Overview Up until 1973, the value of the U.S. dollar was determined by the Bretton Woods international monetary system. After 1973, the federal government decided to base the value of our currency on the economic principles of supply and demand. That also means that material commodities, such as oil and precious metals, are priced in…

There are several ways to save money for retirement while you are working. Here are a few tips on what to be aware of when it comes to your retirement savings. 401(k)’s: Typically, set up by an employer. Employers may match your contributions (up to a certain amount), using pre-tax dollars taken out of your…

By the end of 2018, not one of the eight asset categories tracked by Ned Davis Research was on track to post a return greater than 5 percent. Since it’s common for the market to yield at least some “winners” and “losers” among asset classes each year, this was a significant phenomenon that hasn’t occurred…

You’ve spent years contributing to your tax deferred 401(k)s and IRAs and as you withdraw money from these accounts in retirement, income tax is due. At the age of 70 1/2 you are required to take an annual withdrawal from these types of accounts, called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). The penalty for skipping a…

Overview Although women have made great strides in the workplace and politically, they still face economic challenges. While women-owned businesses account for nearly 40 percent of all privately held firms in the U.S.,1 women hold only 10 percent of top executive positions (CEO, CFO and so on) in companies that compose the S&P 1500 stock…

Overview A correction is technically defined as when the market declines by 10 percent from a recent peak. It’s worth noting that corrections are a very normal part of the market life cycle. There has been at least one correction in each bull market of the last 40 years and a correction can occur in…

Interest Rate Watch In late September, the Federal Reserve raised its key short-term interest rate to 2.25 percent from 2.0 percent, in its third increase of the year.1 The good news is that higher rates offer the potential for higher returns on CDs, bank savings, fixed annuities, and other fixed-rated accounts that have been languishing…

2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the Great Recession of 2008. Despite a painfully slow recovery, U.S. economic growth has been sustainable. The stock and bond markets continue to perform well, unemployment is low and the economy is generally considered healthy and booming. And yet, whenever things are going well, it’s only human nature to…

The Indexed Annuity Leadership Council recently published a report that included a scoring mechanism for how “retirement ready” Americans are based on job status. “White-collar workers” rated just below 50 percent in terms of retirement readiness, while “blue- and graycollar workers” were somewhat lower, at 44.7 percent.1 Another recent report on retirement readiness was published…

Overview Lifetime income sources generally provide minimum payouts to help cover everyday expenses. In most cases, these benefits are not impacted by fluctuations in the investment markets. For example, Social Security benefits are based on one’s lifetime earnings, so they reflect a proportionate amount of income based on your assumed standard of living. To maximize…

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Overview At the heart of President Trump’s policy is his conviction that China has used predatory tactics to challenge American technological dominance. He has accused the country of obliging U.S. corporations to trade technology for access to the Chinese market, as well as outright cybertheft. Initially, the Trump administration placed tariffs on industrial products so…