Mega-retailer Wal-Mart made news last week when it announced that it will raise
starting wages to $11 per hour, will offer bonuses up to $1,000 to many of its workers
and expand maternity/paternity policies. Should the million or so employees who will be
affected by the moves thank the GOP tax cut? The company indicated that changes in
the law were at least partially responsible and certainly the billions that the company
stands to reap from the corporate tax rate dropping from 35 to 21 percent will more
than offset the $700 million cost for the new policies.

Is There Too Much Focus on Stocks?

A reader wrote to me: “After your recent article about the big questions for 2018, I was astounded that ‘only 54 percent of Americans report having money invested in the stock market at all.’ Does that mean that all of the attention we put on the stock market is misplaced? Are we putting too much focus on stocks?”

Four Money Questions for 2018

2017 was a year that defied most expectations. Synchronistic global growth led to a surge in corporate profits, which in turn pushed worldwide stocks higher. The FTSE All-World index shot up nearly 22 percent, its biggest rise since 2009. US markets were along for the ride: The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 25.1 percent, the broad S&P 500 index was up 19.4 percent and the NASDAQ Composite jumped 28.2 percent. The Russell 2000 index of small companies, which was the big winner in 2016, put in a more than respectable 13.1 percent return.

BlogMark TalercioJanuary 1, 20182018, money, cash, debt, retire, retirement, finance, invest, investment, investing

2018 Financial Resolution: NO BUDGET

A colleague of mine recently asked me how he might be able to finally stick to a budget. For years, he had tried to create and adhere to a specific annual spending plan, only to blow a hole through it at some point during the year. “What’s wrong with me? I know that I should do it, but there’s always something that comes up!”

BlogMark TalercioJanuary 1, 2018budget, money, cash, debt, 2018, finance, invest, investing, investment, retire, retirement, mint, financial resolutions

7 Biggest Money Stories of 2017

It’s always interesting to look back at the year that was…here are my 7 Biggest Money Stories of 2017:

BlogMark TalercioDecember 26, 2017business, top business stories, stock market, Fed, equifax, Equifax Data Breach, Bitcoin

Last Minute Holiday Gifts for the Financially Curious

If you are looking for interesting holiday books this season, check out some of these ideas. I have interviewed all of the authors on my show, “Better Off”, so if you aren’t tempted by the descriptions, listen to the podcast, which will leave you wanting more!

BlogMark TalercioDecember 18, 2017shopping, gift, gifts

What’s in the Final GOP Tax Bill

Late Friday, the GOP released its final tax bill, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress this week. Here’s what made it in—as previously noted: how it impacts your bottom line depends on how much you earn, how you earn it, where you live and the size of your family. To see a rough estimate of its impact, check out this Wall Street Journal tax plan calculator.

BlogMark TalercioDecember 17, 2017tax, taxes, taxreform, tax reform, GOP tax reform, GOP tax plan

Fed to Raise Rates for Janet’s Swan Song

The Fed likes to act in December…and this December will be no different. When the central bankers convene their two-day policy meeting this week, they are widely expected to increase short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percent to a new range of 1.25 to 1.5 percent. It would be the third increase of the year, the fourth in the past year and the fifth of the rate increase cycle.

BlogMark TalercioDecember 10, 2017Fed, Fed rate hikes, Federal Reserve, Yellen

Do Corporations Need a Tax Cut?

Now that the Senate has passed big changes to the U.S. tax code, it may be worth considering a blasphemous question: Do corporations need a tax cut? The bill, which now must be reconciled with the House version, would permanently slash the corporate tax rate to 20 from 35 percent and temporarily lower individual taxes.

BlogMark TalercioDecember 2, 2017tax, tax reform, GOP Tax Plan, GOP tax reform

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