Year In Review 2021 was another year filled with concern, whether it was the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, or the Federal Reserve and interest rates. Even with that uncertainty, the US markets still had a very strong performance and by the end of the year: The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 20.95% The S&P 500 ended with a gain of 28.71% The NASDAQ was up 22.18% At the beginning of 2021, few investors expected these types of returns. However,
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A pre-retirement checklist to make early (or earlier) retirement a reality As we approach the New Year, maybe the dream of an early retirement starts to take shape in your mind. Maybe you’re researching when you might first qualify for Social Security retirement benefits (hint: for Social Security income, the youngest age when you can apply is 61 years and nine months old – you would then receive your first Social Security check four months later – one month after your
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As we head for the last trading weeks of 2021, we start thinking about 2022 The January Effect was first noticed by investment banker Sidney Wachtel in 1942 and the theory proposes that a pattern existed in the price of stocks in the last few trading days of December and the first few weeks of January. During this period, particularly starting in January, the theory is that stocks – especially smaller cap stocks – tended to rise. Studies Confirmed –
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Are you thinking about home health care as a solution to providing help with daily activities such as bathing, meal preparation, and housekeeping? Many older individuals benefit from receiving assistance in the comfort of their own homes, allowing them to maintain their independence longer. But, before you agree to at-home care, carefully consider all the factors involved before you hire a home health aide. Let’s face it, bringing a stranger into your home is a big change. So, to help
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Just as your health changes over time, markets change even faster Ever hear the phrase, “your financial health?” A good way to appreciate planning your financial future is to see it as akin to maintaining your physical health. If you have a chance, read doctors Jerome Groopman and Pamela Hartzband’s excellent book, Your Medical Mind. The similarities between physical and financial health striking. The authors make the (to some) surprising statement that medicine is actually not an exact science. Financial
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The largest cost-of-living-adjustment since 1982 impacts 90% of seniors On October 13th, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for tens of millions of Americans will increase in 2022. The press release stated the following: “Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 5.9 percent in 2022. The 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in
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Markets Struggle In The Third Quarter Global equity markets had a mixed third quarter, but when the final Wall Street-bell rang on September 30th, global markets had not moved very much, despite the final month of the quarter which turned in dismal results. For the third quarter of 2021: The DJIA ended with a loss of 1.5%; The S&P 500 ended up 0.6%; The NASDAQ ended with a loss of 0.2%; and The Russell 2000 ended with a loss of
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The debate about whether a college degree is worth the cost is heating up The disruptions from COVID-19 have completely changed the college experience for many, prompting prospective students to reexamine whether a college degree is worth it. And the latest enrollment figures show the greatest decline in a decade. Consider that the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center recently reported that overall college enrollment fell to 16.9 million students, down more than 600,000 students from a year ago. That one-year
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Two employee-benefit actions to take before you accept that new job offer Are you considering changing jobs this year? If not, you’re in the minority. A survey conducted by Harris Poll found that the majority (52%) of U.S. workers are considering a job change this year – and 44% have real plans in place to make a change. Think about that. Picture your co-workers or your team. More than half are thinking about leaving. Of course there are many reasons
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Emotions often drive investors to make poor decisions and underperform Successful investing and overall fitness both often come down to discipline (and planning). Why aren’t you reaping the investment returns you read about in the financial press? Why aren’t you reaping the benefits of going to the gym? One obvious answer that you might not want to think about is this: your emotions get in the way. That’s what advisors (and personal trainers) are for – to help you stay
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