In recent economic data, employment matches expectations, manufacturing flattens after a period of decline, and auto sales growth continues to moderate. Employment: The U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs in April, matching expectations. However, it wasn’t all good news; the March estimate was reduced from 126,000
Here are three important tips to start a business. Starting a business is a lot like getting married. In both cases, there’s a certain amount of logic involved, but ultimately, it’s powerful emotions that propel us toward making the leap. If you’ve never thought of
Tax time is upon us once again, and for many, that means facing the dreaded alternative minimum tax (AMT). AMT was instituted in 1969 as a way to prevent those instances in which very wealthy people used deductions to escape paying any federal taxes. Unfortunately,
Dollar-cost averaging—the practice of purchasing securities at fixed intervals and in equal amounts over time rather than in one lump sum—has long been used as a way to avoid jumping into the market at the wrong time. To illustrate how dollar-cost averaging, or DCA, works,
You’re feeling pretty confident these days. First, you’re doing awesome work at a great company, and second, your restricted stock units (RSUs) have vested. Now for the big question: When do you cash your shares out? If you’re like most RSU recipients, you plan to
Smart tax management has always been a good way to help grow and preserve your wealth. But now it’s even more powerful. The reason: Federal income tax changes that took effect in 2013 have raised the rate for those with high incomes. As a result,
As 2014 draws to a close, the U.S. is still experiencing a slow and longer-than-normal recovery. GDP: The GDP growth rate in the third quarter was boosted to 3.9%, up from 3.5%, and well ahead of expectations of 3.3%. A lot of that improvement was
The U.S. dollar is on a roll lately—gaining strength and trouncing currencies like the Euro and the Japanese yen. The dollar index, which compares the greenback’s value with basket of world currencies, is at a four-year high. But is the strengthening dollar and weakening foreign
Recent U.S. economic reports, while not always meeting expectations, suggested more of the slow and unsatisfying growth rates of the past four years. Businesses are looking and feeling more optimistic at a time that both U.S. and international consumers are sitting on their hands. GDP:
As the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals prepare to square off in the World Series, it’s worth mentioning that both team’s players are already winners—at least when it comes to their bank accounts. The teams’ combined payrolls are a whopping $238 million.