The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 reduced federal income tax liability for some, but not all, Americans. Wealthy residents of California, New York and other high-tax states could face a higher tax bill when they file their 2018 return.1 While cutting tax rates on ordinary income, increasing the standard deduction and doubling the…

In a 2017 Nationwide Retirement Institute survey, financial advisors revealed some of the primary concerns of today’s pre-retirees, including maintaining their current lifestyle during retirement. These people also are less concerned with growing their assets; instead, they are focusing on drawing them down in a disciplined strategy without taking out too much too early —…

Many Americans who enroll in original Medicare also purchase a supplemental insurance policy, colloquially known as “Medigap.” Medigap covers some or all of the out-of-pocket costs associated with original Medicare — deductibles, copayments and coinsurance — helping to reduce financial risk. However, there is a wide array of Medigap plans with a variety of different…

2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the Great Recession of 2008. Despite a painfully slow recovery, U.S. economic growth has been sustainable. The stock and bond markets continue to perform well, unemployment is low and the economy is generally considered healthy and booming.   And yet, whenever things are going well, it’s only human nature…

In particular, automobiles seem to be in the cross hairs of President Trump’s hard line on trade with the rest of the world. Here are a few reasons why:1   S. auto production represents about 2.7 percent of GDP. There are more jobs in motor-vehicle assembly than in computers and electronics, chemicals, motor vehicle parts,…

Different strokes for different folks. One of the many advantages of living in the United States is there are so many different places to live. You can opt for the mountains or live by the sea. You can live in open country and rural farmlands, bustling cities or remote forested areas. Hot, cold or temperate…

Invest in what you know is a common piece of investment wisdom. In the past, that advice has most likely referenced your favorite soda or retail store. Today, however, more people are investing in actions and causes they champion, and this is true of companies, as well.   For example, while the current U.S. administration…

On one hand, low interest rates are good for those borrowing money. On the other hand, easy cash can lead to excess debt — a place far too many Americans find themselves.   Today, the median credit card debt is $2,000 per person, the median student loan debt is around $9,000 and the median mortgage…

Chemotherapy may be highly effective in treating cancer, but its side effects also can be a nightmare for patients. Medical researchers have long tried to determine how to successfully cure cancer without chemotherapy, and a recent study yielded some very positive results.1   In the largest-ever study on breast cancer treatment, funded by the National…

The first half of 2018 went well in terms of market performance and economic growth. In fact, the second longest-running bull market in U.S. stock market history managed to weather a few bumps and bruises to climb even higher. That’s the good news. 1   The bad news are the expected near-term headwinds that could…

Sixty-three percent of surveyed affluent adult children between the ages of 18 and 22 say they’ll need to rely on their inheritance for financial security during retirement. Before the inevitable groan about the entitlement of youth, bear in mind that today’s young adults do have different financial challenges than in past generations. 1   It…

There’s an old saying: A rising tide lifts all boats. Applied to the economy, this means that general improvements could benefit all participants within the economy. The same appears to be true for women.1   As the U.S. economy continues to grow, there is an influx of money available for small business startups. This is…