The Consolidated Appropriations Act
After months of debate between Democrats and Republican lawmakers concerning additional economic stimulus relief, Congress passed what many are referring to as the “Coronavirus Stimulus 2.0” bill as an amendment to the 5,000+ page Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Signed into law by President Trump on December 27, 2020 the
2020: The Year in Review
“May you live in interesting times,” purportedly the English translation of a traditional Chinese curse, may very well be the best expression to summarize 2020. It was a year unlike any we have experienced before. Early in the year the number of COVID-19 virus infections exploded, quickly spreading from China
The Tax Outlook for 2021 and Beyond
In October we examined how the outcome of November’s Presidential Election might impact future stock market returns in the United States. If you will recall from the article, stocks have performed slightly better under Democrat Presidents than under Republican Presidents historically. The same data revealed that investors’ returns were even better
Social Security Benefit Update for 2021
Social Security benefits represent a salient component of most retirees’ retirement income strategy. For most American retirees today the two most important sources of retirement income are withdrawals from their own retirement savings and their monthly Social Security benefit. As such, it is imperative to be aware of new developments
Presidential Elections and Market Returns
“Has it been four years already?” That questions is a popular refrain heard frequently as our nation readies itself for our next Presidential election on November 3rd. As expected, the looming election has garnered the attention of news and media outlets for the past few months with an ever-increasing focus
Avoiding Mistakes in an Economic Downturn
The economic downturn that began earlier in 2020 resulting from the Coronavirus outbreak has led to a period of economic contraction that some economists are calling a recession. The fallout of the pandemic has been disjointed, leaving some Americans struggling to pay their bills, while other Americans are largely unaffected
Second Quarter 2020 Market Review
If you are having a hard time making sense of what is going on in the economy and financial markets right now, you are not alone. The past four months have taken investors on a dizzying rollercoaster ride, making it difficult to make heads or tails of economic data and
Does a Recession Mean Negative Returns?
As many industries and economic sectors shut down earlier this spring in concerted efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, many economists opined that the U.S. economy faced a certain recession. Recessions are generally defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth in U.S. production. But other criteria may
Social Security: Another COVID-19 Victim?
As the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases nears 2.4 million in the United States, the virus has extracted a heavy toll in terms of deaths, hospitalizations, job loss and economic malaise. As devastating as Covid-19 has been the past four months in terms of loss of human life and economic
Understanding the CARES Act
The widespread economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taken a crippling toll on national and local economies alike. As businesses and employers around the country wrestle with the fallout of closures, layoffs and furloughs the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, better known as the CARES
What Now?
2020 began with the promise of continued strong economic and financial performance and a hint of uncertainty surrounding the November Presidential election. The nation’s unemployment rate was near sixty-year lows, and labor force participation rates were near sixty-year highs. The longest bull market in U.S. history was still running, despite
Market Volatility and the Coronavirus
For many investors, the greatest impediment to financial success is their failure to control two powerful emotions: fear and greed. Fear and greed can distort investors’ perceptions of current economic conditions and financial markets, while diverting their attention from longer term financial goals. Of the two emotions, fear is probably