Each year, the IRS issues its annual “Dirty Dozen.” This is a list of top scams that taxpayers should be aware of, along with information on how to spot, avoid and report them.
Protect Yourself from Tax Scams
Global Hunt for Yield
Investors the world over are starved for yield. Investments that provide a consistent stream of cash flow are vital for insurance companies, pensions, retired individuals and banks.
2019 Market Letter Q2: Delayed Arrival
0-for-7
While yesterday was Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, this week’s 0-for-7 statistic unceremoniously belongs to the Federal Reserve for failing to achieve its 2 percent inflation target since it was established seven years ago.
Policy U-Turn
On Wednesday, in a widely anticipated event, the Federal Reserve held a press conference and released the “minutes” from their last meeting. The Fed changed their forecast for the path of interest rates from two increases all the way down to … zero.
March Madness
This weekend, millions of college basketball fans will start filling out their NCAA tournament brackets. The period during this “distraction” can be economically meaningful to corporate America: it is estimated that, due to lost productivity, companies will lose a combined $6.3 billion.
A Tin Star for the Market
On Saturday, March 9, we mark the 10th anniversary of the stock market bottom that started the great bull market we’re now experiencing. Traditionally, tin is the gift given on a 10th anniversary. So in lieu of a gold star, the equity markets deserve a tin star for impressively running up 400 percent since that bottom.
Bonds 101
Bonds are, at their core, less complex and more easily understood than most clients might assume. While “interest rates” and “bond yields” make them sound complicated, bonds can be boiled down quite simply: bonds are loans.
Tax Reporting Reminders
An important part of many clients’ tax files are 1099s, which are annual tax forms that reflect bond interest, stock dividends, other income and the sale of securities that may include capital gains and losses. Separately, Form 1099-R includes tax information for retirement accounts and reflect distributions, transfers and rollovers.
It's All About Confidence
It’s hard not to be a little discouraged each night when you watch the evening news. The laundry list of problems facing the markets can seem quite daunting: Fed tightening, slowing growth, dysfunction in Washington, D.C, tariffs, etc. We believe that these are real issues that certainly need to be addressed.
Green Shoots in February
The offhand reference to stock charts in a rising trend accurately describes the good times stock investors have enjoyed so far this year. For those who hung tight amid the carnage of December, the S&P 500 has delivered returns just shy of 11 percent so far this year.
"Fewer Bigger Stronger" - Bill Joseph, Morgan Stanley
On Thursday, SunTrust Banks and BB&T Corporation announced the biggest bank merger in 10 years. The partnership will create a banking powerhouse in the Mid-Atlantic region and throughout the southeast United States.
Closing the Gap
One of the four takeaways from our 2019 Economic Outlook is “Increased Turbulence” which has been in full force this winter. In December, the S&P 500 lost 13.5 percent, including the “Christmas Eve Massacre,” making it the worst December since 1931. In a complete reversal, the market returned 8 percent in January, representing the best January return in 30 years.
Opportunity Zones: Walk, Don't Run
Opportunity zones have become a trending topic in financial circles of late and we are taking a “walk, don’t run” approach when reviewing the space.
Versus Capital Update
Versus Capital is a partner that we utilize for private real estate and real asset investing on behalf of clients.
Q1 2019 Investment Outlook Video
2019 Annual Limits for Tax and Wealth Planning
The Internal Revenue Service recently announced the annual inflation adjustments for a number of tax provisions for 2019. These went into effect January 1, 2019 and are not intended to be used for 2018 tax returns. We fully recognize that most of our clients are currently preparing their 2018 taxes and we encourage you to revisit some of the major changes associated with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that will impact 2018 tax planning.
A Good View of Long-Term Investing
This week, USA TODAY’s Adam Shell announced his retirement as money reporter following Wall Street. On Monday, he shared some parting words for his readers that are good reminders about taking a long-term approach to investing.
Leave the Past Behind
Stocks put in a bottom on Christmas Eve of 2018 and have since rallied close to 10 percent. While December of last year was the worst since 1931, we believe that the worst is behind us.
Growing But Slowing
2019 is off to a turbulent start. The first couple trading days of the year were the worst in 18 years, only to be eclipsed by a huge rally today that left equity investors a bit richer for the week, albeit whipsawed in the process.