For most people over 70, the annual Required Minimum Distribution from retirement plans and IRA accounts is a routine. In 2020, though, the vast majority of RMDs are suspended. Many retirees took their ordinary distributions before the economic crisis precipitated by the lockdown in March, and now it has become…
A video recording of Jim and Sam discussing the Q2 Commentary can be viewed HERE. MARKET REVIEW Stocks rebounded from a dismal March by posting their best monthly returns since 1987, as investors were encouraged by the expectation of additional government stimulus programs and hope that the economy would be…
If you’re a TIAA participant in the University of Maine system, whether an active employee or one who’s left because of a job change or retirement, you likely get a pretty heavy supply of mail from TIAA. Some of the mail that came in late 2019 and early 2020 might…
‘Flattening the curve’ is sure to remain a major part of our lexicon long after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed. Curve flattening makes the assumption that simply eliminating the disease is impossible. As such, the next most important step is to slow the spread so as not to overwhelm the…
Social Security, in its current form, is in trouble. This should not be newsworthy to anyone who pays attention. When I first started in this industry during the last century, the Social Security Advisory Council warned that the Social Security Trust fund would run out of money in the 2030s,…
During times when going out to movies, concerts, restaurants, hair salons and sporting events is simply not in the cards, it is really likely that our spending will go down. Mine sure has. Despite the huge NEGATIVE impact on the global economy that comes with that, for those who are…
Student loans are a big part of the financial picture for a great many people. After the current pandemic started spreading in the US, it became clear that fighting the spread of this virus was going to come at a great economic cost, and one of the earliest steps taken…
I speak with very few people who relish market volatility, and lately we’ve had more than our fair share. Of course, volatility, in general, may really not be what people hate – but rather the downside volatility. I rarely hear complaints about sharp upward movements in the market. The fact…
Market Review The world’s economies and stock markets have been rocked by the spread of COVID-19. Investors’ fears prompted a major sell-off in February and March, plunging stocks well below their 2019 closing marks. Nevertheless, 2020 started off in a positive way. Following a strong 2019, stocks were slow to…
Last week, Congress passed, and the President signed the most sweeping fiscal stimulus bill in history, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), aimed at cushioning the economic impact that has come from the virtual shutdown of the majority of the country. To call this Act…
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