Blog

In 2022, President Biden signed the SECURE 2.0 Act into law which implemented numerous provisions aimed at improving Americans’ financial readiness for retirement. Provisions included ways to help younger people save more for...

At the beginning of the year, we wrote about a few themes that we thought might indicate what was in store for 2025. We review those themes below in light of what has transpired in the first half of the year: 2025 Themes – Revisited Ø...

On July 4, President Trump signed a new tax bill into law which made permanent the lower income tax rates and wider tax brackets of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) implemented during his first term. While the new law may have...

There are many financial pundits and websites that attempt to turn complex financial topics or strategies into “one size fits all” rules of thumb. And some of these have been repeated so much that investors could be forgiven for...

Market volatility can be uncomfortable, but it can also present opportunities. While it’s always a good idea to make sure your portfolio is aligned with your risk profile and target asset allocation (to make sure your portfolio is...

Market and economic volatility are both inevitable and often uncomfortable. Global financial markets have responded swiftly and sharply to President Trump’s recent announcement of tariffs on all imported goods. This sweeping shift in U...

The 2024 tax filing deadline (April 15, 2025) is fast approaching, but you still have time to make sure your tax-advantaged savings vehicles are maximized and potentially lower your tax bill. Following are a few last minute reminders...

Markets have been reacting in recent weeks to a number of political and economic developments, from tariffs to souring consumer sentiment, which has incited considerable volatility. It seems that one day markets are down 1% or more...

The Trump administration recently announced additional tariffs of 10% on all imports from China which prompted China to impose retaliatory tariffs on some goods imported from the United States. Tariffs of 25% on imports from Mexico and...

As we settle into the new year, this is a good time to reflect on where we’ve been and look to the year ahead. At the beginning of last year, we outlined three economic themes that we thought might have an impact on the economy and...

re·tire – /rəˈtī(ə)r/

Mike Arnow, CPA

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Good luck trying to define it. In our experience (as financial advisors) there is no consensus. It’s different for everyone and that’s what why every retirement glidepath is unique. My retirement was challenging and uncomfortable. It’s...

Contribution limits for many tax-advantaged savings vehicles are indexed for inflation. While the Fed has made considerable progress over the past year bringing inflation closer to its long-term target of 2%, many contribution limits...

We were recently made aware of a data breach at Fidelity Investments that compromised the personal information of about 77,000 Fidelity customers. The breach took place over the course of about two days before Fidelity identified and...

The 2024 general election is in full swing, as evidenced by the seemingly nonstop news coverage of speeches and campaign visits along with endless political ads, robocalls and text messages. There’s a common belief that elections have...

At the beginning of the year, we wrote about a few themes that we thought might indicate what was in store for 2024. We review those themes below in light of what has transpired in the first half of the year: 2024 Themes – Revisited...

For most of our working lives, Social Security is but a future promise, represented by the cryptic initials of FICA and OASDI. Social Security has long been the “third rail” of American politics, but in recent years, the narrative that...

Good news for those who are utilizing Wisconsin’s 529 college saving plan, called Edvest, to save for qualified higher education expenses: on March 21st, Governor Evers signed Wisconsin Act 148 into law which increased the Wisconsin...

As part of our comprehensive financial planning approach, we offer to review our client’s property and casualty insurance policies to ensure they have appropriate coverages and deductibles, so we’ve seen firsthand over the past few...

It seems like every day we hear about new and more sophisticated scams in the news, and from family and friends who may have fallen victim. We recently heard from a client who was a victim of spoofing, and she gave us permission to...

Money market interest rates are higher than they’ve been in many years, largely as a result of the Fed’s campaign to tackle persistent inflation.  While money market mutual funds are not risk free, there’s no...

As we settle into the new year, this is a good time to reflect on where we’ve been and look to the year ahead.  At the beginning of last year, we outlined three economic themes that we thought might have an impact on the...

A special Market Hug from Mike Arnow

Mike Arnow, CPA

Thursday, January 25, 2024

A special Market Hug from Mike Arnow’s retirement office: Dear Clients and Friends,   Is the Market Hug Back?  Maybe once in a while, when there is something special to convey.    It’s fun to open your...

