The Biggest COLA Increase Since 1981 Presented by Marc Aarons   How well do you remember 1981? Harrison Ford had his first bow as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Frogger and Donkey Kong were all the rage at video arcades. Bob Ross left the Air Force and took up painting. On top […]

Recession or Growth Scare? Your Guide Provided by Marc Aarons   I’m hearing a lot of mixed messages these days about the economy. Some headlines say we’re already in a recession; some say one is looming. Others hint that we’ll avoid a recession and have a soft landing. It makes you wonder who’s in charge […]

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Provided by Marc Aarons   Have you heard? The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law on Tuesday, August 16. While the $430 billion package includes many provisions, I thought I’d highlight three key areas where you may benefit the most.   Tax credits for energy-related home improvements – The […]

Unpacking the Summer Economy Provided by Marc Aarons In the financial world, some weeks are more important than others, and we just lived through a big one. Let’s unpack each of the four key stats:   The Fed. As expected, the Fed bumped up short-term rates again at its July meeting. But the markets breathed […]

Getting Disability Income The facts about applying for SSDI and SSDI benefits. Provided by Marc Aarons   If you cannot work due to a disability, you might be eligible for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). These federal government payments could offer you a degree of financial relief.1 Most SSDI recipients get paid between $700-1,400 per […]

In this Q2 recap: Stocks and bonds were rattled by rising interest rates as the Fed took aggressive monetary tightening steps to combat accelerating inflation. Higher rates and continuing supply chain bottlenecks sparked recession fears. Quarterly Economic Update A review of Q2 2022, Presented by Marc Aarons THE QUARTER IN BRIEF Stocks dropped in the […]

Searching for the Goldilocks Economy Provided by Marc Aarons Last week, the Federal Reserve took an aggressive stance toward inflation by raising the key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point.  A move unseen since 1994. With consumer prices soaring, pushing short-term rates higher is the Fed’s attempt to slow economic growth and rein […]

Inflation Creeping into Personal Finances Provided by Marc Aarons   If you have a balance on a credit card or an adjustable rate mortgage, you might be noticing changes in your payments. Higher interest rates are starting to ripple through the personal finance landscape, and it doesn’t look like that trend will change anytime soon. […]

In this Q1 recap: Global financial markets rattled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Inflation pressures rise as oil prices surge and supply chains become further stressed. The Federal Reserve is taking its first steps toward monetary normalization. Quarterly Economic Update A review of Q1 2022, Presented by Marc Aarons THE QUARTER IN BRIEF Financial […]

The Fed Makes Its Move Provided by Marc Aarons   The Federal Reserve recently announced that for the first time in three years, it would increase short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point. In addition, the Fed has stated that it would like to see short-term interest rates near 2% by the […]