How Earnings Can Guide Investors in Difficult Markets
With markets nervous about stubborn inflation, a gradually slowing labor market, and the timing of the first Fed rate cut, investors are more focused on this corporate earnings season than usual. This is because while the economy has avoided a “hard landing” corporate earnings only began to rebound in the second half of 2023. Since […]
Navigating the Ripple Effects: Oil Prices’ Influence on Inflation, Federal Policies, and Market Dynamics
The stock market has become increasingly jittery, with the S&P 500 experiencing its first 5% pullback of the year. The possibility that the Fed could delay its first rate cut, the decline of technological and artificial intelligence stocks, and tensions in the Middle East have all contributed to the market swoon. In uncertain market environments […]
California’s High Earners: Facing a Significant SDI Tax Increase: What You Need to Know
California’s implementation of SB951, removing the cap on State Disability Insurance (SDI), marks a significant shift in tax obligations for high-income earners. This legislative change is twofold: not only has the cap on SDI been eliminated, allowing the tax to apply to all earned income, but the SDI tax rate itself has increased to 1.1%. […]
Creating an Income Stream in Retirement: Withdrawal Considerations, Taxes, and More
There’s more to a retirement plan than ensuring you’ve saved enough to stop working. Thinking about how to strategically withdraw from that savings is just as important as focusing on your growing nest egg number. A sound withdrawal strategy can make your money last longer, reduce your taxes, and allow you to spend more. Here […]
Legacy Planning 101: Ensuring Your Spouse’s Wishes Live On
In the world of finance, legacy planning isn’t just about numbers; it’s about preserving a story. For our clients, navigating the estate planning maze with their family values in mind can be a powerful way to honor and continue their spouse’s legacy. Of course, this is often easier said than done! Let’s go over a […]
Financial Planning for Widows: Maximizing Pension and Social Security Benefits
When navigating widowhood, thinking about your future financial well-being may be stressful. Even if you feel confident with the funds you currently have, or were left to you when your spouse passed away, you may still have many different questions keeping you up at night: Pension and Social Security benefits can be confusing even during […]
3 Signs Your Aging Parents Need Financial Help
Are you worried about your parents as they age? Maybe you suspect they are becoming less capable of handling their finances independently? You’ve possibly even thought about saying something to them but are worried about how they will respond. If so, you aren’t alone. It’s a fine line to walk between helping your aging parents […]
Medicare and Summer Travel
Are you getting ready to take a summer vacation? If you plan to travel, did you know you may not have the same health coverage while away? People enrolled in Medicare might want to take another look at their policy to ensure they’re still covered throughout summer travels, especially for overseas trips. If you are […]
What Does a Diversified Portfolio Actually Look Like?
You’ve heard that it’s important to create a well-diversified portfolio and know that it is a critical step in your financial plan, but what does a diversified portfolio actually look like? To create one, you need to know what that means and practical steps for making it happen. In this article, we will be breaking […]
Market Updates & Actions we are Taking
In response to higher inflation and expected rate hikes by the Fed (to offset the increased levels of inflation), markets have been moving down recently. In the U.S., we are now officially in a market correction as measured by the S&P 500. The standard measure of a correction is a pullback between 10% and 20% […]