Blog Investment & Financial News
Have you Checked your Credit Report Lately?
If you haven’t checked your credit reports lately, now is a great time. Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, credit monitoring companies Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian offer free credit reports weekly through April 20, 2022. Before the pandemic, you could check your credit report once per year for free. While checking your credit report weekly may…
Spring Clean Your Documents
With Shred Day approaching and in the spirit of spring cleaning, we wanted to share some tips on organizing your files. Remember to dispose of your documents securely. Below is a summary of the key documents to keep and for how long: Income Tax Returns: Keep at least three years of state and federal tax…
IRS Delays 2020 Tax Filing Deadline to May 17, 2021
The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. Taxpayers will incur no interest, penalties, or additions to tax during this approximately one-month relief period for any return or…
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…
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…