Happy!!!
Happy!!! The IRS publishes hundreds of reports every year, covering all sorts of topics. You'll find routine statistical summaries, like the always-popular "Number of Individual Income Tax Returns, Income, Exemptions and Deductions, Tax, and Average Tax." You'll find page-turners worthy of a Tom Clancy thriller, like last summer's "Actions Can Be Taken to Better Address Potential Noncompliance for Roth Individual Retirement Arrangement Conversions." But the most entertaining report of all is the Criminal Investigations unit's annual business report summarizing their work for the previous year. [...]
The Pessimistic Bull Market
The Pessimistic Bull Market Happy New Year to you! We're 6 days in and awaiting the first 'big' snow event. Ok...maybe some of us are awaiting the snow...and the rest of us are dreading it. I found this graphic in my recent readings and wanted to share it because it's a great example of how we need to ignore most of the wailing and gnashing of teeth in the media. More on this later. That last point - is critical to a successful investing experience [...]
Christmas Tax Breaks for Christmas Trees
Christmas Tax Breaks for Christmas Trees 'Tis the season to be jolly, and how jolly could we be without Christmas trees on display? For some of us it's the classic Pinus Sylvestris, or scotch pine. For others it's the soft-needled Abies fraserie, or Fraser fir. Still more make do with the store-bought plasticus annualensis, or "Target special." (Artificial trees can be beautiful, too!) Christmas trees are a festive symbol of holiday spirit, and most of us can't help but smile when we see one. (Unless [...]
The Money Talk With Your Parents (or Children)
The Money Talk With Your Parents (or Children) Guess how many people between the ages of 50 and 80 think that one day they won’t be able to manage their day-to-day finances? Nine percent. And how many of them have watched friends or family lose that ability? Sixty percent. This alarming conflict is reflected in a new study by Fidelity Investments, which also found that while many parents are leery of burdening their kids by asking for help with their finances, eight out of 10 [...]
Danger Will Robinson!
Danger Will Robinson! Danger Will Robinson! What a fun childhood memory that show is. And yes, I’m standing here flailing my arms with a warning - Danger! Danger! - about the market, the media and the hyperbole. Feeling good about your portfolio? The DOW is up 9% since the election! Woohoo! The S&P is up 7%. And the bond market is down 3%. We tend to focus on the stock market when things get moving. In fact, based on the call options pricing, Wall Street [...]
Sweet!
Sweet! December is a busy month for holidays, what with Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa all crowding calendars. But there's a lesser-known holiday that falls on December 16 that we don't want you to miss. It's not Ugly ChristmasSweater Day or Free Shipping Day (although those are both fun, too). We're talking, of course, about the obvious celebrations surrounding Chocolate Covered Anything Day. (Look it up!) Most of us look for foods that are delicious, filling, and healthy. Chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate-covered potato chips, chocolate-covered bacon, and [...]
Over the River and Through the Woods
Over the River and Through the Woods Thanksgiving is a time for homecoming, and some of us are fortunate to return to a place where we've spent decades of holidays. Who wouldn't relish celebrating in a cozy farmhouse out of a Norman Rockwell print, with an overstuffed chair in front of a crackling fire and a warm kitchen smelling of pumpkin pie? But these days, more Americans spend their Thanksgiving in a different setting. Who wants grandma's cramped parlor when they can welcome guests in [...]
6 Potential Tax-Law Time Bombs Affecting IRAs
6 Potential Tax-Law Time Bombs Affecting IRAs It's Black Friday...and we're talking about savings...or what we thought were great tax savings ideas! Some of these items have been in federal budget proposals for years. It may be only a matter of time before they become law. And it could considerably change planning strategies for many people. The 2017 Congressional budget proposal includes six little-known but important tax time bombs that could affect your individual retirement accounts. Joe Ross, vice president of sales productivity and business [...]
All You Need Is Love
All You Need Is Love No matter who we voted for, we can all agree that this has been the nastiest presidential election since Thomas Jefferson called John Adams a hermaphroditic bastard. This week it's finally (finally!) come to an end. Whether you're elated or nauseated by the results, there's probably one emotion you share with most Americans right now: relief that the campaign is over. You've taken a long hot shower, and you got to enjoy your Sunday afternoon football with no political ads. [...]