Should a financial relationship be about doing what’s right or feeling good? The former, right? Not so fast. A survey by index zealots DFA found the #1 thing valued in receiving financial guidance is a “sense of security / peace of mind.” Not that that’s a bad thing of course but at 35% of respondents [...]
Back in 2015 we introduced you to myRA. Well, OK, Treasury under the Obama Administration introduced myRA but we sat down with "her" for this exclusive, in-depth interview. Well, myRA is no more. The program intended for people who did not have access to workplace savings plans is being discontinued. The program has been far [...]
A couple of significant changes in the mortgage market go into effect this month. Borrowers will see a bump in their FICO scores due to the removal of certain liens and judgments. This is not a market-based change but a response to legal action. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are increasing their debt-to-income ratio limit [...]
In early June the first wave of the Department of Labor’s fiduciary standard went into effect. The rule requires professionals providing advice on retirement accounts to act in the best interests of their clients. In theory it sounds great but for it to be effective the public must know who is/isn’t a fiduciary . . [...]
The powerful tax-deferral tool is likely nearing its end. WHAT IS STRETCHING: Sustaining and maximizing the tax-deferred status of an IRA when the beneficiary is a non-spouse such as a child. WHO LIKES IT: Beneficiaries who accrue years of compounded, tax-deferred growth while minimizing the Present Value of the liability (i.e. $1 in the future [...]
As one of the oldest and best-known indexes the DJIA is not only a benchmark for the world’s largest stock market but, also, a barometer of global confidence. This chart details the DJIA’s performance since 1896. It’s interesting to note how the highs and lows have reflected the U.S. economy. Greater still is [...]
We recently completed and are happy to share with you Apollo's 2017 Mid-Year Investment Outlook. It incorporates q1 activity with projections for future economic, tax and political events. It is meant to be a general guideline - not specific advice/recommendations. Specifics (cash flow, tax, estate, etc) dictate how this information may be incorporated into one's [...]
Lending to consumers has steadily increased since the credit crisis and has continued since the November elections. Lending to companies has stalled since the elections. Yesterday The Fed raised ST interest rates and [...]
Yesterday JPMorgan Chase & Co announced it sent some wealth management customers letters notifying them that they will be moved to the firm’s self-directed platform ahead of a pending Labor Department retirement regulation. Following their product-pushing brethren (banks, brokerage firms and insurance companies) it’s the latest move that puts themselves ahead of their customers. For [...]
Why limit poor investment decisions to the religious when the political need to do something stupid with their money? For the umpteenth time... 1) values are great 2) investing is for earning and protecting profits 3) #1 and #2 are mutually exclusive 4) re-read item #3