What to know as markets look forward.  Provided by: Marc Aarons  Are you having a tough time keeping track of inflation’s mixed signals? You’re not alone. Consumer prices in July climbed at their fastest rate since August 2008. Worse, producer prices, which can be an indicator of future price changes at the consumer level, rose […]

How to keep track of your savings bonds’ maturity dates. Provided by Marc Aarons  Did you buy U.S. Savings Bonds decades ago? Or did your parents or grandparents purchase them for you? If they’re collecting dust in a drawer, you may want to take a look at them to see if any of your bonds […]

Regulators impact the Chinese stock market. Provided by Marc Aarons With overseas investments, we remind people that, “international markets carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risk, foreign taxes and regulations.” The “political risks” and “regulations” portions of this common disclosure have been on full display in recent […]

COLA and Social Security. Provided by Marc Aarons The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients. It’s now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1,2 It’s all about inflation. Social Security cost of living adjustments […]

Should you withdraw and reinvest your retirement plan money while you are still on the job? Provided by Marc Aarons Did you know you may be able to take your 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan and roll it into another type of retirement account while you are still working? Let’s look at how these rollovers […]

A look at the different choices & strategies. Provided by Marc Aarons  If you have a child with special needs, a trust may be a financial priority. There are many crucial goods and services that Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income might not pay for, and a special needs trust may be used to address those […]

Various factors drive used car prices.  Provided by Marc Aarons   Inflation is defined as the general upward price movement of goods and services in an economy. The key word is “general.” Inflation tends to be uneven and affects the price of some items more than others. If you’ve been in the market for a used […]

As inflation climbs, the Fed reacts.  Provided by Marc Aarons  At its June meeting, the Federal Reserve confirmed what many of us have suspected for some time: prices are rising. In fact, prices are climbing faster than many expected. In response, the Fed raised its inflation expectation to 3.4%, up from its March projection of […]

Learn about how legislative changes can help you finance your loved one’s education.  Provided by Marc Aarons  As a parent or grandparent, you know firsthand the challenges of funding a child’s education. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Act was passed at the end of 2020 and has changed some of the qualifications […]

Preliminary estimates call for a 4.7% cost-of-living increase.1  Provided by Marc Aarons If there is a “silver lining” to all the inflation talk, it may be that Social Security benefits are expected to see a larger-than-normal increase in 2022. Preliminary estimates call for a 4.7% cost-of-living increase (COLA) in Social Security benefits next year, which […]