2024 Q3 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update Eric is back on the BBQ trail! On June 22nd, he attended a Steak Competition in Lebanon and finished 6th place. Then 2 weeks later to Sweet Home for the big BBQ Competition in which the team overall…
Required Distributions: SECURE Act Changes You Need to Know
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) changed the rules for taking distributions from retirement accounts inherited after 2019. The so-called 10-year rule generally requires inherited accounts to be emptied within 10 years of…
Real Estate Commission Changes Around the Corner
In March 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reached a landmark $418 million settlement after losing an antitrust lawsuit filed by a group of home sellers. As many as 50 million people who paid commissions on homes sold in…
2024 Q2 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update Eric was recently on medical leave. He had his right kidney removed along with the hitchhiker named “Tumor.” At this point it appears the surgery was completely successful. During his time of recovery, he learned how to use…
What Stubborn Inflation Could Mean for the U.S. Economy
It’s important to keep in mind that the most dangerous battle against inflation seems to have been won. The issue now is that there has been upward movement during the first three months of 2024. What Stubborn Inflation Could Mean…
SECURE 2.0 Provides New Retirement Savings Options in 2024
The SECURE 2.0 Act, passed in December 2022, made wide-ranging changes to U.S. tax laws related to retirement savings. While some provisions were effective in 2023, others did not take effect until 2024. Here is an overview of some important…
The H Group, Salem Welcomes Katie Martin!
Welcome, Katie Martin! Katie is joining us after a varied career in education, client service and operations. More recently, she has been a financial advisor with a corporate firm. Her transition to private wealth management in an RIA is a…
With Holidays Ahead, Can Consumers Keep Carrying the Economy?
Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), so it plays an outsized role in driving economic growth or slowing it down.1 For the last 18 months, U.S. consumers have kept the economy strong despite high…
Rising Oil Prices Could Pose the Latest Threat to the Economy
Oil prices have increased more than 30% since late June, driving up transportation costs for consumers and businesses and putting financial markets on edge. On September 27, West Texas Intermediate crude — the U.S. benchmark for oil prices — topped…
Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15
If you are covered by Medicare, it’s time to compare your current coverage with other available options. Medicare’s Open Enrollment period begins on October 15 and runs through December 7. Medicare plans can change every year, and you may want…
2023 Q3 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update Eric and Amy were on the road again for BBQ competitions. First stop was Sweet Home, OR for the Icebox BBQ Competition. They were pleased to bring home some hardware in the Steak categories, placing fourth and tenth…
U.S. Economy: Soft Landing or Delayed Recession?
Economists have been predicting a recession for the U.S. economy ever since the Federal Reserve began aggressively raising interest rates in 2022. This is Econ 101. High interest rates, which make it more expensive to borrow, are intended to tame…
Investing for Major Financial Goals
Go out into your yard and dig a big hole. Every month, throw $50 into it, but don’t take any money out until you’re ready to buy a house, send your child to college, or retire. It sounds a little…
RMD Relief and Guidance for 2023
In early 2022, the IRS issued proposed regulations regarding required minimum distributions (RMDs) to reflect changes made by the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019. The IRS has held off on releasing final regulations so…
2024 Key Numbers for Health Savings Accounts
The IRS recently released the 2024 contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs), as well as the 2024 minimum deductible and maximum out-of-pocket amounts for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). What is a Health Savings Account? An HSA is a tax-advantaged…
U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Student Loan Cancellation, Payments to Resume
Three important developments occurred recently in the world of federal student loans: the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an executive order offering loan cancellation to certain borrowers; Congress set an expiration date for the payment moratorium that has been in effect…
Is This Bull Timid or Ready to Charge?
On June 8, 2023, the S&P 500 index closed at 4,293.93, just over 20% higher than its lowest recent closing value of 3,577.03 reached on October 12, 2022.1 According to a common definition of market cycles, this indicated that the…
2023 Q2: Congrats, Sarah, CFP®! | Team Update | Out & About
Congratulations, Sarah, CFP®! We are happy to share that Sarah has officially obtained her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification! On top of her regular workload, the road to earning the CFP® mark after her name started in fall 2021 with taking…
Transformative Tech: Will AI Upend the American Workforce?
A chatbot with uncanny human-like writing abilities has become the poster child for artificial intelligence (AI) since it was released in late 2022, inspiring new levels of attention, excitement, and concern about recent advances in this life-changing technology. As the…
Congress Tells Treasury to Expect SECURE 2.0 Technical Fixes
In late May 2023, Congress sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel saying that it will introduce legislation to correct several technical errors in the SECURE 2.0 Act. The letter, signed by Senators…
New Clean Vehicle Tax Credit Guidance Issued
Starting in 2023, a personal or general business tax credit of up to $7,500 is available for the purchase of new clean vehicles meeting certain requirements (including electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles). A credit of $3,750 is available…
What You Should Know About the Federal Reserve’s New Instant Payments System
The use of mobile payment apps and person-to-person (P2P) payments are more popular than ever, giving businesses and consumers the ability to send and receive money instantly. According to a recent study, the share of P2P payments made with mobile…
SECURE 2.0 Helps Small Employers Help Their Employees
Approximately 78% of people who work for companies with fewer than 10 employees and about 65% of those who work for companies with 10 to 24 employees do not have access to a retirement plan at work.1 That’s unfortunate, because…
Bank Failures Shine Light on Interest Rate Risks
Financial markets reacted turbulently to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) on March 10, 2023, followed two days later by the failure of Signature Bank of New York. With $209 billion in assets and $175 billion in deposits, SVB…
2023 Q1 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update Eric and his lovely wife, Amy, have reached a Paradigm shift in life: the transition to empty nest! One son is in college and the other in Japan Culinary School, so they decided to buy a travel trailer!…
Five Ways SECURE 2.0 Changes the Required Minimum Distribution Rules
The SECURE 2.0 legislation included in the $1.7 trillion appropriations bill passed late last year builds on changes established by the original Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE 1.0) enacted in 2019. SECURE 2.0 includes significant changes…
The Debt Ceiling and Deficit Spending
On January 19, 2023, the outstanding debt of the U.S. government reached its statutory limit, commonly called the debt ceiling. The current limit was set by Congress at about $31.4 trillion in December 2021.1 On the day the limit was…
Federal Tax Filing Season Has Started
The IRS announced that the starting date for when it would accept and process 2022 tax-year returns was Monday, January 23, 2023. Tips for making filing easier To speed refunds and help with tax filing, the IRS suggests the following:…
Is the Yield Curve Signaling a Recession?
Long-term bonds generally provide higher yields than short-term bonds, because investors demand higher returns to compensate for the risk of lending money over a longer period. Occasionally, however, this relationship flips, and investors are willing to accept lower yields in…
Upcoming Event: 2023 Virtual Economic Update
We are proud to once again partner with our Portland offices to welcome John Mitchell, nationally-renowned economist and speaker, who will give us an update on the state of the economy both nationally and locally. 2023 Virtual Economic Seminar…
Retirement Investors Get Another Boost from Washington
Amid the 1,650-page, $1.7 trillion omnibus spending legislation passed by Congress in late December were several provisions affecting work-sponsored retirement plans and, to a lesser degree, IRAs. Dubbed the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 after the similarly sweeping Setting Every…
2022 Q4 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update Eric’s last BBQ competition for the year is December 31st, for Ribeye steak and “anything sliders.” But more importantly, he and Amy will be spending the holidays with their boys before their empty nest approaches in mid-January. The oldest…
Tis the Season for Tax-Friendly Giving Strategies
You may donate money to charitable organizations throughout the year, for no other reason than your heart-felt desire to support causes that you care about. But if philanthropy is important to you, keep in mind that the associated tax breaks…
Fed Note: December 2022
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee raised the Fed funds rate by 0.50%, to a range of 4.25-4.50%. The vote was unanimous and marks a downshift from a pace of four straight 0.75% hikes. The formal statement language was barely…
Medicare Open Enrollment Is Here: How Are Costs Changing for 2023?
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period — which runs from October 15 through December 7 — is your annual opportunity to switch your current Medicare health and prescription drug plans to ones that better suit your needs. Just in time for Open…
Fed Note: November 2022
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee raised the fed funds rate today by another 0.75%, from 3.00-3.25% to 3.75-4.00%. The vote was unanimous, with no dissents. The formal statement language was hardly changed except for the addition of two lines,…
Paying the Bills: Potential Sources of Retirement Income
Planning your retirement income is like putting together a puzzle with many different pieces. One of the first steps in the process is to identify all potential income sources and estimate how much you can expect each one to provide.…
CHIPs and Science Act Aims to Preserve U.S. Technology Edge
The CHIPs and Science Act of 2022, signed into law on August 9, is a bipartisan legislation package that provides more than $50 billion in direct financial assistance for semiconductor companies to increase U.S.-based design, research, and manufacturing capabilities. In…
Key Estate Planning Documents You Need
There are five estate planning documents you may need, regardless of your age, health, or wealth: Durable power of attorney Advance medical directives Will Letter of instruction Living trust The last document, a living trust, isn’t always necessary, but it’s…
New Cancellation for Federal Student Loans and Delayed Repayment to 2023
On August 24, 2022, just a few days before federal student loan repayment was set to resume, President Biden announced a plan for additional student loan debt relief. Federal student loan repayment was originally halted in March 2020 at the…
2022 Q3 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update At the BBQ competition in July, Eric and his team finished 23rd overall out of 34 teams, with a personal finish of 14th place for burgers, and a team finish of 9th in People’s Choice, with the help…
Fed Note: September 2022
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee raised the fed funds rate today by another 0.75%, to a range of 3.00-3.25%. The vote was unanimous, with no dissents. The formal statement language was hardly changed at all, only noting an upgrade…
Inflation Reduction Act: What You Should Know
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on August 16, 2022, includes healthcare and energy-related provisions, a new corporate alternative minimum tax, and an excise tax on certain corporate stock buybacks. Additional funding is also provided to the IRS. Some…
The Health of Social Security: Some Good News and Some Bad News
With approximately 94% of American workers covered by Social Security and 65 million people currently receiving benefits, keeping Social Security healthy is a major concern.1 Social Security isn’t in danger of going broke — it’s financed primarily through payroll taxes…
The Benefits of Tax-Advantaged Savings Vehicles
Taxes can take a big bite out of your total investment returns, so it’s helpful to look for tax-advantaged strategies when building a portfolio. But keep in mind that investment decisions shouldn’t be driven solely by tax considerations; other factors…
Lump Sum vs. Dollar Cost Averaging: Which Is Better?
