In addition to the continued cuts to short-term interest rates, a large driving force behind the stock market’s strong Q4 performance was the expectation (and subsequent completion) of an agreement between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on a “Phase One” trade deal, which was necessary to avoid a…
The Manufacturing Renaissance Has Not Arrived
When President Trump initiated the first round of tariffs against China in 2018, the ostensible purpose was to level the playing field in a way that would support the long-suffering American manufacturing sector, which had been a clear victim of decades of globalization and increased international trade. But as the…
Open Enrollment is Coming
As the fourth quarter begins and our pumpkin-spice-fueled thoughts begin drifting toward the busy upcoming holiday season, it’s hardly surprising that many of us fail to give our workplace benefits the attention they deserve. Indeed, with another open enrollment season right around the corner, employee benefits provider Unum warns that…
Making Money and Marriage Mix
Maintaining a happy marriage is always a bit of a balancing act: two individuals come into a relationship from distinct backgrounds, each having developed his or her own attitudes toward work, family, money, and how to prioritize their goals. Perhaps not surprisingly, financial matters are among the most contentious issues…
On Yield Curves and Recessions
Over the past few weeks, an increasing number of market-focused articles and analyses have begun to discuss the U.S. Treasury yield curve, which was recently described by CNBC as “one of the most reliable recession indicators in the market”. And indeed, the yield curve’s history of predictions is an impressive…
Know Your IRA Penalty Exceptions
Tax-deferred retirement accounts are an integral part of any well-designed financial plan, but they do come with certain drawbacks. Some individuals who have been particularly aggressive deferring income into 401(k) plans or IRAs might eventually find that a significant portion of their net worth—if not essentially all of it—is tied…
Should I Pay Down My Mortgage?
As both short-term interest rates and 30-year mortgage rates continue to edge higher, homeowners are beginning to question anew the relative benefits of paying down mortgage debt versus setting aside their excess cash for other purposes. Determining “the right amount” of mortgage debt to hold is a complicated decision, and…
Tax Reform Becomes Law
After a frenzied process marked by numerous rewrites and edits, Congress closed out 2017 by passing the most aggressive tax reform bill in decades. Headlined by a significant corporate tax cut, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act fundamentally rewrote portions of the tax code, promising to impact households and corporations…
Are HSAs the New IRA?
While the Republicans’ “repeal and replace” American Health Care Act has been withdrawn for now, apparently left to wither on the vine as Congress attends to other matters, it’s likely that it will be revived in some form or fashion in the near future. If and when the bill does…
Car Buying vs. Leasing: A Primer
With interest rates of all types sitting at or near historic lows, buying a car has rarely been easier. As a result, U.S. auto sales hit an all-time high of 17.47 million in 2015, and sales in the first half of 2016 continued at a record pace. But as vehicle…
