What’s Behind the Walmart Wage Boost?

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.

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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?”

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CFP® Pro Tip of the Week - January 12, 2018: Money Tracking Apps
Ep. 054 - Gaining an Edge on Your Career and Life
Better Off BONUS call 047 - Mortgage Payoff
CFP® Pro Tip of the Week - January 5, 2018
Ep. 053 - Eight Financial Resolutions for 2018
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.

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