Although 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?
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