For most families and households, the primary residence represents one of the largest assets on their balance sheet, and it is certainly the largest single purchase (or investment) in most individuals’ lifetimes. Protecting that asset, then, should be a consistent and thoughtful consideration for the homeowner. And yet, more often…
The government shuts down
As the third quarter reached its end, the most recent short-term federal spending agreement (originally reached in March) expired, sending the government into shutdown mode once again. This closure marks the 11th such funding gap since 1980—when a legal opinion first began to require it—and the third since 2018. The…
Navigating early retirement
The vast majority of financial planning literature and advice is based around an assumption of retirement at age 65, a figure that dates back to the signing of the Social Security Act by FDR in 1935. Much has changed in the decades since, but age 65 has remained something of…
The market's tariff tantrum
In the 2024 election campaign, President Trump ran on a wide-ranging platform that included promises of both increased tariffs and sweeping immigration reform. In the initial weeks of his term, action on both fronts was somewhat limited, and there was an expectation among most economists and analysts that his ultimate…
The long shadow of inflation
Heading into this past November’s presidential election, by most traditional metrics, the national economy was strong and thriving. GDP growth was positive, inflation was back down near the Fed’s long-term target, and strong consumer spending data had added fuel to a persistent stock market rally that continues to lead the…
Tax policy takes center stage
From an economic perspective, the impact of Presidential election outcomes tends to be greatly overstated. Chief executives do not actually exercise much direct control over economic policies, and even when they do, the stock market’s reactions are unpredictable. There is little compelling evidence that the economy (or the market) does…
Budgeting basics (Part II)
In our most recent article, we presented an initial overview of budgeting basics, while promising to take a deeper dive into the practical side of building (and managing) a household budget. We’ll do just that in this quarter’s post, beginning by revisiting some of our initial recommendations from our last…
Understanding budgeting basics
For much of the last 3 years, economic conversations and headlines have been dominated by concerns about inflation and its impact on household budgets. Understandably, Americans have become increasingly concerned about their ability to make ends meet, and their growing anxiety is exacerbated by the fact that many individuals simply…
10 financial steps for expectant parents
Welcoming a child into the world can be one of life’s unique joys, but it certainly brings with it a good deal of anxiety (and sleep deprivation, which can also further fuel that anxiety). Aside from the usual parenting concerns, financial considerations are also palpable—depending on the estimate, the total…
The labor market's slow recovery
Our most recent quarterly newsletter included a short item discussing the persistent tightness in the labor market, and its ongoing impact on inflation and economic growth. It’s a dynamic that we’ve been tracking for some time now, and it’s an issue that remains as relevant as ever as we head…
