2022 brings new life expectancy tables.  Provided by Marc Aarons  For the first time in nearly 20 years, the IRS has released updated actuarial or life expectancy tables. Those who take required minimum withdrawals (RMD) from retirement accounts may already know we use these tables to calculate your RMD. Using these new tables is relatively […]

It’s a new year, full of new possibilities for what may lie ahead.  Provided by Marc Aarons  By any measure, 2021 was a strong year for investors. But what’s in store for 2022? From my perspective, I expect that many of the same forces that influenced markets last year will play a role again in […]

Here is what you need to know.  Provided by Marc Aarons  Financially, many of us associate the spring with taxes – but we should also associate December with important IRA deadlines. This year, like 2021, will see a few changes and distinctions. December 31, 2022, is the deadline to take your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) […]

Powell’s testimony to Congress may be telling. Provided by Marc Aarons  If you weren’t paying close attention, you might have missed it. Fed Chair Jerome Powell dropped the word “transitory” when describing inflation during his recent testimony to Congress.1 Powell had told the story of transitory inflation for the past several months while the Consumer […]

These numbers don’t always represent the full picture. Provided by Marc Aarons  The holiday season is often a quiet, positive time for the financial markets. The phrase “Santa Claus Rally” was coined in the early 1970s to reflect the stock market’s upward bias during the November-January stretch.1 But this year, the markets might face some […]

In recent months, consumer confidence has been falling. Provided by Marc Aarons A confident consumer can be a powerful ally in an economy. But when the consumer starts to have questions, we can measure consumer confidence in everything from retail sales to home buying to the personal savings rate. In recent months, consumer confidence has […]

One lesser-known indicator is called the Baltic Dry Index.  Provided by Marc Aarons  You see it in prices at the grocery store and the gas station. You feel it in your monthly budget. So why don’t the financial markets seem too concerned about inflation? Remember, financial markets are considered “discounting mechanisms,” meaning they are looking […]

Is it time to contribute more?  Provided by Marc Aarons  Preparing for retirement just got a little more financial wiggle room. This week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new contribution limits for 2022. Staying put for 2022 are traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), with the limit remaining at $6,000. The catch-up contribution for traditional […]

Wise investors take the “big picture” view. Provided by Marc Aarons  CNBC’s Mad Money host Jim Cramer created the popular FAANG acronym to denote some of the largest, most powerful companies in the world: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google. Recently, changes in those companies are reflected in Cramer’s new acronym: MAMAA, which stands for […]

While some initiatives are left behind, others are seeing renewed interest.  Provided by Marc Aarons  While it’s still too early to draw any final conclusions, Congress is getting closer to outlining what tax law changes are under consideration to pay for the proposed $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Plan.1 For now, it appears that changes […]