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Fed Boosts Key Interest Rate 0.75%
What an “interesting” week. In a move unseen since 1994, the Federal Reserve has taken an aggressive stance toward inflation by raising the key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point.Investors initially...
Read MoreSummertime Checkup
Summer’s here, and the time is right for vacations, outdoor activities, and fun. It’s also a good time to consider a few financial matters. Here are some questions to ask yourself mid-year.Goals still the same for 2022? Has...
Read MoreWise Words from Warren Buffett
During periods of market turbulence, I take comfort in one of my favorite Warren Buffett quotes:“Don’t watch the market closely.”The Oracle of Omaha gave this sage advice in 2016, when Brexit, China’s economic...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Dip on Inflation Report
A higher-than-expected inflation report triggered a sell-off on Friday, leaving stocks in the red for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 4.58%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 5.05%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Slip on Mixed Economic News
In a holiday-shortened week of volatile trading, stocks surrendered some of the previous week’s strong gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.94%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 1.20%. The Nasdaq Composite...
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Weekly Market Insights: Confidence in Fed Helps Spark Market Rally
Stocks posted solid gains for the week, buoyed by the release of Fed meeting minutes and upbeat earnings from mid-size and discount retailers.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 6.24%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced...
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Weekly Market Insights: Fed Signals More Aggressive Action on Interest Rates
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Weekly Market Insights: Inflation and Ukraine Rattle Investors Another Week
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Weekly Market Insights: COVID-19 Variant Clobbers Markets
News of a new, highly virulent COVID variant triggered a market sell-off on Friday, sending stocks into negative territory for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.97%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slumped 2...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Mixed on COVID-19, Powell
Stocks were mixed last week in choppy trading as investors battled the crosscurrents of good economic data and a troubling rise in COVID-19 infections globally.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.38%, while the Standard &...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Tap the Brakes
Stocks posted small declines last week as investors digested recent stock market gains and an unexpectedly high inflation read.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.63%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 0.31%. The...
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2022 Contribution Limits
Preparing for retirement just got a little more financial wiggle room. This week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new contribution limits for 2022.Staying put for 2022 are traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)...
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FANNG is now MAMAA
CNBC’s Mad Money host Jim Cramer created the popular FAANG acronym to denote some of the largest, most powerful companies in the world: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google. Recently, changes in those companies are...
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Weekly Market Insights: Fed Says Tapering Ahead
A Federal Reserve announcement on tapering, a fresh batch of corporate profits, and encouraging economic data lifted stocks to another weekly gain.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.42%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Weekly Market Insights: Earnings Build; GDP Slows
A fresh wave of positive corporate earnings surprises sent markets to new record highs last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.40%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.33%. The Nasdaq Composite index picked...
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Weekly Market Insights: Strong Week on Wall Street
Stocks rallied last week on a stream of positive corporate earnings surprises.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.08%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 1.64%. The Nasdaq Composite index gained 1.29% for the week....
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Weekly Market Insights: Fed Unveils Tapering Plans
A strong opening to the third-quarter earnings season sparked a late week, broad-based rally that helped stocks finish the week with solid gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.58%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Weekly Market Insights: Debt Ceiling Raised
The overhang of bumping against the federal debt ceiling was lifted last week with an agreement to extend the debt ceiling through early December, helping propel stocks to a weekly gain.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 1...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stalemate in the Capitol
Higher bond yields and a legislative stalemate in Washington, D.C., added up to losses for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.36%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 2.21%. The Nasdaq Composite index fell...
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Roller-Coaster Week in Washington
Debates over government debt, taxes, and infrastructure have captured the attention of the nation this week. All eyes are on Washington and Wall Street as these events play out, with potentially far-reaching consequences that seem to...
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Weekly Market Insights: Wild Week of Contagion Concerns
Stocks prices were whipsawed last week, dragged initially lower by financial contagion worries and later lifted by a supportive Fed policy statement.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.62%, while the Standard & Poor’s...
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The Underutilized Benefits of a Health Savings Account
Healthcare can be one of the priciest yet essential parts of life’s journey. And yet, many struggle to utilize the financial tools that may help. Take Health Saving Accounts (HSAs), for example.In 2019, 55% of those with HSAs...
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Here Comes Fall!
The Autumnal Equinox approaching on September 22 is a day with 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness. This balance of day and night serves as a reminder of the change of seasons, and heralds the coming of fall colors and...
