Objective information about financial planning, investments, and retirement plans
On March 9, 2009 the market downturn fueled by the financial crisis bottomed out as measured by the S&P 500 Index. On that day the index closed at 677. As we approach the tenth anniversary of the ensuing bull market, the index closed at 2,749 on … [Continue reading]
One of the big topics this tax season is SALT. This is not a seasoning for food, but rather SALT stands for state and local taxes. The treatment of these expenses in terms of their deductibility for those who itemize is a major change for the 2018 … [Continue reading]
Update, with the Patriots' win yesterday the indicator says the markets should have a down year in 2019. As I mention below, the indicator has been wrong for three years running, as investors let's hope for a fourth year. It’s Super Bowl time and … [Continue reading]
Contrary to what some politicians might say, your Social Security benefits are not an entitlement. You’ve paid Social Security taxes over the course of your working life and you’ve earned these benefits. Many retirees and others collecting Social … [Continue reading]
The Department of Labor released its final draft of their fiduciary rules mandating that financial advisors place their client's best interests first when offering advice on their retirement accounts in 2016. Here is a post I wrote just before the … [Continue reading]
I hope that 2018 was a good year for you and your families and that you’ve had a wonderful holiday season. For us it was great to have our three adult children home and to be able to spend time together as a family. We all ate way too much good … [Continue reading]
With the new year upon us, it’s a good time to be sure you understand the contribution rates and limits for various retirement plan options, so you can contribute as much as possible. As you look at your financial planning for 2019, you will want to … [Continue reading]
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December of 2017 marks the biggest overhaul in the tax code in many years. One area that will be impacted under tax reform is charitable giving. While charitable contributions remain eligible as an itemized … [Continue reading]
One of the best tax deductions for a small business owner is funding a retirement plan. Beyond any tax deduction you are saving for your own retirement. As a fellow small business person, I know how hard you work. You deserve a comfortable … [Continue reading]
Today the stock market took another hit. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over 799 points or about 3.1%. The S&P 500 lost over 3.2%. An inverted yield curve, often a precursor to a recession, continued concerns about a trade war with China … [Continue reading]
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