Employees and Employers Open Multiple Employer Plans / Pooled Employer Plans – The SECURE Act allows unrelated small employers to band together in “open” 401(k) multiple-employer plans (MEPs; also referred to as pooled employer plans (PEPs)). This reduces the costs and [...]
Retirement Planning Tips and resources that everyone can use Money Conversations When you are in a close relationship, it can be easy to put off talking about money with your partner. Even if you’re anxious about your financial situation, it’s important to be open to discussing it. It is possible to work toward multiple goals [...]
In projecting what you’ll need to save in order to generate enough retirement income, it helps to (1) prepare a realistic household budget and (2) understand what types of expenses you’ll have once you stop earning a regular paycheck. Types of Expenses Fixed Expenses – “Must Haves” Mortgage or rent Taxes (income and property) Car [...]
Here are the facts. Generally speaking, women earn less than men, live longer than men, and often take time out of the workforce to have children and/or to care for an aging parent or sick loved one. The potential consequence of these realities? While most U.S. workers are facing a retirement savings deficit, for women, [...]
Let's say that at the age of 25, you earned $35,000. If your salary increased at the average historical rate, you'd have earned nearly $2 million in total by the time you were 65.1,2 That might sound like a lot -- until you begin thinking about all the financial goals you'll need to juggle in [...]
