Market Update – August 5th, 2024

After fielding some questions from clients over the past few days, I wanted to provide a quick update on what’s going on in the markets. What’s Happening In The Markets and Why Are They So Volatile? Today the markets continued last week’s selloff, on the heels of weaker-than-expected employment numbers Friday, and an over 12% loss in the…

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Predictions, Money and Mattresses

image of q1 blog

I don’t usually make short-term market guesses – my crystal ball has been in the shop for almost 20 years; at this point I can’t remember if it was cracked or just fogged. I believe in the power of long-term markets, good diversification and poor performance as a result of short-term market prognosticating. 

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5 SECURE Act Changes…and How You May be Affected

5 SECURE Act Changes

In December of 2019, under the cover of darkness and impeachment hearings, some of the most significant tax legislation of the past 20 years passed in unusual bipartisan fashion: the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, or SECURE act.  The name- which undoubtedly took weeks of debate to come up with and agree upon, speaks to the purpose, though not the entirety or sweeping nature of the act; a rare legislative accomplishment for an otherwise gridlocked Washington.  While the act addresses a number of retirement chads left hanging after the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, it also makes changes to 529 plans, medical expense deductions, kiddie taxes and more.  The focus of the plan is clear, however, in its attempt to modernize and streamline retirement savings for Americans.

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