The Dow Jones Industrial Average has broken record after record this year. After breaking through the 20,000 point barrier in February, the Dow has been on a tear and is currently at over 24,000 points. Since February of 2016, the Dow has gained over 50% and has nearly doubled since 2012. Many market commentators have given in to stock...
401(k) accounts have become one of the most popular savings plans for employees looking to save for their retirement. Of the $26.6 trillion in retirement assets held by Americans, $5.1 trillion are held in 401(k) accounts. Even though only about 14% of employers are estimated to offer a 401(k) plan, 79% of Americans work for an employer that offers...
President Trump’s nominee to head the Federal Reserve System, Jerome Powell, faced his Senate confirmation hearing this week in front of the Senate Banking Committee. Anyone who had been hoping that a Powell chairmanship would differ in any way from that of Chairman Yellen would have been sorely disappointed after watching the hearing. Having already served on the Fed’s Board...
In a recent interview with Fox Business, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned about trying to stimulate economic growth. While growth in economic productivity continues to remain limited, the Trump Administration has adopted a 3% annual GDP growth target as one of its aims. Greenspan believes that the government should be cautious in targeting a rate that high. The...
Thanksgiving may be over, and we may be recovering from our food comas and trying to work off the extra pounds we put on, but that’s no reason to stop giving thanks for all of our benefits. For American investors, in particular, there are many things to be thankful for. When looking at all the options available to investors,...
High stock market prices have fooled many people into thinking that the economy is doing just fine, even though that’s not really the case. Economic productivity is still only increasing slightly. And the lowering unemployment rate is more the result of people continuing to leave the workforce than it is the result of the creation of new jobs. For...
One of the greatest benefits of the post-World War II economic boom was that many workers became so well off that they could retire comfortably once they reached their golden years. The days of living paycheck to paycheck and having to work into old age until no one would keep you employed ceased to become a reality for millions...
President Trump recently nominated current Federal Reserve System Governor Jerome Powell to be the next Chairman of the Fed’s Board of Governors, replacing Janet Yellen when her four-year term expires. It’s a puzzling move for a President who was elected based on popular anger at the Washington establishment, and who promised to drain the swamp. As Powell’s nomination demonstrates,...
The Republican tax reform bill has finally been introduced in the House of Representatives, allowing us finally to see what could be in store for us in the future. A much higher standard deduction, fewer tax brackets, and significant changes to tax credits have garnered many headlines. Less well-appreciated are the changes that could be coming to 401(k) plans...
The personal savings rate in September reached its lowest level since 2007. And while it hasn’t reached its all-time low, the trend is definitely downwards. Personal savings are now at 3.1 percent of income, still slightly higher than the 2.5 percent low reached in December of 2007. Looking back at historical savings data since 1960, the savings rate had normally...