Last month, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate—the fed funds rate—by a quarter-percentage point to 4.00–4.25%. It is the first rate cut since last December. Fed officials left the door open to one or two more rate cuts before the year is over. The reduction in the fed funds rates surprised no one. Central […]
The Fed delivers a rate cut: What it means for you Read More »
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, and we can’t overemphasize the importance of consistently taking action to reduce risks when online or using your phone. Released in April, the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, compiled by the Internet Crime Complaint Center, logged 859,532 complaints of suspected Internet crime, with reported losses exceeding $16 billion—a 33% increase
Online Scams That May Wreck Your Finances Read More »
The SECURE 2.0 Act, signed into law at the end of 2022, brought dozens of changes to retirement planning. One of the most exciting—and least talked about—provisions is that employers can now offer Roth SEP and Roth SIMPLE IRAs. For small business owners, freelancers, and employees in these plans, that’s a game-changer. What Changed? Before
SECURE 2.0 Opens the Door to Roth SEP and SIMPLE IRAs Read More »
Unlocking Retirement Potential with Defined Benefit Plans Are you a highly paid professional or business owner looking for ways to maximize your retirement savings while reducing taxes? Do you want to set aside more than what traditional retirement accounts allow? If so, a Defined Benefit (DB) Plan might be exactly what you need. What is
How Business Owners Can Save Far Beyond a 401(k) Read More »
Did You Know? Vermont has introduced a new law requiring businesses with five or more employees to provide access to retirement savings—even if the employer doesn’t currently offer a plan. The initiative, called Vermont Saves, is designed to ensure workers have a retirement option, but it also comes with strict rules, limited flexibility, and state-mandated
Vermont Saves: A New Mandate for Vermont Employers Read More »
August and September have historically been the worst months for investors, specifically as measured by S&P 500 data compiled by the St. Louis Federal Reserve. Since 1970, August has averaged an advance of just 0.13% (through 2024), the second-worst month, while September has recorded a loss of 0.91%. A review of the historical market data
The Sun Shines Through the Shadows of August Read More »
Last month, we provided an overview of the key provisions in the just-signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). As we kick off the new school year, we believe this is a good time to address some of the important changes that were included in the OBBBA for 529 college savings plans—changes that could significantly
Big Changes to 529 College Savings Plans Courtesy of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Read More »
ChartTalk: The U.S. leads the world in production of oil and natural gas. And now, fully 30% of U.S. production is exported to other parts of the globe. See the infographic for details. The U.S. reached new records in terms of primary energy production and exports in 2024, according to new figures released by the U.S. Energy
The U.S. Now Exports 30% of the Energy It Produces Read More »
ChartTalk: It’s Econ 101. When you buy one thing, you’re giving up the opportunity to buy something else. Here we look at the opportunity cost of buying a daily cup of coffee—instead of investing that pocket change into high-flying stocks. How much would a daily latte take out of your wallet? What else are you giving
The Opportunity Cost of a Daily Starbucks Latte Read More »