There’s a new kid in town: narrative economics. Last week, Richard Thaler was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics. His work in behavioral economics and finance recognizes not all economic and financial decisions are made after rational reflection. In Nudge, he wrote: “The workings of the human brain are more than a bit befuddling. How […]
Once you reach age 70½ , the government requires that a specific minimum amount be withdrawn from your retirement account each year. If you miss the deadline or don’t take enough, Uncle Sam could hit you with a 50% penalty! Did you forget to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your retirement account? Unsure […]
Slow and steady... It has been 332 days since the Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) Index experienced a 5 percent drop, reported Barron’s. If there isn’t a selloff on Monday or Tuesday, this will become the longest rally without such a drop. During this period, the Index has gained 33 percent. Think about that […]
A lot happened during the third quarter of 2017, but not much changed. The bull market in U.S. stocks continued to charge ahead. Traditional measures of valuation continued to suggest the market is overvalued, but some analysts argued it’s different this time. The Economist explained: “The current [cyclically-adjusted price-to-earnings] ratio of 31 suggests that stocks […]
In a 2002 interview with Mike Wallace, former First Lady Nancy Reagan said she often reread the love letters written by her husband, former President Ronald Reagan. The letters, which had sustained and enriched their relationship, helped Mrs. Reagan reconnect with her husband and remember the man he was before Alzheimer’s claimed him.1 An excerpt […]
Geopolitics, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin'! In January, Robert Kahn of the Council on Foreign Relations wrote in Global Economics Monthly: “Markets showed impressive resilience in the face of a range of geopolitical shocks in 2016, but recent market moves suggest this year could be different…It should be the year that global geopolitical […]
Spousal beneficiary mistakes are common, and making financial decisions in a time of grief can be especially challenging. Factors such as your age and income needs should be considered prior to making any changes to an inherited spousal IRA. For more key considerations, click here to download “Avoiding Spousal Beneficiary Mistakes in 5 Easy Steps” […]
“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, in practice there is.” Yogi Berra was talking about baseball, but the concept also applies to diversification, according to the GMO White Paper, The S&P 500: Just Say No. From the title, you might think the authors – Matt Kadnar and James Montier – don’t […]
Regarding the recent Equifax Information Breach—Your concerns are definitely our concerns. Below is some helpful information for you as our valued clients and friends. We are working with our broker/dealer to get more information on this out to you as it becomes available. In addition, please SAVE THE DATE for our Fall Educational Event: […]