Blog Investment & Financial News
Important Ages for Retirement Accounts
If you are over age 72 and have an IRA account, you are probably required to take a distribution (RMD) this year. If you inherited an IRA account, you might be required to take a distribution regardless of age. If this applies to you and we don’t have a planned distribution, we will contact you…
Congratulations, Dirk!
We want to congratulate one of our Advisors, Dirk Bernd, who has been a very involved member of his Rotary Club of Yakima Southwest since 2011! He has officially taken on the role as the current Rotary Club President. He’ll be club president from July 1st 2022 until June 30th 2023. He’s shown here with…
Do I Need to Start Making Federal Estimated Income Tax Payments?
If you ask yourself this question, we have a flow chart to help you determine if you need to start making federal estimated income tax payments. Federal estimated income tax payments need to be made quarterly based on that quarter’s earnings. You may be subject to a tax penalty if you don’t pay quarterly. You…
Does Having More Money Equate to More Happiness?
The relationship between happiness and money is complicated. Just consider this sampling of the myriad studies that explore the link between the dollars we earn and the happiness we feel. A study from the 1970s by Philip Brickman, Dan Coates and Ronnie Janoff-Bulman for the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology even found that lottery…
What is the SilverSneakers Program?
Are you looking for a senior fitness program? If you have a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, your health insurance may include a free fitness membership for adults 65+ called SilverSneakers. A SilverSneakers membership includes access to roughly 15,000 recreation centers, churches, senior communities, and other neighborhood locations across the nation. You’ll get access to…
Market Update: May 2022
As we move into spring and leave behind the last signs of a long winter, many worries from a chilly start to the year for markets, unfortunately, are still with us. The S&P 500 Index had its worst April in more than 40 years, and the decline has continued in May leaving the index down…
Series I Savings Bonds Currently Earning 9.62%
Series I Savings Bonds (also called I-bonds) are currently earning 9.62%. The rate is determined in part by inflation, and changes every six months. The interest is tax-deferred until redeemed. If you have extra cash on the sidelines over your “rainy-day fund”, consider purchasing I-bonds to help your money keep up with inflation. These bonds…
2022 2nd Quarter Investment Commentary
• Stocks and bonds had a difficult start to 2022, falling together through the first half of the year. Rising interest rates amid an inflation spike was the main catalyst. • The economic backdrop remained uncertain with the U.S. economy contracting in the 1st quarter. Data was mixed but recessions risks increased. • Better…