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Past Commentary & Articles
With investment markets in full panic mode as a result of the World Health Organization declaring the COVID-19 virus to be a global pandemic, traders on Wall Street are selling at virtually any price, which has caused the markets to drop into bear market territory. The long bull run that started in March 2009 and […]
As you hear regular coronavirus updates coupled with headlines about the market’s recent volatility, it’s difficult to put everything into perspective. If left unchecked, even the most valid emotions can lead you down a dangerous path concerning your investments.In this 20-minute webcast, our Investment Research team will put recent updates into perspective for you by […]
In the world of capital markets, few clichés ring truer than “money makes the world go ‘round.” When analyzing public companies, investors generally use a company’s quarterly earnings report to determine whether they are making money or not. With the reporting of fourth quarter 2019 earnings starting to wrap up, now is an ideal time to […]
Since the passage of the Revenue Act of 1913, Congress has rejiggered our income tax rates an astonishing 40+ times. This includes the remarkable period from 1976 through 1993, when tax rates shifted 10 times in 18 years. We have recently been on pace to break that record. Our tax laws changed in 2001, 2003, 2005, […]
As markets come to a close on Thursday, February 27, 2020, the S&P 500 Index (U.S. stocks) and MSCI All Country World All Cap Index (global stocks) have officially entered into a correction (defined by a 10% drop from the most recent high). As equity markets experience turmoil due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, […]
The start of 2018 appeared promising with the welcomed tax reform, strong corporate earnings, solid economic growth, low interest rates, and controlled inflation. The market outcome, however, was disappointing to say the least, with both stocks and bonds struggling to find positive returns (see Exhibit 1). When does that ever happen? In looking back over […]
With the change of the calendar year, individual taxes tend to come into focus as the tax return deadline quickly approaches. While the thought of income taxes and income tax filing can be stressful to most, taking a simplified approach, while being methodical and proactive in filing, and planning for future taxes can reduce this […]
The past 12 months have seen the rise of a number of issues that are viewed as threats to global economic growth. Concerns about the U.S.-China trade war, Brexit, and most recently the coronavirus outbreak have made headlines around the world, prompting ongoing speculation about how each of these issues may impact both the domestic […]
Global stocks (-1.3%) kicked off the year by struggling with losses across the board. Emerging market stocks (-4.7%) suffered the most while U.S. large cap stocks (0.0%) were the best performers by posting a flat return. Fixed income asset classes were positive with international bonds (+2.1%) and TIPS (+2.1%) the strongest performers. Alternative asset classes […]
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law by the President on December 20, 2019. This act contains provisions that will likely significantly affect either yourself or your loved ones at a future date. There are both positive and negative implications for individual taxpayers, so let’s get into what […]
10 Lessons From a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional Who Did It Himself I lived most of my life in the Midwest – born and raised in Minnesota, college in Michigan and then 15 years in Chicago. My family was finally ready to get out of the cold, so we embarked on a two-year journey that […]
As of Jan. 27, 2020, the IRS will start to accept 2019 tax returns. Most taxpayers are watching for their W-2s, 1099s, and other tax related documents to arrive in the mail and are curious to see if their tax situation will be better than it was a year ago with the new tax law […]