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Global stocks climbed 2.1% higher during September despite anxiety over the political climate in Europe and rising tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. U.S. stocks had a steady month, with the S&P 500 Index returning 2.1%, putting the S&P 500 up 14.2% year‐to‐date as markets continue to post record highs. Economy U.S. real GDP […]

Retirement plan trigger events (death, disability, separation from service, or reaching age 59 ½) come with an opportunity. If you have company stock in an employer-qualified retirement plan, you may have an opportunity to elect net unrealized appreciation (NUA), allowing you to roll your company stock into a taxable account for potential tax savings. Potential […]

Why You Need to Wipe Your Cell Phone Before You Toss it and Other Critical Cyber Hygiene Guides Pause for a moment and recall how you disposed of your last cell phone. If you didn’t wipe it before you sold, traded-in, donated or otherwise disposed of, you were handing off a gold mine for an […]

Negotiating for a major purchase, such as a new car or home, is often a source of anxiety. We want our hard earned (and saved) money well spent and to get the most value for every dollar. It is important to be knowledgeable about what we are buying (for example, knowing the gas mileage of a new car). […]

Income tax rates in Illinois increased effective July 1, 2017. Because this decision came in the middle of 2017, it created some confusion regarding how to calculate 2017 taxes and how it affects estimated tax payments. The income tax change affects individuals as well as corporations residing in the state of Illinois. For individuals, trusts, […]

Global stocks had modest gains for the month of June, up 0.6%. The stock leader for the month was U.S. small cap, which rose 3.5%. Bonds had mostly negative returns for the month as a result of the slight increase in yields. Alternative asset classes had mixed results. Economy U.S. real GDP expanded at an […]

Global stocks climbed 2.0% in May after the release of strong economic data worldwide. U.S. stock markets trailed ever so slightly with the S&P 500 Index returning 1.4%. Following a modest month in April, the S&P 500 is up 8.7% year‐to‐date as signs of a stronger economy and low unemployment persist. Economy The estimate for […]

Fiduciary: a legal term that has always been near and dear to us at Savant, a word that has long been toxic to brokerages and traditional investment firms, and a concept generally not understood by consumers at large. In layman’s terms, a fiduciary is someone who is legally and morally bound to stand in your […]

Global stocks climbed 1.6% higher during the month of April despite anxiety over the political climate in Europe and geopolitical concerns in emerging market countries, e.g. North Korea and Turkey. U.S. stock markets had a slightly softer month, with the S&P 500 Index returning 1.0%. Despite a modest April, the S&P 500 is up 7.2% […]

One of the top concerns for Americans in their 60s is how to pay for retirement. Consider focusing on a plan for these five areas of financial planning to help gain confidence as you approach or enter retirement. Interestingly, many individuals’ first anxiety is loss of principal – particularly with 2008 still in our collective […]

Young adulthood often marks the passage of several major life events including beginning a career, getting married, starting a family, and buying a first home. As young adults ourselves, my husband and I welcomed our first child, moved states for a new career, and bought our first home, all in the past year. While settling […]

Dr. Simon Ramo of TRW, Inc. (now a part of Northrop Grumman) identified the difference between a winner’s game and a loser’s game in his book, Extraordinary Tennis for the Ordinary Tennis Player (pub. 1977). Dr. Ramo summed it up this way: professionals win points; amateurs lose points. The extraordinary tennis players rarely make mistakes, called “unforced […]