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The Best, the Brightest, and Inflation
If you are feeling a bit confused about the direction of inflation, you’re in good company. Some of the best and brightest economists in the country are having a tough time getting their arms around the current inflation trends...
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Lessons from Balloonists
Photography is my distraction. Recently I attended the Spirit of Boise Balloon Festival: two, rather cool, early mornings, starting in the dark, and ending with a sky full of color. It is interesting, sometimes different events cause...
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The September Effect
The stock market notched its 7th straight month of gains in August, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index has set 53 new highs so far in 2021.1During August, stocks rallied as investors looked past the increased number of COVID-19...
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A Dividend of Confidence
The most recent stats on corporate dividends suggest that global companies are bullish on the world’s economic recovery.Dividends paid to investors are on track to hit $1.4 trillion this year and are expected to stretch even...
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Weekly Market Insights: Data and Delta Scramble Stock Results
Stocks were mixed last week amid conflicting economic data and continued spread of Delta variant infections.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.24% during the five trading days. But the Standard & Poor’s 500 tacked on...
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Social Security Benefits May Be Cut By 2034
The economic impact of COVID-19 has been felt from coast to coast. And, unfortunately for many pre-retirees, it could potentially impact Social Security benefits as well.A new report indicates that if Congress doesn’t take...
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Happy Labor Day!
The first Labor Day was celebrated over 100 years ago, created by the labor movement as a day to honor the achievements and contributions (both social and economic) of American workers.I’ve always found the way we celebrate to...
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Weekly Market Insights: Powell: Tapering Likely in 2021
The stock market powered to record levels last week amid talk of Fed tapering and a deceleration in new Delta variant cases.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.96%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 increased 1.52%. The...
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401(k) Millionaires
Your workplace retirement account can play a critical role in your overall retirement strategy. However, some have gone further with the accounts than others, especially recently.CNBC reported on findings that place 401(k) accounts at...
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The Fed Can't Keep a Secret
If you have a secret, don’t tell anyone at the Federal Reserve Bank. They may leak the story before you’d like.In early August, multiple regional Federal Reserve Bank presidents hit the speaking tour. They made headlines...
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Will Air Travel Problems Persist?
The airline industry plotted a course for recovery in 2021, but recent difficulties may have put that plan into a holding pattern.While major airlines checked in with improving financial results for the second quarter, both they and...
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The Cost Of A Gold Medal
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics wrap up with closing ceremonies on August 8, and it’s been an Olympic games like no other. We’ve watched the world’s finest athletes go for the gold. Which leads many to wonder: what exactly...
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Weekly Market Insights: Market Shows Small Loss
The stock market posted small losses last week despite a very strong showing by corporate America.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.36%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 0.37%. The Nasdaq Composite index dropped...
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Teenage Wage-Land
Summer jobs are a perennial aspect of the American workforce. It’s a time when teenagers are filling out applications and, in many cases, earning wages of their own for the first time. But some of what we’ve become...
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A 6.1% Bump in Social Security?
The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients.It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1...
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Conducting Your Mid-Year Financial Checkup
With June officially behind us, it’s time to face the facts: we’re headed toward the second half of 2021. While there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the rest of summer, we encourage you to slow down and check up on...
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Happy Independence Day
The Fourth of July is just ahead – a chance for us all to get together and celebrate what makes America so special. As Americans, we have the liberty to act, speak, think, and worship freely. This precious liberty was fought for...
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Summer Travel is Back!
One of the most anticipated comebacks of 2021 isn’t an athlete, rock star, or movie franchise. It’s summer travel, and it appears to be back with a vengeance.Travel agents are working 14-hour days to meet the needs of...
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This Memorial Day...
Memorial Day is a time for Americans to honor and remember those who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Veterans will think back on the men and women who served alongside them who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their...
Read MoreCalculators
Calculators: used for making mathematical calculations, in particular a small electronic device with a keyboard and a visual display. In some ways this description is really out dated, obsolete. Calculators come in various forms, but...
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The IRS Extends Additional Tax Deadlines for IRAs, HSAs, and More
Previously, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year had been automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021.1More time for allHowever,...
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Investor Sentiment Is Shifting
A recent survey shows that 63% of investors are more interested in protecting their financial assets and planning for uncertainty in the future than anything else.1There are many reasons for this change, but here are a few of the most...
