Insights
Market Commentary
Market Commentary: Retail Sales Spike, but Unemployment Claims Still on Rise
Retail sales rebounded as U.S. consumers continued to put salaries and money left over from the CARES Act into the economy. Retail and food service sales surged 1.9%, more than doubling expectations of 0.8%. The gains raised overall retail sales 5.4% above year-ago levels as consumers make up for consumption lost during the early days of social distancing (Figure 1).
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Blog
How the 2020 Election Could Impact the Markets and Your Financial Plan
Every election season, political emotions run high. Candidates tell us that this is the most important election in our lifetimes. Advertisements vilifying the opposing candidate seem to never end. Political chatter on social media picks up. Through it all, it can be hard to keep our emotions under control.
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Videos
Estate Planning in 2020
Our host Jamie Hopkins is the Director of Retirement Research at Carson and a nationally-recognized voice on retirement and estate planning. Click Here to Watch the Webinar
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Blog
How Estate and Gift Taxes Can Impact Your Financial Plan
Heath Ledger’s death in 2008 is another tragic story of an extremely talented artist gone too young. The unfortunate circumstances of his death compounded the complexity of his estate, leaving lawyers and family in a difficult position.
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Blog
Don’t Lose Your Tax Exemption
In March 2019, I wrote about how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased the estate & gift tax exemption significantly (currently $11.58 million per person) but is scheduled to drop back down again in 2026 (to an estimated $6.5 million per person) [www.irs.gov].
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Videos
An Investing Lesson From My 6 Year Old Daughter
In this week’s video: Quote of the Week from famous investor Peter Lynch. Financial Tip of the Week – watch to hear a great story and investing lesson that happened with Chris’ 6 year old daughter.
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Market Commentary
Market Commentary: Stocks Rallied in Hopes of Potential Stimulus Package
U.S. stocks rallied on expectations that a stimulus package will be passed in the coming months and additional packages will be easier to pass. The Trump administration offered proposals closer to the most recent Democratic offer. Even if no deal is reached prior to the election, polls suggest the Democratic Party may control the presidency and both houses of Congress. One-party control makes it significantly easier to pass legislation.
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Market Commentary
Market Commentary: Markets Face Uncertainty as Economy Recovers, Tension Grows in Washington
Politics created the biggest market headlines last week. Investors wrestled with the tone of the presidential debate and how it contributes to political uncertainty. Stimulus negotiations between the House and the Trump administration narrowed the gap between the two parties, but they were unable to produce a deal. The president contracting COVID-19 contributed to the sense of uncertainty.
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Videos
October: Why It’s Important To Know This History Lesson
In this week’s video: Quote of the Week from Darren Hardy Financial Tip of the Week – Find out which month is the most volatile in the stock market and why.
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Monthly Newsletters
How Financial Scams Work, and How to Keep Yourself Safe No Matter Your Level of Wealth
In the late 1920s, an enterprising Bostonian started selling subdivisions in the sunny ‘burbs of Florida. Promising orange trees in the backyard and rolling waves out the front door, he sold plots – sometimes 23 an acre! – near bustling towns like Nettie. Unfortunately, the entrepreneur’s name was Charles Ponzi, and Nettie, like his other locales, was a work of lucrative fiction.
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