Now that you’re done spending money on clothing, food, child care – and don’t forget the biggest expense, education – it’s time to focus on your own financial needs. After all, the average cost of raising a child today in middle-class America is nearly $250,000, excluding college tuition expenses. These types of numbers leave many…
Before we get started, lets recognize that this isn’t the first time there’s been a shutdown, and it probably won’t be the last. But that doesn’t change the fact that so many workers are now reaching their third week of no pay. There are roughly 800,000 federal employees who are not receiving paychecks right now,…
The White House announced yesterday that tax refunds would be processed even though the government is still shut down. Which reminded me that now is a great time to revisit your W-4. Why? Because t’s very, very likely that the W-4 form on file with your employer is off. Last year, the Treasury Department and the…
Staying in theme, it was another wild week for stocks. Investors, who are probably over the volatility from 2018, were unfortunately required to sit through a couple more brutal sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched its worst start a year since 2000. However, following a reassuring tone from Fed…
As we sit down to reflect on 2018 and prepare for the coming year, no doubt that for many stress over financial issues comes to mind quickly. Year after year we see the same types of studies and the alarming statistics they produce in regards to savings and retirement planning (or lack thereof). Almost half…
Domestic markets endured another uneventful week, with two of the three major US indices posting losses over 1% for the period. Coming into the month of December, we were told how, historically, this is a bullish time of year for equities. Unfortunately, “historically” is just another term for “average” and while December may typically be…
We experienced more of the choppy environment in equities this past week. Although these types of swings are more common than many realize (remember, the low volatility environment of 2017 was the real anomaly), we understand that large down days in the market can be bothersome. Most of the drama occurred early on Monday, after…
Well, it’s that time of year again. That time when mutual fund companies report distributions for capital gains taxes. Just in time for the holidays and a total buzzkill on all of that discretionary spending you planned on participating in. “But I’m in a Buy & Hold portfolio and didn’t sell. How can I…
Great news for savers! The IRS announced today that taxpayers will be able to contribute $6,000 to their traditional individual retirement accounts in 2019, up from the $5,500 level in place since 2013. Participants in 401(k) plans will be able to set aside up to $19,000 before taxes next year, up from $18,500. This is a…
Money woes are the leading cause of divorce in American couples. Over ⅓ of people in the United States have stated that financial pressure was the biggest challenge their marriage has faced in the past, and ¼ of Americans have said most of their arguments are money-related. As a financial planner, I work with a…