Syria! Tariffs! Mueller Investigation! Facebook under Fire! Corporate Earnings! All of these headlines have moved markets over the few weeks, leaving investors whipsawed and exhausted. If you’re keeping score, the Dow and S&P 500 are down slightly on the year (-1.5 percent and -0.7 percent, respectively), while the Russell 2000 and NASDAQ Composite are up (+0.9 percent and +3 percent, respectively).
Read MoreYour 2017 taxes are done. Congratulations! But you’re not done yet. (Sorry) While you have all your tax forms and documents handy, this is the perfect time to analyze last year’s finances and use those insights to prepare for the big changes that will occur in 2018 and beyond. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can start planning that summer vacation!
Read MoreWith Tax Day (April 17) rapidly approaching, here are some last minute tax prep tips to help get you to the finish line!
Read MoreJust as fast as you could say Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 the U.S. - China tariff tiff entered Round 3 last week. As a recap, here’s where we stand:
Read MoreIt’s time to drop an F-Bomb: let’s talk FIDUCIARY! The big news this spring is that the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. has announced a change to its Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. Starting October 1, 2019, CFP® professionals must act in the best interest of the client at all times when providing financial advice. This is the so-called fiduciary standard, which has been in the news ever since the Department of Labor (“DOL”) created its own rule in 2016.
Read MoreWelcome to the stock market roller coaster! It’s a bit jarring, especially on the heels of the tranquil 2017 merry go round, but as the bull market in stocks enters its tenth year, volatility abounds. Investors probably feel a bit of relief that the major indexes finished the first three months of the year with relatively small losses (Dow down 2.5 percent, the S&P 500 dropped 1.2 percent and the Russell 2000 was off 0.4 percent) or gains (NASDAQ up 2.3 percent, despite a 9.5 percent drop in Facebook) but that’s like saying the roller coaster ride ended in the small place that it started: what happened in between is where the action occurred.
Read MoreIt’s been more than five years since housing prices bottomed out. Since then, the economy has strengthened, the labor market has improved and mortgage rates remain historically low. All of those factors should add up to a robust spring housing season, but that’s not what’s going on. Instead, realtors and builders are lamenting the low number of homes for sale.
Read MoreStocks dropped by nearly 3 percent Thursday and another 2 percent on Friday, closing out the steepest one-week percentage decline for US indexes since January 2016. The proximate cause was President Trump's announcement that the U.S. would levy 25 percent tariffs on up to $60 billion dollars worth of Chinese imports.
Read MoreThe folks at the Internal Revenue Service have an uncanny sense of timing. Most of us prepare our individual tax returns just as the clocks spring ahead and the calendar says that the Vernal Equinox will bring longer and warmer days. To celebrate, clean out the cobwebs, fire up the shredder, prepare to hit the delete button and get ready to clean up your financial life!
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