Insights
Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – October 7, 2019
The monthly U.S. employment report created some very positive headlines but also indicated slowing business investment is spilling over to the jobs market. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, the lowest level in 50 years. As shown on the accompanying chart, payrolls increased by 136,000 jobs last month, roughly in line with expectations.
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Monthly Newsletters
Putting Your Health Savings Account to Work
Seven dollars. That was the per-day cost of a maternity room in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1942. Sure, adjusting for inflation brings us to $110, but that’s still unheard of. Try to find a hospital room for around a hundred dollars today! The bloated cost of healthcare isn’t a new discussion on the American airwaves.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – September 30, 2019
Impeachment proceedings led news coverage most of the week, but other economic data may be more impactful on portfolios. As the accompanying chart shows, consumer spending rose just 0.1% in August. The below-expected results indicate weakness from trade, and business spending may be slowing consumer confidence, too.
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Blog
4 Tips to Take Your 401(k) to the Next Level
The best kind of money isn’t old, new or even tax-advantaged – it’s free money! If your employer has a 401(k) program, they probably have a matching plan. Know what that is and make sure you max it out. They’re essentially giving you money, which you never want to turn down.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – September 23, 2019
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates 0.25% last week. While the move was widely expected, various forms of dissent reflected the underlying tensions faced by the Fed. As the accompanying chart shows, interest rates dropped last week but remain above recent lows.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – September 16, 2019
Global stocks rallied sharply for the third straight week. The S&P 500 rose 1.0%. The MSCI ACWI index of global stocks rose 1.3%. The Bloomberg BarCap Aggregate Bond Index dropped 1.7% as optimism about future economic growth pushed interest rates higher and bond prices lower.
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Monthly Newsletters
Leave Them a Legacy, Not Taxes, with a Roth IRA Conversion
The SECURE Act is getting more press attention than retirement accounting has received in… well, probably ever, and was in the news all summer. It’s still being slowly digested by Congress but could change the landscape of retirement finance once it’s enacted.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – September 9, 2019
Global stocks rallied sharply for the second straight week. Stocks have historically performed worse in September than any other month, so the positive performance comes at a welcome time. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 1.8%.
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Free Guides
From Tax Efficiency to Retirement: Financial Planning for Small Business Owners
Financial planning for a small business gets more complicated every day. Business owners must navigate tax efficiency (and life under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act), retirement preparations for yourself and your employees, and succession planning. Get your financial plan in place today and prepare for what tomorrow brings with our guide to financial planning for small business owners.
Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – September 3, 2019
Global stocks rallied sharply last week and erased much of the decline experienced in August. Economic news was generally in line with recent themes, and the Chinese government’s comments expressing its willingness to negotiate reassured investors.
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