Some people go swimming by diving into the pool; others prefer to edge into the water gradually, especially if the water’s cold. A decision about putting money into an investment can be somewhat similar. Is it best to invest your…
Fed Note: July 2022
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee just raised the fed funds rate by another 0.75%, to a new range of 2.25-2.50%. The vote was unanimous, with no dissents, unlike June’s meeting. The formal statement language changed little, but noted ‘recent…
IRS Releases 2023 Key Numbers for Health Savings Accounts
The IRS has released the 2023 contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs), as well as the 2023 minimum deductible and maximum out-of-pocket amounts for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). An HSA is a tax-advantaged account that’s paired with an HDHP.…
Tech Sector Turmoil and the Bear Market
During the intensely volatile first 100 trading days of 2022, the stocks of companies in the S&P 500 index delivered their worst performance since 1970.1 The S&P 500 continued to tumble, and the benchmark index descended into a bear market…
Social Security: What Should You Do at Age 62?
Is 62 your lucky number? If you’re eligible, that’s the earliest age you can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits. Although collecting early retirement benefits makes sense for some people, there’s a major drawback to consider: If you start collecting…
2022 Q2 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update For Eric, it has been a whirlwind of celebrating and organizing milestone birthdays for his wife and mother-in-law. The whirlwind continued with his son graduating from high school, so the family attended his last symphony band concert and…
Health Savings Accounts: Just What the Doctor Ordered?
Are health insurance premiums taking too big of a bite out of your budget? Do you wish you had better control over how you spend your health-care dollars? If so, you may be interested in an alternative to traditional health…
Fed Note: June 2022
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee continued its aggressive tightening pace in the June meeting, by raising the key fed funds interest rate today by 0.75%—to a new range of 1.50-1.75%. This was the largest single meeting hike since 1994,…
Converting Savings to Retirement Income
During your working years, you’ve probably set aside funds in retirement accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, or other workplace savings plans, as well as in taxable accounts. Your challenge during retirement is to convert those savings into an ongoing income…
Managing Bond Risks When Interest Rates Rise
After dropping the benchmark federal funds rate to a rock-bottom range of 0%–0.25% early in the pandemic, the Federal Open Market Committee has begun raising the rate toward more typical historical levels in response to high inflation. At its March…
Is the Russia-Ukraine War a Threat to the Global Economy?
Before Russia stunned the world by invading Ukraine, it was widely believed that the economic ties formed through globalization would help promote peace. But the war is testing that assumption and drawing attention to the vulnerabilities in far-flung supply chains,…
Fed Note: May 2022
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee turned more aggressive in this month’s meeting by raising the key fed funds interest rate by 0.50%—for the first time in over twenty years by that amount—to a new range of 0.75-1.00%. There were…
Federal Student Loan Repayment Postponed for Sixth Time
On April 6, the U.S. Department of Education announced a record sixth extension for federal student loan repayment, interest, and collections, through August 31, 2022.1 The fifth payment pause was set to end on April 30, 2022. The six extensions…
When You Need Help: In-Home Care Programs for Older Individuals
What is in-home care? Not every older American ends up in a nursing home or a retirement community. In fact, most older individuals continue to live at home, many with the assistance of some type of in-home care. In-home care…
What Do Rising Interest Rates Mean for Your Money?
On March 16, 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25% to a target range of 0.25% to 0.50%. This is the beginning of a series of increases that…
Colliding Forces: Russia, Oil, Inflation, and Market Volatility
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has drawn condemnation and punitive sanctions from the United States, Europe, and their allies. The humanitarian cost of war cannot be measured, and the long-term economic effects could take months or years to unfold. However,…
Help Wanted: Why Can’t Businesses Find Enough Workers?
The headline U.S. unemployment rate fell from 6.7% at the end of December 2020 to 3.9% in December 2021, marking the biggest one-year improvement in history.1 While many workers took advantage of this strong rebound in the job market, companies…
2022 Q1 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update Eric’s BBQ team competition in Albany, OR was a huge success! His team finished fifth place in Ribs, Chicken, and People’s Choice! They would have won the People’s Choice but ran out of our pork belly burnt end…
Fed Note: March 2022
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee raised the key fed funds interest rate today by 0.25%, to a new range of 0.25-0.50%. This first hike in four years was as expected, with the Fed communicating their intention and amount fairly…
There’s Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2021
Even though tax filing season is well under way, there’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2021. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2021 ($7,000 if…
Federal Tax Filing Season
The IRS announced that the starting date for when it would accept and process 2021 tax-year returns was Monday, January 24, 2022. Tips for making filing easier To speed refunds and help with tax filing, the IRS suggests the following:…
Upcoming Event | 2022 Virtual Economic Update
We are proud to welcome John Mitchell, nationally renowned economist and speaker, to give us an update on the state of the economy both nationally and locally. 2022 Virtual Economic Seminar Thursday, March 17, 2022 | 2:00 – 4:00 pm…
Wills: The Cornerstone of Your Estate Plan
If you care about what happens to your money, home, and other property after you die, you need to do some estate planning. There are many tools you can use to achieve your estate planning goals, but a will is…
The Fed Pivots to Fight Inflation
On December 15, 2021, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve System made a significant shift in monetary policy in response to rising inflation. The Committee accelerated the reduction of its bond-buying program in order to tighten…
Will Infrastructure Investment Pave the Way to a Stronger Economy?
In November 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a roughly $1 trillion package that reauthorized existing programs and provided more than $550 billion in new funding over the next five years to help upgrade aging U.S. transportation,…
Fed Note: January 2022
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made no changes in interest rates, as expected, staying with the target of 0.00-0.25%. But, times are changing. The formal statement language was significantly simplified from December, that economic activity and employment have ‘continued…
What Will You Pay for Medicare in 2022?
Medicare Part B Premiums According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), most people with Medicare who receive Social Security benefits will pay the standard monthly Part B premium of $170.10 in 2022. People with higher incomes may…
Retirement Plan Limits on the Rise in 2022
Many IRA and retirement plan limits are indexed for inflation each year. Although the amount you can contribute to IRAs remains the same in 2022, other key numbers will increase, including how much you can contribute to a work-based retirement…
QOTW: Looking Ahead to 2022
What should we look for in 2022? Year-end predictions tend to be futile, and accuracy rates tend to be low (or results random). But keeping tabs on more important issues can be helpful. Several items remain in a status similar…
2021 Q4 Team Update | Out & About
Team Update Christmas came early for Eric, with a brand-new smoker! With Thanksgiving in his sights and 21 people to serve, he was able to smoke two turkeys at once! Equipped with his new toy, Eric, and his friend from…
RMD Roundup – A Few Key Updates About Required Minimum Distributions
As we approach the end of 2021, now might be a good time to take a closer look at a few developments surrounding required minimum distributions (RMDs). What Are RMDs? Once you reach age 72, you are required to take…
Fed Note: December 2021
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made no changes in interest rates on December 15, as expected, staying at the target of 0.00-0.25%. However, in keeping with intensified market expectations in recent weeks (and signaled by the Fed itself), a…
Year-End Charitable Giving
With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind. The…
Employer Open Enrollment – Make Benefit Choices That Work for You
Open enrollment is the window of time when employers introduce changes to their benefit offerings for the upcoming plan year. If you’re employed, this is your once-a-year chance to make important decisions that will affect your healthcare choices and your…
The Budget and the Debt Ceiling: Round 2
On September 30, 2021, Congress averted a potential federal government shutdown by passing a last-minute bill to fund government operations through December 3, 2021.1 Two weeks later, another measure raised the debt ceiling by just enough to sustain federal borrowing…
Planning for Marriage: Financial Tips for Women
Planning for marriage should involve more than just picking out invitations and deciding whether you should serve chicken or fish at the reception. More importantly, you’ll want to take a look at how marriage will impact your financial situation. And…
Social Security’s Uncertain Future: What You Should Know
Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system, which means today’s workers are paying taxes for the benefits received by today’s retirees. However, demographic trends such as lower birth rates, higher retirement rates, and longer life spans are causing long-run fiscal challenges.…
Fed Note: November 2021
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made no changes in interest rates today, as expected, staying at the target of 0.00-0.25%. However, this meeting served as the jumping-off point for the ‘taper,’ which had been signaled well in advance of…
401(k) In-Plan Roth Conversions
A 401(k) in-plan Roth conversion (also called an “in-plan Roth rollover”) allows you to transfer the non-Roth portion of your 401(k) account into a designated Roth account within the same plan. The amount you convert is subject to federal income…
IRS Releases 2022 Key Numbers for Health Savings Accounts
The IRS has released the 2022 contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs), as well as the 2022 minimum deductible and maximum out-of-pocket amounts for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). An HSA is a tax-advantaged account that’s paired with an HDHP.…
Too Hot to Handle: What’s Ahead for the U.S. Housing Market?