Contribution limits for many tax-advantaged savings vehicles are indexed for inflation.  With inflation stuck above the Fed’s long-term target for the past year, most contribution limits have increased for 2024: Workplace...

How Did We Get Here? Eighteen months ago, investment grade bond funds were yielding less than 2% whereas recently they have been yielding closer to 6%.  The dramatic jump in rates is largely the result of the U.S. Federal...

The short answer: probably not! Balances in Health Savings Accounts (HSA) have grown considerably since their introduction 20 years ago.  HSA consultant Devenir reported assets of over $100 billion in HSAs at the end of 2022...

Investors waiting for the magic 2% may miss the boat Inflation matters in many ways, but seemingly the most important factor for markets today is the force behind the Federal Reserve’s actions.  The Fed’s primary tool...

It is estimated that only about one-third of adults have an estate document such as a will in place.  If you’re not in the one-third, you should be.  A will is an instrument of power and by creating a will, we are...

Off to an Interesting Start One of the most anticipated recessions in U.S. history has yet to materialize despite developing geopolitical risks, a banking crisis (remember that?) and the Federal Reserve (Fed) continuing to raise rates....

For many, retirement is a time to enjoy the fruits of one's labor and pursue long-held dreams. However, it is crucial to be prepared for the financial challenges which may arise, particularly concerning healthcare expenses. As people...

Part 3: Do you need insurance for these less common risks?We all know that we need insurance for our home and vehicles and oftentimes on the lives of ourselves and our loved ones.  But these days, there are insurance products for...

Part 2: Beware of coverage gaps for your young adult children  With college expenses and cost of living on the rise, it’s not uncommon for young adult children to remain on their parent’s insurance policies well into...

Part 1: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage The New York Times recently described the act of Spring cleaning as an “annual rite of purification and renewal.”  Of course, in an earlier era when homes were heated...

What happened?Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) is a bank known for primarily serving businesses in the tech sector, with ties to private equity and venture capital, rather than consumers. As is typical for banks, SVB...

Tax season is now in full swing which, unfortunately, means fraudsters and scammers are in full swing as well.  There were nearly 7.8 million reports of suspicious tax-related activities in 2022.  This coincides with an...

The Debt Ceiling Distraction:  A Manufactured Crisis The United States Congress first established a limit on government borrowing in 1917 to finance the country's involvement in World War I. Since 1960, the debt ceiling...

The “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act”, commonly known as the SECURE Act, was signed into law in December 2019, and brought the biggest changes to the retirement planning landscape in decades. ...

2023 Economic Themes We don’t yet know whether 2022 will be seen as a great inflection point in the unfolding global economic narrative, but it certainly feels like a big reset for many markets.  We’re sure 2022...

Even before the pandemic, more and more of us were doing our holiday shopping online.  In the years since the onset of “social distancing,” online shopping (for more than just holiday gifts) has become more popular...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 70% of people over age 65 may need extended care services at some point in their lives.  But what is extended care and how can you and your family prepare for the...

A positive start to a new earnings season and late-week hopes for a near-term easing in Fed rate hikes lifted investors’ spirits and powered stocks to gains for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 4.89%, while the...

What has upswings and downturns, troughs, peaks, and plateaus? Though such terms could easily describe a roller coaster ride, they are also commonly used to describe the business cycle.The business cycle – also known as the...

A powerful two-day stock rebound cemented a positive week for investors as a new trading month began.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.99%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.51%. The Nasdaq Composite index increased 0...

Wall Street is always searching for a hero to embrace or a villain to blame. And right now, Fed Chair Jerome Powell is the villain.After the September Fed meeting, Powell said interest rates may be heading higher for longer than...

New retirees sometimes worry that they are spending too much, too soon. Should they scale back? Are they at risk of outliving their money? This concern may be legitimate. Some households "live it up" and spend more than they anticipate...

The White House recently forgave up to $10,000 to student loan borrowers as part of a larger debt forgiveness program. There are still quite a few questions to be answered, but here are some key points to know.Pell vs. non-Pell: Loan...

We’re entering a tricky time of year: September and October have a reputation for bringing an extra measure of market volatility.Some of the stock market’s most challenging events have hit in September and October, and...