It is almost impossible to predict when, how severe or for how long flu season will be from one year to the next. But the Center for Disease control has estimated that the economic impact of the flu is a staggering $87 billion each year, including: $16.3 billion in loss of earnings $10.4 billion in direct employer costs 70 million employee work days lost 31.4 million outpatient visits 3.1 million hospitalized days Further, the CDC reported that in the past
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Is housing a leading economic indicator or lagging indicator? Or neither? Historically, the housing industry has led the U.S. out of a recession and many economists consider new housing starts to be a leading economic indicator versus a lagging indicator. Think of it this way: If new housing starts rise, intuitively it means builders are optimistic about the demand in the future for newly constructed homes. If, on the other hand, housing starts fall, builders are getting more cautious because they think home sales
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A framework to help you be among the 8% that sticks to resolutions and goals Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? Set any goals for the year? One of the smartest ones could be to get your finances in order. But keeping that promise to yourself is another matter. A lot of people make money resolutions. According to study after study, the most popular resolution every year is to lose weight, followed by getting organized, and saving
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2019 Was a Fantastic Year for Investors Stock markets in the U.S. and around the globe turned in a fantastic 2019, driven by U.S. equities, specifically large-cap U.S. equities. Along the way, 2019 brought plenty of records, including: Record Highs. As the S&P 500 climbed consistently throughout the year, it also recorded 34 new record highs and turned in the best year in more than half a decade. Longest Expansion on Record. Earlier this summer, our current economic expansion passed
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Spending money isn’t a bad thing, but spend mindfully Did you receive a year-end bonus for 2019? Suspend your visions of spending on exotic trips for a moment and instead evaluate how to make the most of this extra money. Your year-end bonus remains taxable income and you can make smart decisions to use it responsibly, as you do (presumably) all your other pay. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself a little, but keep priorities in mind. Consider these
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Consider whether setting up and giving to a donor advised fund helps build a more generous world November brings us Thanksgiving – a day for simply giving thanks. The 11th month also brings us Black Friday and Cyber Monday – two days encouraging us to shop. And since 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving also offers us #GivingTuesday, where we can come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give back. According to GivingTuesday.org, approximately $400 million was
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Reviewing your benefit choices will maximize your employment benefits Open enrollment for employee benefits kicks off this month. While you plan your Thanksgiving menu, review your benefit choices. Even if little changed in your life this past year, maximize what your employer offers. Here are some pointers. Medical Even if you carry the same plan as in past years, spend a few minutes evaluating which one is best for you and your family when you choose – especially high-deductible health
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Like sports betting, you can’t predict markets or which way a sector – or football – will bounce Think the New England Patriots will win this year’s Super Bowl? Or maybe that the Los Angeles Lakers will win the NBA Championship in June? St. Louis Blues to take the Stanley Cup? Duke Blue Devils to win the men’s NCAA Basketball Championship? If you’re among the millions of fans who are systematically betting to try to pinpoint winners before the big
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Markets Rise Modestly in the Third Quarter of 2019 as the Fed Cuts Rates and China Saga Continues U.S. stock market indices increased modestly in the third quarter, propelling the S&P 500 and the DJIA to their best three-quarter starts to the year since 1997 – all while further extending what is the longest of all bull markets on record. The broader S&P 500 enters the final three months of the year with a gain of 20.55% – its best
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We’re all busy and tend to procrastinate in seemingly less busy areas of our lives. There is always some new item on our constantly growing to-do lists. Some tasks are fun to take on. Others are tedious, boring, long or all the above. But some of the most important to-do’s in our lives often get overlooked because — well, let’s face it — they’re not all that fun. Here are three we see often. See if you are dragging your
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