Stocks began the month on a steep downward trajectory, experiencing losses reminiscent of the early pandemic lockdowns. However, by the end of the month, shares had managed to erase most of the early losses. What happened? Two primary events dominated the conversation during the month. First, the imposition of ‘reciprocal tariffs on April 2, and […]
Tariff talk dominates Read More »
A tale of two retirees “Tom” spent more than 35 years in the oil and gas industry and human resources for a large healthcare organization. He retired at the age of 61. Today, he is active in the community, can often be found on the golf course, and volunteers in various ways, including at a
Retirement—A Journey That Involves Transition and Opportunity Read More »
Market declines are an inevitable part of investing—but history shows they’re often followed by powerful rebounds. As this chart illustrates, since 1940, the S&P 500 has experienced 64 pullbacks of 10% or more. Yet the deeper the drop, the stronger the average return one year later: declines of over 40% were followed by a remarkable
When the Market Drops, Does Opportunity Knock? Read More »
According to a 2024 report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Americans made early distributions of $12.9 billion in 2021. Early distributions—those taken before age 59 ½—are subject to a 10% additional tax or early distribution penalty. To that end, the following are some of the strategies that you can utilize to
How to Avoid the 10% Early Distribution Penalty: Part 1 of 2 Read More »
What We’ll Cover: Stress, Anxiety, and Crises The Risk of Mistakes Maintaining Perspective in Crises In any crisis, “playing it safe” to avoid losing your money can seem like the only rational strategy. However, in the past 60 years, we’ve seen repeating patterns of crises. Despite these crises, the market has been resilient. The Dow
The S&P 500 Index set an all-time high on February 19. However, optimism quickly faded as investors grew increasingly concerned over trade policy and the economy. On March 13, the S&P 500 entered its first official correction since 2023, with the index down 10.13%. It’s the first correction since the second half of 2023. But
Stock Market Correction Read More »
Following the election, optimism surged amid the belief that the new President would follow through with plans to pare back regulations that stifle businesses and extend the tax cuts passed in 2017. From an investor’s perspective, so far, so good. But candidate Donald Trump also pledged that he would enact tariffs on countries he believed
Tariffs and economic uncertainty Read More »
An IRA, or Individual Retirement Account, is intended to assist you in saving for retirement. As the name implies, the account is for an individual. It cannot be held jointly with your spouse or another person. An IRA offers significant advantages, including: Tax advantages include tax-free growth on Roth IRA accounts and tax-deferred growth on traditional
Understanding the Ins and Outs of IRA Accounts Read More »
Tax season is here—are you ready? 📅💰 Now is the time to gather your tax documents, including W-2s, 1099s, and deductible expenses, to stay organized and maximize your refund. But taxes aren’t just a once-a-year task—they should be a key part of your overall financial planning! 💡🔍 By integrating tax strategy with financial planning, you
Tax season is here—are you ready? Read More »