The U.S. housing market, already strong before the pandemic, has heated up to record levels in 2021. The Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, which measures home prices in 20 major metropolitan areas, reported a 12-month increase of 18.6% in…
FAFSA for 2022-2023 School Year Opened on October 1
October is the kickoff season for financial aid. That’s when incoming and returning college students can start filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the next academic year. The FAFSA is a prerequisite for federal student…
Fed Note: September 2021
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made no changes in monetary policy, keeping rates at the zero target of 0.00-0.25%. This was as expected, with no dissents. The formal statement language noted specifically that a rise in Covid cases has…
2021 Q3 Team Update | Out & About
2021 Q3 Team Update Eric has been enjoying a summer of grilling vegetables, but out of left field, a client encouraged him to try grilling glazed donuts. It was awesome! He says adding a scoop of ice cream and chocolate…
Year-End Tax Planning
Year-End Tax Planning As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to consider strategies that could help you reduce your tax bill. But most tax tips, suggestions, and strategies are of little practical help without a good understanding of…
Mid-Year Is a Good Time for a Financial Checkup
The first half of 2021 is behind us. As life emerges from the pandemic to a “new normal,” a mid-year financial checkup may be more important than ever this year. Here are some ways to make sure that your financial…
Student Loan Payment Pause Extended
On August 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education announced an extension of the pause on federal student loan payments to January 31, 2022. The payment moratorium, currently in effect for millions of federal student loan borrowers, was set to…
Women and Work: Why Salary, Benefits, and Work-Life Balance Count
As more and more women earn college degrees, change in the workplace may be inevitable. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, women now earn 57% of bachelor’s degrees, 60% of master’s degrees, and 53% of doctoral degrees.1 As…
Hostage Data: Ransomware and Protecting Your Digital Information
On May 7, 2021, the Colonial Pipeline, which carries almost half of the East Coast’s fuel supply from Texas to New Jersey, shut down operations in response to a ransomware attack. Colonial paid a $4.4 million ransom not long after…
Should You Be Concerned About Inflation?
If you pay attention to financial news, you are probably seeing a lot of discussion about inflation, which has reared its head in the U.S. economy after being mostly dormant for the last decade. In May 2021, the Consumer Price…
New Global Tax Accord Takes Shape
After more than four years of international negotiations taking place mostly behind the scenes, 132 countries — representing more than 90% of worldwide gross domestic product (GDP) and including the Group of 20 (G20) large economies — recently agreed to…
Fed Note: July 2021
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made no changes in monetary policy yesterday, keeping rates near the zero target of 0.00-0.25%. This was as expected. The formal statement language was minimally changed. The only adjustments noted labor continuing to strengthen,…
QOTW: Falling U.S. Treasury Yields
Why are U.S. treasury yields falling lately as economic conditions are recovering? U.S. treasury rates continue to baffle investors. The 10-year yield tends to be one of the most frequently-estimated yet difficult-to-predict data points in the investment landscape. In addition…
Shortages and Bottlenecks Expose Weak Links in U.S. Supply Chains
U.S. consumers won’t soon forget the troubling shortages of personal protective equipment during the early days of the pandemic, or when the first stay-at-home orders spurred panic buying and stress-inducing shortages of toilet paper, cleaning products, and food. Now, as…
QOTW: Labor Market Data
What seems to be going on with labor market data, at least in terms of its underperformance compared to expectations? Both private economists and public officials have shared a variety of opinions about remaining issues weighing on the jobs…
Retirement Confidence Remains Strong, Despite Pandemic
Despite the economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic, American workers and retirees remain largely optimistic about their financial prospects for retirement. In its annual Retirement Confidence Survey conducted in January 2021, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) found that 80%…
2021 Q2 Team Update | Out & About
Q2 Team Update Eric and Amy went to Memphis, TN to support the Best Damn BBQ Sauce Team in the Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Competition. The Best Damn BBQ team represented the Pacific Northwest well by placing…
Rising Inflation: Where Will It Go from Here?
In March 2021, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6%, the largest one-month increase since August 2012. Over the previous 12 months, the increase was 2.6%, the highest year-over-year inflation rate since August 2018. (By contrast,…
Fed Note: June 2021
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made no changes in monetary policy today, keeping the target short-term interest rate at 0.00-0.25%. The official statement was little changed in substance, with wording about the hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic replaced…
Taking Advantage of Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans
Employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s are some of the most powerful retirement savings tools available. If your employer offers such a plan and you’re not participating in it, you should be. Once you’re participating in a plan, try…
American Families Plan Would Provide Benefits for Some, More Taxes for Others
On April 28, 2021, the White House released a fact sheet for President Biden’s American Families Plan (AFP), which proposes about $1 trillion in investments and $800 billion in tax cuts. There would also be tax increases for those making…
U.S. Credit Card Debt Levels See Record Drop in 2020
Despite the financial challenges experienced by Americans as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. credit card debt dropped to record levels in 2020, decreasing by almost $83 billion.1 This unprecedented drop was likely the result of individuals receiving financial…
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest?
Owning a home outright is a dream that many Americans share. Having a mortgage can be a huge burden and paying it off may be the first item on your financial to-do list. But competing with the desire to own…
High-Frequency Indicators: Where to Look for Signs of Economic Recovery
Since the pandemic began, disruptions in business activity have varied greatly from region to region, and often from one week to the next, according to the severity of local COVID-19 outbreaks. Unfortunately, many of the official government statistics used to…
QOTW: What is a Rollover IRA, and Do I Need One?
Generally, the term “rollover IRA” refers to an IRA that you establish to receive funds from an employer retirement plan like a 401(k). A rollover IRA is also sometimes referred to as a “conduit IRA.” When you roll funds over…
Fed Note: April 2021
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made no changes in monetary policy, keeping the target short-term interest rate at 0.00-0.25%. Nor was there any change in the pace and magnitude of their treasury and agency mortgage-backed security purchase program (‘quantitative…
QOTW: Social Security Benefits and Medicare
Question: If I delay receiving Social Security benefits, should I still sign up for Medicare at age 65? Even if you plan on waiting until full retirement age or later to receiveSocial Security retirement benefits, consider signing up for Medicare.…
American Rescue Plan Act Provides Relief to Individuals and Businesses
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA 2021) was signed into law. This is a $1.9 trillion emergency relief package that includes payments to individuals and funding for federal programs, vaccines and testing, state…
QOTW: Single Life Annuity vs. Joint and Survivor Annuity
Question: Should I choose a single life annuity for my pension or a joint and survivor annuity that makes payments to my spouse when I die? Answer: It depends on your circumstances. With the single life annuity, you’ll receive the…
Due Date for Federal Income Tax Returns and Payments Postponed
Due to the unusual conditions related to the coronavirus pandemic, the due date for individuals to file 2020 federal income tax returns and make tax payments has been postponed by the IRS from Thursday, April 15, 2021, to Monday, May…
There’s Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2020
Even though tax filing season is well under way, there’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2020. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2020 ($7,000 if…
Fed Note: March 2021
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee made no change in policy, keeping the target short-term interest rate at 0.00-0.25%. Similarly, no change was made in the pace and magnitude of ‘quantitative easing,’ which is the ongoing treasury and mortgage bond…
Q1 Team Update: Congrats Sarah, Farewell Brenna
Congrats Sarah! When Sarah joined the practice nearly two and a half years ago, she was always headed for the advisor track. Her experience in the client services role has given her a good foundation on which to build. In…
Pandemic Relief Measures and Your Tax Return
Two emergency relief bills passed in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will make this an unusual tax season for many taxpayers. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed in March, and a second relief…
Get a Fresh Start on Your Finances in 2021
There’s no doubt about it — last year was tumultuous. The coronavirus pandemic, a contentious election, and widespread protests were just some of the events that impacted our nation in 2020. Fortunately, the arrival of new vaccines has brought hope…
QOTW: How much inflation risk is really out there?
Treasury rates have ticked higher in recent weeks, due to investor worries about a pickup in inflation. This is not a new concern, but has gained steam as a large ($1.9 tril.) stimulus package appears to be on the verge…
Retirement Savings: Revisiting the 4% Rule
Saving for retirement is not easy, but using your retirement savings wisely can be just as challenging. How much of your savings can you withdraw each year? Withdraw too much and you run the risk of running out of money.Withdraw…
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)
An ILIT is a trust primarily set up to hold one or more life insurance policies. The main purpose of an ILIT is to avoid federal estate tax. If the trust is drafted and funded properly, your loved ones should receive all…
Consolidated Appropriations Act Provides Relief to Individuals and Businesses
On Sunday, December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA 2021) was signed into law. A $900 billion emergency relief package is included as part of this omnibus spending bill. It is intended to assist individuals and businesses during…
Reaching Retirement: Now What?
You’ve worked hard your whole life anticipating the day you could finally retire. Congratulations — that day has arrived! But with it comes the realization that you’ll need to carefully manage your assets to give them lasting potential. Review your…
What is the GameStop Stock Situation All About?
We don’t like to spend too much time on market anomalies, let alone individual stocks that fall outside long-term asset allocation principles, but this seems to have taken over the headlines last week. Rarely do stock market quirks become mainstream…
Fed Note 1/28/2021
The Federal Reserve made no policy changes at today’s meeting, as expected. The fed funds rate was kept at the zero bound of 0.00-0.25%. The formal statement was little changed, noting that the pace of recovery is moderating, with ‘weakness…
Transferring Your Family Business
As a business owner, you’re going to have to decide when will be the right time to step out of the family business and how you’ll do it. There are many estate planning tools you can use to transfer your…
How COVID-19 Has Changed Consumer Behavior and the Future of Retail
U.S. retail sales suffered in the spring of 2020 due to safety concerns, government-mandated lockdowns, and economic uncertainty wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. Sales — including purchases at stores, restaurants, and online — plunged from $483.95 billion in March to…
403(b) Plans: The Basics
Retirement plans established under Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, commonly referred to as 403(b) plans or “tax-sheltered annuities,” have become a popular type of employer-sponsored retirement plan. What is a 403(b) plan? A 403(b) plan is a retirement…
QOTW: What Could We Expect in 2021?
