Blog Investment & Financial News
Financial Aid Changes in 2021 on the Horizon
On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, another relief package in response to the pandemic. Included in the bill were several provisions related to education, including many changes to financial aid. Here are some key highlights. Money for education In total, the bill provides $82 billion for education, including $22.7 billion…
Market Summary & Portfolio Changes
Market Summary Momentum from the second half of 2020 continued into 2021 as the new year mainly brought good news regarding returning to a more normal economic environment. An uptick in vaccine supply and distribution, an additional $1.9 trillion stimulus package, and continued monetary policy support improved the economic backdrop and boosted stock prices. Stocks…
Economic Analysis & A Note on Inflation
Economic Analysis As was the case in 2020, the pandemic’s course should dictate the course of the economic expansion in 2021. As vaccines continue to be administered, it seems likely that the economy will re-open and continue its recovery. This, along with massive stimulus, could propel the economy to growth not seen in decades. An…
Market Analysis
Market Analysis March marked the first anniversary of the bottom of the COVID bear market for the S&P 500 Index. Despite the turbulence of the past year, investors were rewarded by sticking with stocks. No one could have predicted this, but the S&P 500 completed its greatest one-year rally post-WWII, gaining over 74% from March…
Happy Retirement!
We want to wish our fantastic Client Service Representative, Debbie Risk, a very happy retirement! Debbie’s last day with us was Friday, March 12th. We wish her the best! When you visit the Richland office, you will now be greeted by our newest Client Service Representative, Jacqueline Cremen.
The American Rescue Plan Act Summary
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was passed and signed into law last week to provide additional relief to individuals and businesses. Below is a summary of a few of the key pieces of the act. If you have any questions on how these provisions may affect you, please feel free to reach out to…
2021 1st Quarter Commentary
Economic growth prospects rose largely due to expanded vaccine distribution, strong manufacturing and housing data and supportive monetary and fiscal conditions. Despite bouts of volatility, stocks reached new all-time highs in many different markets. U.S. Treasury yields rose amid mounting inflation concerns, even as current inflation remained below 2%. Portfolios remained positioned for recovery and…