While we anxiously await the vaccine that a great percentage say they won’t take — the market reached all-time highs last week. The preventative stay at home economy, with one in four (25%) workers engaged, has supercharged the gig economy and the Amazon Prime membership. This has come at the expense of local communities and […]
The selling strategy called ‘panic’ employed a month ago, which sucker-punched the market’s 33% decline, is hopefully behind us. Small caps fared worse losing 40%. Optimism and cheap valuations have lifted stocks 28% off their lows (~12% from break-even) as investors began looking forward – rather than down. Center stage is the ‘back to work’ vs. […]
The financial markets we learned (last week) are made of paper-mache: durable, attractive hanging from the ceiling, but soggy when wet and totally destroyed when struck by a 10 yr old with a stick. This week, in order to avoid tears, the parent (the Fed) assured everyone there’s enough candy for all (i.e., they won’t […]
Back to the ’87 18% one-day selloff: Total value lost = $500B Total value of transactions = $25B Q: Where’d the other $475B end up? A: It was never there. Markets have a limited amount of cash, or liquidity in them. PANIC sends everyone heading for the door, but they discover the door is only so wide. Everyone […]
3.20.20 Breaking news: Federal tax returns will be due 7.15.20, with the state likely to follow. Currently, the state is due 6.15.20. 3.19.20 News of legislation to provide direct monetary support for the populace was announced, which includes a ‘rebate’ of $1,200 per person (with incomes of less than $75K). Also mentioned were programs geared at helping small businesses, […]
The sell buttons were pushed hard late Thursday. What seemed to be a moderate down day turned into a water fall event sending the broad averages decisively negative for the year with the S&P 500 standing at a negative/minus 7.5%. The 12% decline from the peak puts the market into an ‘official’ correction (decline of […]
The Delta Group A Financial Advisory Firm Vol. 35, No. 1, Feb. 2019, Eric Drew Dahl & Patti Williams, Editors The economy performed a remarkable feat, reaching the 4%+ GDP plateau in Q1, a level regarded as folly in our low growth post Great Recession paradigm. Following suit, the unemployment dropped to 4%, a level […]
June 21, 2018 Last week we shed light on retirement income and the (slight) tax burden related thereto. Because tax rates start at zero, taxes paid on withdrawals are roughly 8% on the first $60K of income. Tax savings on the ‘traditional’ retirement contribution were taken at ~30%+ rate, which makes for a really good deal. […]
June 4, 2018 The Traditional IRA (aka Individual Retirement Account) was introduced in 1974 as a retirement scheme for the masses that would allow a tax deduction for a maximum $2,000 contribution. Accounts were set up with personal discretion at a bank or mutual fund company. Gains were tax deferred. In 1997 the Roth IRA was […]
Basic Training #2 – 5.11.18 Decision time! I turn 62 in August and will become eligible for an ‘early’ social security benefit. Early brings with it an ~30% haircut in my ‘full’ benefit. I’ve read many articles with convincing arguments to defer receipt until full retirement (66) given early receipt of benefits brings a lifetime […]