The Question of the Week: What could we expect in 2021? Each year naturally brings more surprises than certainties, so outlooks and predictions of any kind quickly become futile. (We’ve already experienced a dramatic and unusual first week of January.)…
Taxation of Investments
It’s nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it’s time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments…
The Most Recent COVID-19 Relief Plan Details
The prior weekend, Congress had agreed on a $900+ bil. Covid relief package, approved by both chambers a few days later, and finally signed by the President last night. This had been in the works for months, with a few…
Fed Note: December 2020
The Federal Reserve made no policy changes at today’s meeting, as expected, keeping the fed funds rate at the zero bound of 0.00-0.25%. There were no dissents from committee members. The dollar swap lines and repurchase facility were also extended.…
Facing the Possibility of Incapacity
Incapacity means that you are either mentally or physically unable to take care of yourself or your day-to-day affairs. Incapacity can result from serious physical injury, mental or physical illness,advancing age, and alcohol or drug abuse. Incapacity can strike anyone…
Developing Your Estate Plan: Charitable Giving
When developing your estate plan, you can do well by doing good. Leaving money to charity rewards you in many ways. It gives you a sense of personal satisfaction, and it can save you money in estate taxes. A few…
IRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2021
Many IRA and retirement plan limits are indexed for inflation each year. While some of the limits remain unchanged for 2021, other key numbers have increased. IRA contribution limits The maximum amount you can contribute to a traditional IRA or…
QOTW: How important is the Dow reaching 30,000?
It’s a new high, but not dissimilar to celebrating say, 29,999 as a new peak, although the odd number didn’t receive the same level of media attention. These round market levels, whether it be the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq,…
QOTW: Are Bonds Expensive? Are They in a Bubble?
Whether or not an asset class is in a bubble is difficult to answer in real-time, since sentiment can change course as quickly as a few weeks, or take years. In hindsight, these things are always more obvious. The question…
Myths and Facts About Social Security
Myth: Social Security will provide most of the income you need in retirement. Fact: It’s likely that Social Security will provide a smaller portion of retirement income than you expect. There’s no doubt about it — Social Security is an…
Retirement Account Rollovers
When evaluating whether to initiate a rollover always be sure to (1) ask about possible surrender charges that may be imposed by your employer plan, or new surrender charges that your IRA may impose, (2) compare investment fees and expenses charged…
All About Credit Scores
It’s difficult to imagine functioning in today’s world without credit. Whether buying a car or purchasing a home, credit has become an integral part of our everyday lives. Having easy access to credit goes hand in hand with having a…
QOTW: With the 2020 election being over, what comes next?
Question of the Week: “With the election being over, what comes next?” The election results may have surprised some forecasters (and certainly pollsters), as the predicted ‘blue wave’ of Democrats capturing both the Presidency and Senate fell short. Democrats…
November 1 Began Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Marketplaces
Beginning on November 1, 2020, individuals (including families) may apply for new health insurance, switch to a different healthcare plan, or re-enroll in their current plan through a Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The open enrollment…
Student Loan Relief Extended Through End of Year
In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided a six-month automatic payment suspension on federal student loans through September 30, 2020. In August, the president signed a memorandum to extend federal student…
Temporary Payroll Tax Deferral: What You Need to Know
On August 8, 2020, the president issued an executive order to allow the deferral of certain payroll taxes during the last four months of 2020, and the IRS recently provided related guidance. This has implications for both employers and employees.…
2020 Third Quarter Update
Happy Fall! The leaves are beginning to turn, the birds are headed south, and the evenings are getting a bit cooler. This fall is especially welcome with the rains bringing some control to the fires that have done so much…
Plan Sponsors: Coronavirus Relief Measures
In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which included several provisions designed to help retirement savers cope with the financial fallout from the pandemic. Among these temporary measures were special rules for required…
The Bull Is Back… Will It Keep Charging?
On August 18, 2020, the S&P 500 set a record high for the first time since COVID-19 ushered in a bear market on February 19. The cycle from peak to peak was just 126 trading days, the fastest recovery in…
The Traits of a Good Investor and How Women Can Make the Most of Them
Many women manage their own money. This includes women who have always been doing so and women who are relatively new to the world of investing, for whatever reason. Regardless of your level of investing experience, there are certain investor…
How Important is the Next Election for Financial Markets?
What would be the impact of a Trump Presidential reelection for a second term? How important is the President on financial markets anyway? In many ways, policies to expect would likely be similar to what’s in place today, and largely…
Women’s Worth 2020 | Free Planning Seminar for Women
As women, we tend to spend much of our time caring for others. Planning ahead for life’s inevitable rough spots is one of the best ways we can care for ourselves and the ones we love. Women’s Worth is a…
Fed Note | September 2020
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee took no action at their mid-September policy meeting, as expected, leaving the fed funds rate at the zero bound of 0.00-0.25%. Lately, the action seems to be happening between meetings. The Fed announced a…
Team Update Q3 2020
Remembering what it’s like to ‘get out on the open road’ and out of the house, Michelle took a sunny road trip to see her cousin in Utah at the end of July. She appreciated traveling through that beautiful and…
Can I Deduct Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums?
Client Questions: Can I Deduct Premiums Paid for Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI)? It depends on several factors. Your LTCI contract must be a qualified one, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040, and the total of…
What Would Be the Impact of a Biden Presidential Election Win, Potentially Including a Democratic Takeover of the Senate?
The impact of a potential new President on stock market returns is always a key question in the weeks prior to a general election. It’s important to keep in mind that, despite frequent worries around this time of year, and…
College Disrupted: Students Face High Costs and Pandemic Impact
Even in normal times, it can be challenging for families to cover college expenses without borrowing money and/or risking their own retirement security. For the 2019-2020cacademic year, the cost of in-state tuition, fees, room, and board at a four-year public…
How our office is handling in-person meetings during the global pandemic
In this new world, we’re doing our best to meet our clients where they’re at. For some, that means utilizing technology and the virtual meeting space. For others, that means gathering in person. To err on the side of caution,…
What is a Roth 401(k)?
Some employers offer 401(k) plan participants the opportunity to make Roth 401(k) contributions. If you have access to this option, Roth contributions could play an important role in helping enhance your retirement income. What is a Roth 401(k)? A Roth…
The Shape of Economic Recovery
On June 8, 2020, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), which has official responsibility for determining U.S. business cycles, announced that February 2020 marked the end of an expansion that began in 2009 and the beginning of a recession.1 This was no great surprise considering widespread…
IRS Outlines Changes to Healthcare Spending Rules Under CARES Act
The amended rules under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provide flexibility for health-care spending related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 1 High-deductible health plans cover telehealth services Under the CARES Act, a high-deductible health plan (HDHP)…
Wealth Due to Inheritance
What is it? If you’re the beneficiary of a large inheritance, you may find yourself suddenly wealthy. Even if you expected the inheritance, you may be surprised by the size of the bequest or the diverse assets you’ve inherited. You’ll…
IRS Clarifies COVID-19 Relief Measures for Retirement Savers
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in March 2020 ushered in several measures designed to help IRA and retirement plan account holders cope with the financial fallout from the virus. The rules were a welcome relief…
Social Security and Medicare Face Financial Challenges
Most Americans will eventually receive Social Security and Medicare benefits. Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds release lengthy reports to Congress that assess the health of these important programs. The newest reports, released on…
Welcome to the Team, Eric Tanikawa!
We are happy to announce our newest team member, Eric Tanikawa. As a client service specialist, Eric will be working in-depth on the administrative details of client accounts. This includes processing withdrawal requests, preparing paperwork for client meetings, and proactively…
Fed Note 7/30/2020
The Federal Reserve made no key policy changes in their July meeting, as expected, keeping the fed funds rate at the lower bound of 0.00-0.25%. Earlier this week, the pandemic-based emergency liquidity/lending programs were extended until at least the end…
Interest Rates on Federal Student Loans Decrease to Record Lows for 2020-2021
For the second year in a row, interest rates on federal student loans will decrease for the 2020-2021 academic year. This year’s decrease brings rates to record lows. The rates apply to new federal student loans made on or after…
Think Twice Before Speculating on a COVID-19 Cure
As hundreds of companies race to develop vaccines and drug therapies that could help end the COVID-19 pandemic, news reports on successful or failed trials affect individual stock prices and can trigger swings in the broader market.1 Understandably, this highly…
2020 Second Quarter Update
If anyone tells you that they aren’t confused right now, they are either intellectually dishonest or just plain lying. The events of the last six months have most of the rest of us scratching our heads and reflecting on the…
Are Financial Markets and the Real Economy Disconnected?
