Economic and Market Review 2021
After one of the most difficult years in decades, 2021 may have been one of the most eagerly anticipated years in recent memory. Emerging from 2020, a year marked by quarantines, lockdowns, cancellations, and economic shutdowns, the entire world longed for a return to some semblance of normalcy. Investors were
All Time High Anxiety
Investors are often conflicted about record-high stock prices. They are pleased to see their existing equity holdings gain in value but apprehensive that higher prices somehow foreshadow a dramatic downturn in the future. And they may be reluctant to make new purchases since the traditional “buy low, sell high” mantra
How Should Investors Handle Inflation
One of the biggest financial stories of 2021 has been the surge in inflation. Disrupted supply chains, shortages of willing workers, rising energy prices and increased consumer spending have all contributed to inflation increases not seen in over a decade. The Labor Department recently announced that September’s consumer-price index (CPI)
Record Amounts of Wealth Held by Retirees
Older Americans own more wealth today than they have at any other time in the history of the United States. While that may seem like it is good news for retirees, it poses some concerns as well. According to data collected by the Federal Reserve, Americans aged 70 and older
What’s the Best Age to Claim Social Security Benefits?
Over the past few months, I have met with a significant number of current and prospective clients who have had questions related to or directly pertaining to the best age to claim Social Security retirement benefits. These discussions revealed that there is a fair amount of confusion in the public
One Year Later: What is Normal?
Twelve months. One’s perspective on that measure of time inevitably changes as you progress through life and may depend, in part, on your chosen profession or occupation. For many investors, we often measure the passage of twelve months by the returns our portfolio earned. Twelve months ago, the world we
Timeless Investing Lessons from David Booth
In 2021 Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) reaches a major milestone as it celebrates forty years of providing money management and investment solutions to investors all around the globe. Founded in 1981 by co-founders David Booth, Rex Sinquefield and Larry Klotz in Chicago, DFA has changed the investing landscape and empowered
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