Roth IRA Conversions What are your choices? What are the benefits? Provided by Marc Aarons If you own an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), perhaps you have heard about Roth IRA conversions. Converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA might be a sound financial move depending on your situation. But remember, this article is for […]

States Are Requiring Retirement Plans Will new mandates solve an old financial problem?  Provided by Marc Aarons   Too many Americans save too little for retirement. This problem has been discussed for decades in all kinds of media, and there seems to be no easy way to solve it. Fourteen states are giving it a […]

Provided by Marc Aarons   Much is out there about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, some classic financial missteps plague retirees. Calling them “mistakes” may be a bit harsh, as not all of them represent errors in judgment. Yet whether they result from ignorance […]

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 […]