Are the financial markets (‘Wall Street’) and the real economy (‘Main Street’) disconnected? Although they may appear to be disconnected on the surface, and near-term outcomes are impossible to predict, they’re likely no more disconnected than usual. One of…
Government Sends Millions of Economic Impact Payments by Prepaid Debit Card
In May 2020, the IRS sent Economic Impact Payment (EIP) prepaid VISA debit cards to individuals who qualified for a stimulus payment under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and didn’t receive a payment via direct…
Coping with Unemployment
During this uncertain time, you or a member of your family may be facing unemployment. Coping with it means breaking away from the past and facing the future. It means dealing with the emotional, financial, and professional challenges unemployment can…
Q2 Team Update 2020
Michelle is inspired by the resilience of our client families. Hearing how you are staying connected with family and the creative ways in which you are staying healthy and strong is wonderful. She has taken your lead and spent some…
Coping with Market Volatility: Understand How Your Biases Can Affect Investment Decisions
When it comes to your finances, “go with your gut” might not be the wisest adage to follow. In fact, it may work against you, particularly in periods of market turbulence. Before jumping to conclusions about your finances, consider what…
Unprecedented U.S. Oil Prices
On April 20, 2020, the price of a futures contract for West Texas Intermediate crude — the benchmark for U.S. oil prices — fell below zero for the first time in history, dropping more than 306% in trading on the…
Fed Note: 6/10/2020
Again, as expected, the FOMC kept the fed funds interest rate steady at a lower-band target of 0.00-0.25%. Without dipping into the unchartered and controversial waters of negative rates, this is as far as they can go. The formal…
Retiree Confidence Drops in 2020, As Some Workers Worry
The Retirement Confidence Survey conducted each year by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) took a slightly different tack in 2020. After completing its initial outreach in January — the 30th in its annual series — EBRI decided to conduct…
COVID-19 Scams: How to Identify Them
Fraudsters and scam artists are always looking for new ways to prey on consumers. Now they are using the same tactics to take advantage of consumers’ heightened financial and health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Federal, state, and local law…
Have Some Financial Asset Prices Bounced Back Too Far and Too Fast?
This is never simple to evaluate, as current prices for rates and risk assets have a behavioral component, and appropriate price levels may only be obvious in hindsight. In past cycles, equity bear markets and subsequent recoveries have unfolded over…
Coping with Market Volatility: Be Willing to Take Advantage of Market Downturns
Anyone can look good during a bull market. Smart investors are prepared to weather the inevitable rough patches, and even the best aren’t successful all the time. When the market goes off the tracks, knowing why you originally made a…
Small Businesses Eligible for Numerous COVID-19 Relief Programs
Throughout March 2020, as it became increasingly evident that the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic would be both profound and prolonged, Congress passed several pieces of legislation with provisions to help small businesses shore up their coffers and keep…
What is Risk?
Few terms in personal finance are as important, or used as frequently, as “risk.” Nevertheless, few terms are as imprecisely defined. Generally, when financial advisors or the media talk about investment risk, their focus is on the historical price volatility…
Federal Student Loan Relief Due to COVID-19
On March 20, 2020, the Department of Education announced terms for student loan relief for tens of millions of borrowers in response to COVID-19. Here are answers to some questions about the new rules. For more information and to follow…
The CARES Act and Your IRA
In late March, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This $2 trillion dollar package aims to address the financial pressures faced by individuals, businesses, and state / local governments due to the pandemic. You have…
Due Date for Federal Income Tax Returns and Payments Postponed to July 15
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the due date for filing federal income tax returns and making tax payments has been postponed by the IRS from Wednesday, April 15, 2020, to Wednesday, July 15, 2020. No interest, penalties, or additions to…
March 2020 Video Address | Top 10 COVID-19 Questions
We hope this note finds you staying well and taking care of your physical and mental health during this time. A couple of weeks ago, we were approached by the board of Capital Manor Retirement Community and asked to create…
Learning From History: A Recent Timeline of Bear Markets
Dear Clients, To help understand our current situation, it is sometimes helpful to look to history as a guide. Each financial downturn is different, but they often share common elements. 1987 In 1987, stocks dropped -22.6% in one day, Black…
The SECURE Act and Your Retirement Savings
The Setting Every Community Up for retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was enacted in December 2019 as part of a larger federal spending package. This long-awaited legislation expands savings opportunities for workers and includes new requirements and incentives for employers that…
Keeping your Brain Healthy During COVID-19
Dear clients, During this time of uncertainty, we are going to continue with this trend of reaching out to you regularly to check-in and share with you our two cents on the ever-changing environment around us. Our goal is…
Q1 Team Update | Out & About
Quarter 1 Team Update The first few months of the year have flown by for Michelle! She has been busy with lots of family activities, celebrating her birthday and gearing up to celebrate her cousin’s long-anticipated Vegas wedding and…
COVID-19 & Market Volatility | Checking In
Dear Clients, Monday brought another volatile day of market activity and we know that – even if we haven’t heard from you – you may be experiencing some anxiety. While you’re probably receiving a message from every email list…
Question of the Week (and Fed Note)
Why has the Fed reacted so dramatically? Why has the market reacted the way it has to Fed actions? In short, it’s about messaging and credit markets. While lowering interest rates by a percent to zero at this stage may…
Merging Your Money When You Marry
Getting married is exciting, but it brings many challenges. One such challenge that you and your spouse will have to face is how to merge your finances. Planning carefully and communicating clearly are important because the financial decisions that you…
Brenna Baucum’s Outstanding Young Professional Acceptance Speech
Last Saturday, we gathered with over 450 people to celebrate. As Katherine recently wrote, the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce First Citizen’s Award Banquet is a night to celebrate the good in our community. We are proud of our own…
Market Note: Bear Markets
Negative sentiment concerning the coronavirus has been relentless, which has been spurred by media coverage and a variety of governmental actions to combat the contagion’s spread. Most recently, these have included the President’s temporary ban on incoming flights from Europe…
Market Drop Triggers Exchange Circuit Breakers
As if markets hadn’t produced enough volatility already in recent weeks, this morning’s initial drop of -7% triggered stock exchange circuit breakers—a computer system intended to temporarily stop trading activity, with the purpose of stopping a free fall in prices…
There’s Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2019
Even though the tax filing season is well underway, there’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2019. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2019 ($7,000 if…
EQ + IQ = MQ | Money Quotient Training and Tools
In late February, Brenna gathered with a dozen other CFP® professionals for a three-day training in financial life planning, courtesy of Money Quotient. Financial life planning is defined as a process of: – Helping people focus on the true…
Recent Market Volatility
Dear Clients, We’re reaching out during this time of market volatility to provide you with our two cents and some helpful information. What’s Happening? Understanding what’s caused the most recent downturn is pretty straight forward. As the…
Finances After the Loss of a Spouse
Moving Forward Financially after the Loss of a Spouse The loss of a spouse can be a devastating, life-changing event. Due to longer life expectancies, women are more likely to face this situation. Becoming a widow at any age can…
How the Spread of Coronavirus is Affecting Financial Markets
New Cases in South Korea, Italy, and Iran Market Note | 2/24/2020 Financial markets have been especially hard-hit today, with reports of new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases appearing in South Korea, Italy, and Iran. The uncertainty over transmission and fears of…
Two Trade Agreements Offer Optimism, But Uncertainty Remains
On December 13, 2019, the United States and China announced a “phase one” in trade agreements just before new tariffs were scheduled to go into effect.1 Six days later, the House of Representatives passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in…
Brenna Baucum Honored with Outstanding Young Professional Award
The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce has a long standing tradition. The First Citizen’s Banquet, now in its 70th year, honors community members who give of themselves to make Salem a better place to live, and inspire others to do…
Robocalls: The TRACED Act Offers Consumers Additional Protections
Whether at home, work or on a cell phone, it’s a scenario many Americans have found themselves in: answering a phone call only to find out it’s from an unwanted robocall. In fact, the number of unwanted robocalls in this…
Investment Planning: The Basics
Why do so many people never obtain the financial independence that they desire? Often it’s because they just don’t take that first step — getting started – investment planning. Besides procrastination, other excuses people make are that investing is too…
Question of the Week: the Impact of the Coronavirus
What has been/will be the impact of the coronavirus on the global economy and markets? The spread of the new coronavirus has taken over the headlines and hijacked market sentiment in recent weeks. Thus far, through available medical data, it…
January 2020 Fed Note
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) completed their January meeting, with no stated changes in monetary policy, and no dissents. The target fed funds rate remains at 1.50-1.75%. The formal statement was little changed, noting low inflation and economic growth expanding…
What Will You Pay for Medicare in 2020?
Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts change annually. Here’s a look at some of the costs that will apply in 2020 if you’re enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare Part B premiums According to the Centers…
The Ag Economy: Tough Times for Farmers in 2019
Net farm income is forecast to grow almost 4.8% to $88 billion in 2019, but this broad measure of profits includes financial support from the federal government. Direct government payments (excluding crop insurance) to U.S. farmers are projected to hit…
Estimating Your Retirement Income Needs
You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you’ll need to fund your retirement. That’s not as easy as it…
2019 Fourth Quarter Update & Yearend Review
Happy New Year! What a year it was! Go ahead, pat yourself on the back, you certainly deserve it after sticking through the turmoil of last year’s markets. While 2018 ended on a dismal note, 2019 ended with a bang. …
Caring for Your Aging Parents
Caring for your aging parents is something you hope you can handle when the time comes, but something you probably hope you never have to do. Caring for your aging parents means helping them plan for the future, and this…
What Do I Need to Know about the SECURE Act?
Between the holiday bustle, yearend to do’s and political news, you would be forgiven for missing the SECURE Act, which was signed into law December 19th. This act, “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE)” carries with it a…
What Are the Key Issues Going Into 2020?