Read MoreFinancial Literacy Month - Asset Protection
So you've prepared for your goals and you believe you are on track for your financial goals. That's wonderful. What now?April is Financial Literacy Month. If you haven't put some thought into Asset Protection Strategy, now...
Read MoreFinancial Literacy Month - Budgeting Today for Wealth Tomorrow
Spend today, save tomorrow?Okay, we've all been there. But if it seems you're always living paycheck-to-paycheck and never able to save anything for the future, then it may be time to make a change .April is Financial Literacy Month....
Read MoreFinancial Literacy Month - Defining SMART Financial Goals
Are your financial goals well-defined? While "I want to have lots of money" may sound like a great goal, it's just too vague. How much is "lots?" If you don’t know … how will you know when you have it? And will the...
Read MoreFinancial Literacy Month - Financial Literacy for Children
Many young adults are not only wayward financially, but also pessimistic about ever becoming wealthy. Could it be that our children just aren't getting the financial education they need?April is Financial Literacy Month. This is...
Read MoreFinancial Literacy Month - Recovering from Financial Hardship
If your finances are not where you would like them to be, what can you do about it?April is Financial Literacy Month. This is a great time to start picking up the pieces and learn how to rebuild with confidence. After all, a little...
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Are Americans Saving Too Much?
Among the many changes arising from the pandemic, one of the most noticeable was a change in American spending habits.A survey released in March 2021 by Pew Research shows that Americans have increasingly chosen to put away what extra...
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The American Rescue Plan Makes FSAs a Little More Flexible
For those with a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), there may be some good news on the horizon. The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden, boosts the amount that companies can allow workers to...
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The Shadow of Inflation
I’m sure you’ve heard that the House recently passed the Senate another round of stimulus to try and counteract the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new stimulus package could narrow income eligibility to...
Read MoreFirst Day of Spring
Spring is here! And soon the landscape will turn greener and the weather warmer. Perhaps you are already thinking about what you would like to do – the trips you could take, that new look for your yard or your garden, a day at...
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I.R.S. Delays Tax Filing, Payment Deadlines
Less than one month ahead of the traditional date, the I.R.S. has delayed the deadline for filing and paying taxes. The new deadline is May 17, 2021.1,2,3The delay follows continued disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and a late...
Read MoreDaylight Saving Time Begins
Do the days seem to be getting a bit longer? You’re correct. It is almost Daylight Saving Time. Many of the timepieces you rely on will automatically make the change thanks to their software, while your analog devices...
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The Shadow of Inflation
I’m sure you’ve heard that the House recently passed the Senate another round of stimulus to try and counteract the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new stimulus package could narrow income eligibility to...
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Weekly Market Insights: Rising Bond Yields Diminish Stocks
Stocks dropped amid rising long-term bond yields, with sharp declines in high-valuation growth stocks leading the overall market lower.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.78%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined...
Read MorePlanning Offers Contentment
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. Proverbs 17:1 (NKJV) I read this this morning, and it caused me to pause. There are words in our lives that create immediate struggles. Words like:...
Read MorePresidents Day
Presidents Day is upon us. It's time to celebrate Washington's birthday and celebrate the founding of our nation. Washington said, "Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages." This Presidents Day, I hope you take a moment...
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Weekly Market Insights: Markets Go Back to Basics
Stocks notched strong gains last week, paced by a string of solid economic reports and consensus-beating corporate earnings.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 3.89%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 4.65%. The...
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Markets Roiled by Recent Events
Recently, the world has watched with great interest as a few companies have seen surprising rallies in their stock prices. You may have read stories of individual investors gaining massive returns on their investments, thanks to this...
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Changing Jobs, Changing Times
Recently, Jeff Bezos, one of the wealthiest people in the world, announced he would take a different role at his company. Corporate moves make the news all the time, but for the largest companies, the story can jump from the business...
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How the Internet Gamed Wall Street’s Short Sellers
You may have heard the news about stocks for certain companies suddenly ballooning, quickly going from lunch money prices to several hundred dollars a share. In one case, the shares rose over 1700% since December 2020.1 So, what...
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Weekly Market Insights: Optimism Stimulates Markets
Anticipation of a new fiscal stimulus and improved vaccine distribution powered stocks to fresh record highs last week with technology stocks leading the way.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.59%, while the Standard &...
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