Insights
Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – February 10, 2020
The coronavirus showed some signs of slowing the pace of its expansion even as the number of fatalities surpassed the SARS crisis. Efforts to contain the virus are shrinking consumption in China and affecting diverse industries, such as auto manufacturing, oil, and luxury goods.
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Monthly Newsletters
Financial Caregiving for Those With Alzheimer’s and Dementia
On an otherwise normal Thursday afternoon, a reporter had lunch with a resident from a memory care facility. Apparently, he asked for details on some kind of story and the confused patient was happy to comply and enjoyed the meal out. Then the police showed up.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – February 3, 2020
The coronavirus continued to spread in China and around the world. Concerns about the virus and measures to prevent its spread will likely reduce economic activity in the first quarter. Interest rates moved lower, and the 10-year Treasury bond yield moved below short-term rates, which indicates concern about the strength of economic growth.
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News
3 Roth Conversion Traps To Avoid After The SECURE Act
Roth conversions can be a powerful tax and retirement planning technique. The idea behind most Roth conversions is to take money from an IRA and convert it to a Roth IRA. Essentially, you’re paying taxes today instead of paying taxes in the future.
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Blog
How to Use a Trust as a Financial Planning Tool
Clients frequently ask whether they should leave their assets in a trust. It depends. Of course, if your net worth exceeds $11 million, putting your assets in specific types of trusts can be helpful for federal estate tax issues. However, for most Americans, federal estate taxes will not be a major concern.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – January 27, 2020
In a week in which impeachment news produced the top headlines, markets reacted more to news about a virus in central China. A coronavirus apparently coming from an open-air food market in Wuhan raised concerns the Chinese would reduce spending just as the Chinese New Year vacation is starting.
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Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – January 21, 2020
Optimism from continued progress on trade pushed the S&P 500 to new highs last week. The U.S. and China signed a “phase one” deal that included an agreement by the U.S. to reduce tariffs in exchange for promises of increased purchases of U.S. goods by China and adjusted rules to allow U.S. corporations to better compete in China.
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Infographics
10 Tax Planning Tips Your CPA Might Have Missed
There’s more to tax planning than you think. Do you understand how each of your accounts are taxed? How did you set up your retirement plan? Have you considered an HSA? Take control of your taxes and how they fit into the big picture. Check out 10 planning tips your CPA might have missed. View the Infographic
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Free Guides
10 Tax Tips
CPAs and the online programs you might use come tax time specialize in preparing your taxes — not tax planning. Think bigger than year to year. Tax planning takes into account the larger picture of your investments, assets, estate strategy and other parts of life to protect your finances over decades.
Our resource “10 Tax Planning Tips Your CPA Might Have Missed” breaks down this complex discussion into concrete, actionable items that can help you think strategically about taxes.
Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary – January 13, 2020
The U.S. employment report missed expectations, but it reinforced our view that the U.S. labor market remains strong. As shown in the accompanying chart, 145,000 new jobs were created, missing expectations of 160,000. Wages have risen 2.9% over the last year, falling below 3% for the first time since late 2018.
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