The term ‘outlook’ can be misleading, as most forecasts tend to be partially to very off-base in hindsight. So, this question is best answered as a summary of whatever is currently top of mind going into the New Year. Some…
Year-End Charitable Giving
With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind. The…
Income Tax Planning and 529 Plans
The income tax benefits offered by 529 plans make these plans attractive to parents (and others) who are saving for college or K-12 tuition. Qualified withdrawals from a 529 plan are tax-free at the federal level, and some states also…
IRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2020
IRA contribution limits The maximum amount you can contribute to a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA in 2020 is $6,000 (or 100% of your earned income, if less), unchanged from 2019. The maximum catch-up contribution for those age 50 or…
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee Decision
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee decided to keep the fed funds target interest rate unchanged—at a level of 1.50-1.75%. This was widely anticipated as Fed committee members, through various speeches and other comments, have been hinting that they’re essentially…
Q4 Team Update & Out and About
Q4 Team Update Sarah recently celebrated her one-year milestone with our firm! She is excited to continue building relationships with our client families and team. Outside of the office, Sarah and Peter took a weekend trip to Montana to…
College Cost Data for the 2019-2020 School Year
Each year, the College Board releases its annual Trends in College Pricing report that highlights current college costs and trends. While costs can vary significantly depending on the region and college, the College Board publishes average cost figures, which are based on a…
How the 2020 Election May Affect Equity Market Segments
Which segments of the equity market face the most uncertainty prior to the 2020 election? This question is always a wildcard so far in advance, but it will likely depend on the ultimate Democratic front-runner. With the slippage of…
Employer Plans Can Offer the Foundation of a Comfortable Retirement
October 20 to 26, 2019, was National Retirement Security Week, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the importance of saving for retirement. Established by Congress in 2006, National Retirement Security Week is designed to elevate public knowledge about retirement…
Could a Health Savings Account Help Strengthen Your Retirement Plan?
A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account linked with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). They work together to help you cover your current healthcare costs and also save for your future needs. By one estimate, a 65-year-old couple…
Social Security Survivor Benefits
When you think of Social Security, you probably think of retirement. However, Social Security Survivor Benefits can also provide much-needed income to your family members when you die, making their financial lives easier. Your family members may be eligible to…
Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Begins November 1st
Beginning on November 1, 2019, individuals (including families) may apply for new health insurance, switch to a different health-care plan, or re-enroll in their current plan through a Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The open enrollment…
Federal Reserve Open Market Committee Cuts Interest Rates for the Third Time
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee decided to cut interest rates a third time, by another 0.25%, to a new range of 1.50-1.75%. As with the two prior cuts in recent months, this move was controversial. The economic community was…
Investing as a Couple: Getting to Yes
In a perfect world, both halves of a couple share the same investment goals and agree on the best way to try to reach them. It doesn’t always work that way, though. Disagreements about money are often a source of…
What You Need to Know About Taxation of Investments
It’s nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it’s time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments…
Save the Date | Economic Update 2020
January brings about an opportunity to reset and reframe the year ahead. Join us for a free financial and economic update to get 2019 off to a great start. PROVIDING FINANCIAL WISDOM, LEADERSHIP AND PLANNING IN TUMULTUOUS TIMES When: January…
Medicare Open Enrollment Began October 15
What is the Medicare Open Enrollment Period? The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is the time during which Medicare beneficiaries can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Each year, Medicare plan costs and coverage typically change.…
2019 Third Quarter Commentary
Fall is the time of year when most investors find their way back from their summertime pursuits, roll up their sleeves and get back to work. This year finds us all with a lot of information to digest and more…
Untangling the Challenges of Aging | A Symposium
We’re proud to co-present at this upcoming symposium in partnership with Willamette Valley Hospice. Join us for an informative morning session on the later years of life. Your choice of engaging sessions: • Legal Issues with Aging • Oregon’s Death…
The Pros and Cons of Retirement “Rules”
When investing for retirement, you’re likely to hear a lot of well-meaning guidance from family, friends, and others offering advice — even the media. As you weigh the potential benefits of any commonly cited investment rules, consider that most are…
Women’s Worth | Planning Seminar for Women
As women, we tend to spend much of our time caring for others. Planning ahead for life’s inevitable rough spots is one of the best ways we can care for ourselves and the ones we love. Women’s Worth is a…
How Will the Recent Attack on Saudi Oil Facilitates Affect Energy and Financial Markets?
Due to experiences in the past, especially in the 1970s, many investors have been conditioned to expect the worst when oil supplies are threatened. While trends in oil demand tend to be far more persistent, and are largely affected by…
September 2019 Fed Meeting | Another 0.25% Drop
As expected, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee lowered the fed funds rate a second time by 0.25%, to a new range of 1.75-2.00%. There were a few dissents, strangely in opposite directions, with one member wanting a larger 0.50%…
Do I Need Life Insurance?
We’ve all heard about the importance of having life insurance, but is it really necessary? Often, the answer is “yes,” but it depends on your specific situation. In general, you should consider life insurance protection if any of the following…
Team Update | Q3 2019
Our connection to our client families continues to humble us. This summer, we were welcomed into the homes of many of them. We celebrated graduations, toasted dream homes and shared in the loss of some dear friends. We continue to…
What Does the Yield Curve Suggest About Growth?
On August 14, 2019, the Dow Jones Industrial Avenue plunged 800 points, losing 3% of its value in its biggest drop of the year. The Nasdaq Composite also lost 3%, while the S&P 500 lost 2.9%.1 The slide started with…
Data Breaches | Tips to Protect Your Identity and Money
Large-scale data breaches are in the news again, but that’s hardly surprising. Breaches have become more frequent — a byproduct of living in an increasingly digital world. During the first six months of 2019, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC),…
Geopolitical Tensions, Oil Prices and The Economy
Conflict in the Persian Gulf has spurred modest oil price volatility in recent weeks, but prices didn’t spike to high levels seen during some past conflicts. That’s partly because rising U.S. oil production has shaken up the global oil market…
The Most Volatile Day of 2019 (Thus Far) | Commentary
Today, the U.S. equity markets experienced their worst day of the year, with the Dow, S&P and Nasdaq all falling roughly -3%. While such days are historically common and not necessarily noteworthy, the lack of volatility experienced over the past…
Time to Review Your Tax Withholding
The IRS continues to encourage taxpayers to review the amount of tax they have withheld to avoid an unexpected tax surprise when they file their 2019 tax returns next year. Preliminary 2018 tax filing data seems to show the need…
Saving for College: The Oregon College Savings Plan
It’s that time of year again – back to school sales, bus drivers practicing their routes, and staff getting classrooms ready for their new students. These are the early reminders that the first day of school is just around the…
July 2019 Fed Meeting | Interest Rate Cut 0.25%
The July FOMC meeting resulted in a 0.25% reduction in the federal funds rate, to a new range of 2.00-2.25%. The policy vote was far from unanimous, with eight members supporting the change, and the Fed presidents from Kansas City…
The Effect of Raising the Minimum Wage
The federal minimum wage (FMW), currently $7.25 per hour, hasn’t increased since 2009—the longest stretch with no federal increases since 1938, when the minimum wage was created. Several presidential candidates as well as proposed House Bill H.R. 582, Raise the…
New IRS Guidance on Your Tax Refund
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included a $10,000 ($5,000 if married filing separately) cap on the amount of state and local taxes that can be claimed as an itemized deduction on Schedule A of Form 1040. If…
Using a 529 Plan to Save for College
With the costs of college on the rise, establishing a savings plan early is vital. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged education savings vehicle and one of the most popular ways to save for college today. It can also be…
History Repeating | 2019 Second Quarter Commentary
Happy Summer! The longest and warmest days of the year are here. The gardens all around town are beautiful, with riots of color against a backdrop of verdant green. In sitting down to write this, we thought about simply changing…
Portfolio Rebalancing and Reallocation
Portfolio Rebalancing Imagine you just bought a new car. You love how it looks and handles. You take it on long, beautiful drives together. When you take your car in to be serviced, you are asked if you want the…
US – China Trade War: Who Pays the Price?
On May 13, 2019, escalating trade tensions between the United States and China sparked a worldwide stock sell-off that wiped out more than $1 trillion in global equity values.1 The markets recovered over the next three days, but tensions between…
Team Update | Q2 2019
Spring is trying to spring here in Oregon, and for us, that meant several gatherings with our community friends, partners and client families. Between their Fine Art Auction, annual luncheon and Cinco de Micro Brewfest, we had fun supporting the…
Short Term Recovery Care
The decision of whether or not to purchase insurance for future healthcare expenses is an important one. Our team of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals have helped many of our client families navigate this question. We weigh the impact that Long-Term…
June 2019 Fed Meeting | Key Takeaways
Following their June meeting yesterday, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) made no change to the 2.25-2.50% range for the fed funds rate. However, member appeared split on the outlook, with one member voting for a cut today, while others…
Market Cap vs. Market Value
When choosing an investment, there are a wide range of figures and numbers you can consider before making a decision. Things can get more complicated when you consider that you, other investors and professionals will put varying levels of emphasis…
Balancing Investment Risk with Growth Potential
Whether you have $100 or $1,000,000, you want to see your investment grow. Ideally, you would like to see that money grow a lot without the investment risk. Unfortunately, the risk/return tradeoff concept in investing tells us that greater returns…
Retirement Confidence Increases for Workers and Retirees
The 29th annual Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS), conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) in 2019, found that two-thirds of U.S. workers (67%) are confident in their ability to live comfortably throughout their retirement years (up from 64% in…
Investing in Index Funds: 4 Things to Know
The popularity of investing in index funds has been gaining interest in recent years. Index mutual funds are not a new concept – they have been available for over four decades, and exchange-traded funds (“ETF”) for more than ten years.…
Making Sense of Your Taxes and Withholding
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which passed in December 2017, made fundamental changes to the U.S. tax code, and 2018 returns were the first time most taxpayers could see the practical impact of these changes. In an April…
Trade Tariffs and US Markets
It may not be as dramatic as laid out in several worst-case scenarios, but intensification of tensions doesn’t appear to be a positive. (On a historical basis generally, restricting trade typically doesn’t enhance prospects for either side, long-term.) While the…
The Future of Social Security and Medicare
Most Americans will eventually receive Social Security and Medicare benefits. Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds release lengthy reports to Congress that assess the health of these important programs. The newest reports, released on…
May 2019 Fed Meeting
As predicted, yesterday’s FOMC meeting ended with no change in policy, with all members on board with keeping the fed funds rate within a range of 2.25-2.50%. The formal statement was very little changed, noting continued strength in the labor…
2019 Tax Scams
The IRS recently issued its annual list of tax scams. The list highlights various scams that taxpayers may encounter, many of which occur during tax filing season. Here are some of the scams that are highlighted on the list. Phishing…
Active vs. Passive Investing
One of the longest-standing debates in investing is over the relative merits of active portfolio management versus passive management. With an actively managed portfolio, a manager tries to beat the performance of a given benchmark index by using his or…
No Interest Rate Hikes Projected in 2019
At its meeting on March 20, 2019, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) maintained the benchmark federal funds rate at the target range of 2.25% to 2.50% that was set in December 2018. This in itself was not surprising. But…
A Timeshare | Does it Pay to Own One?
