Here we go again…yet another chance for a government shutdown looms this week. The government is currently being funded by a continuing resolution (CR), passed in December 2016, through April 28, 2017, but there are still five months remaining for this fiscal year that need funding. Both chambers of Congress must pass a bill, which the President would sign, before midnight on Friday in order to avoid a shutdown.
Read MoreThere's good news for tax procrastinators: just one more day of suffering! This year's tax filing deadline is midnight April 18th and if you’re getting a late start, here are some last minute tax tips via Q&A: What if you owe money, but can’t pay in full by the April 18th deadline?
Read MoreAlthough it may seem like a lame excuse, stormy weather in March, which followed mild conditions in February, caused job creation to slump in March. The economy added a lower than expected 98,000 jobs and the number of Americans who were not at work due to bad weather was 195,000 in this report, 55,000 more than the historic number of 140,000. Adding back those employees, the reading was 153,000, somewhat weaker than the 175,000 expected, but well within the general range.
Read MoreAs the college acceptance letters arrive, students are thrilled. However, while parents and grandparents are proud, they may also feel a little anxious about footing the bill for what they know is an important credential in today’s labor force. Before you sign on a dotted line, or heaven-forbid, raid your retirement account or borrow against your house, it’s time for a financial reality check. Here are the basic sources available to fund higher education, according to the Common Application, a not-for-profit member organization of more than 700 colleges and universities in the United States and around the world.
Read MoreHappy Retirement Planning Week! In honor of the celebration, it’s time to take stock of where Americans stand. According to the 2017 Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) Retirement Confidence Survey, we still have some work to do:
Read MoreThe improving economy, a tighter labor market and rising consumer confidence are fueling the continued housing market recovery. In January, existing home sales jumped to their highest level since early 2007 and nationally, prices rose to a 31-month nominal high, with prices up 5.9 percent from a year ago. The National home price index is up nearly 38 percent from the post-bubble low set in December 2011. (Don’t get too excited-when factoring in the rate of inflation, prices are still at April 2004 levels.)
Read MoreThere have been four stock market corrections (a decline of 10 percent or more from the recent high) during the current eight-year long bull market. According to research dating back to 1900, corrections have occurred about once a year on average, and lasted on average about 115 days. Over the past thirty years or so, the S&P 500 has seen 21 corrections. Talk is increasing that correction number five of the second longest bull market on record, is just around the corner. If you are a long-term investor, you should be rooting for a correction. After all, wouldn’t you rather buy stocks at a 10 percent discount to where they are today?
Read MoreAfter suffering a stinging defeat on healthcare, what’s next for the Trump economic agenda? The first lesson for the new President is that despite holding a majority in both the House and the Senate, lawmaking is complicated and difficult. That said, because they failed to clear their first legislative hurdle, will Trump and Speaker Ryan be able to enact the next item on their to do list, tax reform, not to mention infrastructure spending?
Read More"The simple message is the economy is doing well," Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen said in the press conference that followed the central bank’s third quarter-point rate hike in 15 months. She went on to say "We have confidence in the robustness of the economy and its resilience to shocks." You might be wondering what exactly “well” means. Let’s start with the long-term economic growth rate, which has averaged about three percent annually for the 50 years from 1966 through 2016.
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