Market Commentary

Market Commentary: Retail Sales Spike, but Unemployment Claims Still on Rise

Retail sales rebounded as U.S. consumers continued to put salaries and money left over from the CARES Act into the economy. Retail and food service sales surged 1.9%, more than doubling expectations of 0.8%. The gains raised overall retail sales 5.4% above year-ago levels as consumers make up for consumption lost during the early days of social distancing (Figure 1).

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How the 2020 Election Could Impact the Markets and Your Financial Plan

Every election season, political emotions run high. Candidates tell us that this is the most important election in our lifetimes. Advertisements vilifying the opposing candidate seem to never end. Political chatter on social media picks up. Through it all, it can be hard to keep our emotions under control.

Videos

Estate Planning in 2020

Our host Jamie Hopkins is the Director of Retirement Research at Carson and a nationally-recognized voice on retirement and estate planning. Click Here to Watch the Webinar

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How Estate and Gift Taxes Can Impact Your Financial Plan

Heath Ledger’s death in 2008 is another tragic story of an extremely talented artist gone too young. The unfortunate circumstances of his death compounded the complexity of his estate, leaving lawyers and family in a difficult position.

Market Commentary

Market Commentary: Stocks Rallied in Hopes of Potential Stimulus Package

U.S. stocks rallied on expectations that a stimulus package will be passed in the coming months and additional packages will be easier to pass. The Trump administration offered proposals closer to the most recent Democratic offer. Even if no deal is reached prior to the election, polls suggest the Democratic Party may control the presidency and both houses of Congress. One-party control makes it significantly easier to pass legislation.

Market Commentary

Market Commentary: Markets Face Uncertainty as Economy Recovers, Tension Grows in Washington

Politics created the biggest market headlines last week. Investors wrestled with the tone of the presidential debate and how it contributes to political uncertainty. Stimulus negotiations between the House and the Trump administration narrowed the gap between the two parties, but they were unable to produce a deal. The president contracting COVID-19 contributed to the sense of uncertainty.

Monthly Newsletters

How Financial Scams Work, and How to Keep Yourself Safe No Matter Your Level of Wealth

In the late 1920s, an enterprising Bostonian started selling subdivisions in the sunny ‘burbs of Florida. Promising orange trees in the backyard and rolling waves out the front door, he sold plots – sometimes 23 an acre! – near bustling towns like Nettie. Unfortunately, the entrepreneur’s name was Charles Ponzi, and Nettie, like his other locales, was a work of lucrative fiction.

Blog

How to Take Advantage of Donor-Advised Funds and Special 2020 Tax Deductions for Donations

As a CPA, one of the questions that I have been getting more frequently is, “What is a donor-advised fund?” This is not surprising as the number of individual donor-advised fund accounts has grown by over 50% for the second year in a row, according to the National Philanthropic Trust’s 2019 DAF Report.

Market Commentary

Market Commentary: S&P Continues Decline, but Home Sales on the Rise

The S&P 500 declined for the fourth straight week. On Wednesday, the index of large U.S. companies had declined just more than 9.5% but rallied late in the week. The S&P 500 is 7.8% below its Sept. 2 high. The four-week decline has matched the characteristics of a price adjustment after a large run-up in markets.

Videos

Charitable Gift Planning Strategies for 2020

Jamie Hopkins, Director of Retirement Research at Carson, offers key insights and strategies for charitable giving during our on-demand webinar, “Charitable Gift Planning Strategies for 2020.” Click Here to Watch the Webinar

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