This time of year finds many of our client families vacationing somewhere near the equator. When they return home, they sometimes bring back more than just a tan, returning as an owner of a timeshare and unsure of whether or…
Tax Efficient Investments
It’s nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it’s time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments…
From Low to High | 2019 First Quarter Commentary
What a difference a few months can bring. The fourth quarter of last year was sure a tough one, with uncertainty and general angst pushing prices down significantly. The first quarter of 2019 was quite the opposite. Such is the…
Federal Income Tax Returns Due for Most
The federal income tax filing deadline for most individuals is Monday, April 15, 2019. Residents of Maine and Massachusetts have until Wednesday, April 17, to file their 2018 tax return because April 15 is Patriots’ Day and April 16 is…
Team Update | Q1 2019
Time is flying and we’ve buttoned up the first quarter of 2019. As is our custom, here’s a short update on what our team has been up to. Michelle has been delightedly occupied with getting a jump on the New…
How to Honor the Dying Process
When we consider our own mortality, most of us have a few wishes in common. We want to be in our own space, with people we love and avoid suffering. These requests feel obvious, almost like basic human rights. But,…
Where Do I Put Extra Money?
In the life of most working individuals, there’s a turning point, where you move from living paycheck to paycheck to finding a bit of extra money left in your account at the end of each month. What you do with…
March 2019 Fed Note
The March FOMC meeting ended as many predicted—with no change to the fed funds rate, which is currently set at 2.25-2.50%. Regardless, the meeting was closely watched in terms of how the Fed planned to communicate a stance on policy…
What’s changed since the market trough a decade ago?
Market watchers and strategists are big on anniversaries, so have been acknowledging that about 10 years ago, March 9, 2009, marked the end of the Great Recession bear market and beginning of the bull market run of the past decade.…
2019 Annual First Citizen’s Banquet
Since 1950, the Salem Chamber has honored those who exemplify servant leadership. These are individuals who, through their business, volunteering, and philanthropic efforts, improve the lives of those in the community by serving first. The First Citizen Awards Banquet recognizes individuals…
There’s Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2018
The following has been provided by Broadridge Investor Communications Solutions, Inc. Even though tax filing season is well under way, there’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2018. You have until your tax return due date (not…
How do I report a QCD on my 2018 return?
For those of you with a charitable heart over 70.5, you might have donated to your favorite charity directly from your IRA last year. This gifting strategy, technically called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), has increased in popularity over the…
Women’s Worth Seminar | April 23, 2019
For the fourth time, our firm is thrilled to partner with Collier Law and Willamette Valley Hospice to bring Women’s Worth. This 2-hour seminar has been created by and for women. Why is this important? Here are a few unsettling…
Financial Opportunities for Veterans
As CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, we are intimately familiar with the term ‘fiduciary.’ It means to put the best interests of others (in our case, our clients) above all else. It’s hard to imagine a job with more fiduciary responsibility…
Team Retreat 2019
At the start of every new year, our team sets aside a day to gather offsite. Yesterday, we celebrated the accomplishments of our firm and staff, analyzed the missed opportunities and set goals for the year ahead. Here are some…
Are We Destined for Recession?
Not necessarily in the immediate future—although the probabilities of one have moved higher in recent months—but at some point, yes. Based on a rough survey of indicators put forth by various sources, the odds of one happening in the next…
What Are the Costs of the Government Shutdown?
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended after 35 days on January 25, 2019. A temporary appropriations bill extended funding for shuttered federal agencies to February 15, 2019, while a bipartisan committee negotiates a new spending bill for the…
No Interest Rate Changes This Month
The FOMC unanimously decided on no policy action upon the conclusion of their January meeting, which was as expected. The formal statement noted continued strength in the labor market and economic activity rising at a ‘solid’ rate (downgraded from December’s…
2019 Financial Education Seminar
We had a wonderful time yesterday, welcoming a group of over 60 people to join us for our seminar, “Providing Financial Wisdom Leadership and Planning in Tumultuous Times.” 99% of those who RSVPed attended, which made for lively conversation and questions throughout. David…
The “Collection #1” Data Breach
Unfortunately, data breaches are a part of our high-tech world. Today, we learned of a new one. Touted by many technology outlets as the “Mother of All Breaches,” the “Collection #1” breach announced today exposed 2.6 billion email addresses and…
What Will You Pay for Medicare in 2019?
Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts change annually. Here’s a look at some of the costs that will apply in 2019 if you’re enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Medicare Part B Premiums According to the Centers…
Top 3 Sparks of Recent Market Volatility
In the final quarter of 2018, interest rate and growth fears, along with geopolitical events, sparked volatility in the financial markets and reversed many of the outsize stock gains notched earlier in the year. The S&P 500 posted a loss…
Quarterly Update and Yearend Review | Q4 2018
It is times like these that test the most stalwart of investors. As you have probably noticed this last quarter was tough for investors of all stripes. Despite being a decade old, this has been the most “unloved” bull market…
I Heard There’s a Recession Coming. What Should I Do?
When we tell people that we’re CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals during times of market volatility, we get empathetic looks, paired with comments similar to, “Boy, that must be tough right now. Are your clients calling you in a panic?” This…
Are We in an Equity Bear Market?
Technically, we are right on the cusp. By definition, a ‘bear market’ in stocks occurs at the point of a -20% price drop from a recent peak—we’re within a percent or two from that threshold. Although this recent movement seems…
Year-End Charitable Giving
With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind. The…
Team Update | Q4 2018
Once a quarter, we share a little bit about what’s going on in the lives of our team. Here’s what the last three months looked like for us. Michelle spent the fall doing things she loves. She’s enjoyed several plays and…
Interest Rates Up Another 0.25%
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee raised the fed funds target rate by 0.25% to a new level of 2.25-2.50%. This was widely anticipated, with a high futures market probability of this outcome beforehand. There were no committee dissents. The…
Tax Planning in 2019
While opportunities for tax planning in 2018 are dwindling, it’s not too early to consider making adjustments for next year. The changes that accompanied the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) are coming into focus, and they are…
What has perpetuated this stretch of market weakness?
At the risk of being repetitive, many of the same issues as in the last installment, with resolution still hard to find. Tariffs/Trade Despite the positive market reaction to a 90-day deferral by the U.S. in implementing a 25% tariff…
Scam, Fraud and Elderly Protection
This fall, our team attended a seminar focused on Elder Abuse and Reporting. Besides learning about the laws, regulations and definitions associated with elder abuse, we were updated on common elder abuse and consumer scams. Due to accessibility during business…
The H Group’s Newest Team Member | Welcome Sarah!
We are happy to announce our newest team member, Sarah Sepulveda. As a client service specialist, Sarah will be working in depth on the administrative details of client accounts. Processing withdrawal requests, preparing paperwork for client meetings and proactively finding ways…
College Costs for 2018-2019
This fall, we helped several of our client families navigate the complexities of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The College Board has released college cost data for the 2018-2019 school year in its annual Trends in College Pricing…
Financial Emergency Preparedness
The horrific wildfires impacting California serve an unfortunate reminder on the importance of preparing for a disaster. Operation Hope and FEMA have compiled an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to help you prepare financially and provide tips to reduce the…
Gratitude
Thanksgiving week can be just another week, full of commitments and business. Or, it can be a time of reflection. We chose the latter. This week, we took some time as a team to share our gratitude. Gratitude for…
How will the mid-term election results affect financial markets?
Unlike the surprise result in the presidential election two years ago, that fooled pollsters and statisticians both, last week’s mid-term election results were in line with predictions—although a few surprises still unfolded. The Republicans held their majority position in the…
Save the Date | Financial and Economic Update 2019
January brings about an opportunity to reset and reframe the year ahead. Join us for a free financial and economic update to get 2019 off to a great start. PROVIDING FINANCIAL WISDOM, LEADERSHIP AND PLANNING IN TUMULTUOUS TIMES When: January…
November Fed Meeting | No Change
As expected, the FOMC unanimously made no change in the fed funds target rate during the November meeting—leaving the level at 2.00-2.25%. Their formal statement offered few surprises, noting strength in underlying economic growth and labor markets. In keeping with…
Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Marketplaces
Beginning on November 1, 2018, individuals (including their families) may apply for new health insurance or switch to a different health-care plan through a Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The open enrollment period for 2019 health…
Understanding Recent Market Volatility
The perception of the risk inherently associated with investing is ever-changing. When markets are strong and uncertainty is low, prices go up and market volatility is reduced. Of course, the opposite is true as well. Uncertain times and weak prospects…
Blockchain Buzz: Emerging Tech Offers Potential, Not Promises
Blockchain is a data structure used to create a digital ledger shared among a distributed network of computers. It was initially designed for the peer-to-peer exchange of the virtual currency bitcoin. However, businesses are now developing and testing some potentially…
Where should interest rates be?
Where should interest rates be? This has been pondered countless times over the last decade as the Fed imposed a monetary policy of extreme easing during the depths of the Great Recession, keeping interest rates near zero in subsequent years,…
Team Update | Q3 2018
Once a quarter, we take a few minutes to update you on what’s going on with our team. Here’s what has been happening in our world(s). Over the summer, Michelle spent a lot of time near or on the water: staying…
Fall Market Volatility
The current pull back in the stock market once again gives us an opportunity to remind everyone just how normal and frequent these events are. Since the end of September, the S&P 500 is down about 6.4% and the broader…
What is the Yield Curve?
The last few days of market turmoil may have you wondering, is a recession coming? One of many indicators that economists are watching is the yield curve. But what does it tell us? What is the yield curve? The yield curve…
The H Group Community Support | Steps to Safety 2018
Over the weekend, Brenna and I spent a part of our morning taking “Steps to Safety.” This was the name of the walk/run event hosted by the Center for Hope and Safety on Saturday morning. Part fundraiser, part awareness-builder, part…
2018 Third Quarter Market Commentary
We don’t know about you, but there are days when we envision getting far away from the news and the disquieting things we hear each day. Fortunately, and we’ve mentioned this before, the economy and the various capital markets don’t…
Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15
What is the Medicare Open Enrollment Period? The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is the time during which people with Medicare can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Each year, Medicare plan costs and coverage typically…
Interest Rates Increased Today
The FOMC decided to raise short-term interest rates by another quarter-percent—the third hike this year—bringing the fed funds target range to 2.00-2.25%. This was largely as expected, with formal probabilities of such a move being pegged at around 95% based…
NEDCO | Financial Foundations
Last week, I enjoyed leading a class for the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) and their Financial Foundation course. For more than 35 years, NEDCO has been building opportunities in our community. By supporting financial stability and responsible homeownership, providing…
5 Tips for Couples Approaching Retirement
When it comes to retirement, the most common concern we hear from our client couples isn’t usually related to their finances. It’s personal. Among the top for many long term couples? “How are my partner and I going to handle…
Should I Freeze My Child’s Credit
As of today, fees previously associated with a credit freeze have disappeared. This has renewed the conversation around placing a credit freeze and identity protection. Last fall in the wake of the Equifax data breach, we shared strategies for adults to protect…
Champions for Children 2018
It was our pleasure to serve as table captains at today’s Champions for Children luncheon. Liberty House Child Abuse Assessment Center holds this fundraising luncheon every fall in an effort to spread the word about the vital services they provide…
The Rise and Fall of Bitcoin
On December 18, 2017, our office posted an article titled, “What to Make of the Rise in Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies?” On the previous day, Bitcoin reached an all-time high of nearly $20,000 – a price it has not seen…
Nazrudin 2018
Lifelong learners make the best financial planners. It’s a vital part of what makes us not only a knowledgeable resource, but a trustworthy partner for our clients. Every fall, a handful of these financial planners attend a unique retreat. Where thought…
Is Trouble Brewing in Emerging Markets (Again)?
Emerging markets have long been characterized by unique, idiosyncratic factors and higher volatility, especially compared to more established markets such as the U.S., Europe and Japan. This is true despite an expansion of opportunities and greater investor acceptance of these…
Why Should I Care About the Federal Budget Deficit?
According to the most recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projection, the federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2018 (which ends on September 30) will reach $793 billion, or 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP). This figure is $230 billion larger…
Who Should Own the 529 Plan?
It’s no secret that a 529 plan offers tax advantaged growth for college expenses like tuition, books, supplies, etc. What isn’t as clear is who should own the account? The parent or the grandparent? As CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™, we get…
Should I Delay My First Required Minimum Distribution?
As many of our client families approach age 70½, they begin to consider the impact their required minimum distribution will have on their income and tax liability. A common question that crosses their minds: Should I consider delaying my first required…
What is the current level of recession risk?
What is the current level of recession risk? It’s always prudent to ask these questions when conditions are benign, since that’s when the downside of the current good times is usually the most ignored. It seems everyone in the world…
Women’s Worth | October Financial and Estate Planning Seminar
For the past two years, I’ve had the great pleasure of teaming up with Willamette Valley Hospice and Collier Law. Together, we’ve brought the opportunity for knowledge and empowerment to women in our community. The last several seminars have been such a great success,…
The H Group Community Support | Oregon State Hospital
Last spring, my wife Laurie and I bid on an auction item at the Rotary Club of Salem dinner and auction. The package included and a private tour of the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health. We decided to take our team, and…
Why Does it Cost More to Fill Your Tank?
The Memorial Day weekend is usually the beginning of the summer driving season, and — not coincidentally — often a high point in the annual ups and downs of gas prices. This year, almost 37 million drivers hit the road…
What’s the latest on Social Security and Medicare Solvency?
Most Americans will receive Social Security and Medicare benefits at some point in their lives. For this reason, workers and retirees are concerned about potential program shortfalls that could affect future benefits. Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security…
Today’s Fed Meeting: No Changes to Interest Rates
The FOMC concluded their monetary policy meeting today, which, as expected, resulted in no change to the fed funds rate—currently targeted to a range of 1.75-2.00%. There were no dissenting votes. The formal narrative again was positive in its assessment…
Are the GDP and Stock Market Correlated?
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report came out last week and showed that the economy grew at a rate of 4.1% last quarter; the highest growth rate in the last 4 years. A common question we get from our clients…
Student Loan Interest Rates Going Up
Do you have a student loan (or two)? Interest rates on federal student loans are set to rise for the second year in a row. This table shows the interest rates for new loans made on or after July 1,…
Q2 2018 | Team Update
Once a quarter, we like to give a team update to let you know what’s going on in our lives both personally and professionally. Here’s what the second quarter of 2018 looked like for us. Taking advantage of all the sunshine we have…
Marion Polk Food Share | Farm to Table
Did you know that one of five people in our community go to bed hungry every night? Marion Polk Food Share is working hard to change that. Their programs range from emergency food supply, managing Meals on Wheels, coordinating incredibly fertile community gardens and…
Q2 2018 | Economic Outlook & Portfolio Overview
Happy summer! The second quarter of this year brought with it some more of the volatility we experienced in Q1. While the market movements weren’t as wide as the first quarter, political rhetoric and interest rate changes continued to keep…
What has happened to productivity?
Productivity continues to be a debated topic, and the subject of both academic and more practical white papers, with no clear-cut conclusion reached, although hopes and expectations for improvement from current low levels are widespread. A recent report by consultant…
Draft 2018 1040 Form
Prior to our client meetings, we send out a brief questionnaire to understand what we can prepare in advance to assure our time together is valuable. In a recent questionnaire, a client asked a great question, “How will the latest tax reform…
Quarterly Commentary | Q2 2018 | Trade Tariffs
Talk About Trade The majority of the market questions we’ve received over the last three months have been on trade. The back and forth between the White House and China (and most recently, Canada and Mexico) have some of you…
Free Workshop for Trustees
In working with their estate planning attorney, many of our clients choose to name a child or other family member as their successor trustee. In most cases, that individual has little to no experience serving in this important capacity. Here’s…
Ways (and Why) to Grow a Roth IRA
You know how when you buy a new car, you suddenly see ‘your’ car everywhere, though you never really noticed it before? That’s what’s been happening with me and the Roth IRA lately. They’ve been around for over 20 years but…
Interest Rates Tick Upward Once Again
The June FOMC meeting concluded with members deciding to raise the fed funds target rate by 0.25%, for the seventh time this cycle, to a new range of 1.75-2.00%. As the probability of this happening was over 95%, in light…
Financial Advice for College Graduates, Part III: Negotiating a Job Offer
Dear Graduates, As you make your way into the workforce, you might feel eager to take on the first job offer that comes your way. But I encourage you to proceed with thought, caution and with the best interests of…
Financial Advice for College Graduates, Part II: Debt Management
Dear College Graduates, Most of you will walk away from your education with more than a diploma. Around 68% of you graduating with a bachelor’s degree are carrying $30,000 in student loan debt. For graduate students, that number is closer to…
Financial Advice for College Graduates, Part I: Investing
Dear College Graduates, This will not be like other advice columns. I won’t condescend, nag, or remind you about irritating millennial or Gen Z stereotypes that you’ve been working to overcome. My goal in this three part series is just to…
Are we in for another round of high oil prices?
Oil prices have a stealthy way of luring investors into the complacency of a trading range, before taking a dramatic turn on the cusp of a single geopolitical factor (often in the Middle East) or variety of coinciding factors. With…
When to Worry About a Recession?
Last week, I sat down with one of my long time clients. She and I were discussing the volatile stock market as of late, and I was sharing with her that corrections and pullbacks are a part of a normal,…
The Fed Makes No Change to Interest Rates This Month
The Fed met today and ended their meeting with a unanimous vote of no action on the interest rate front, as predicted, with the fed funds rate target remaining at 1.50-1.75%. The formal statement showed little change from the March edition,…
New Medicare Cards Are Coming
If you receive Medicare, you will be getting a new Medicare card in the mail. To help prevent fraud and fight identity theft, Medicare is removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards. Your new card will have a new Medicare…
Women’s Worth | Financial & Estate Planning Seminar
The first 80 degree day of 2018 and there were still over 50 women who came to learn what they can do to improve their financial and estate plans. This is the second time we’ve co-hosted and co-sponsored this unique event.…
What is the Difference Between Small-cap, Mid-cap and Large-cap?
There are financial terms that, as advisors, we often use as if they are a part of everyday conversation. Some clients will get a bit giddy when we use terms like asset allocation, beta, correlation, and diversification. The other 95%…
The H Group Community Support | Inspired by The Club
Yesterday, while the rest of the staff was busy working, I had the opportunity to attend the annual luncheon supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties. While I’ve had a long connection the Boys and Girls…
How Meaningful Are These Ongoing Threats of Tariffs?
Market volatility has obviously been ramping up as of late, with one of the catalysts being the announcement of various layers of tariffs by the U.S. administration. This rhetoric has been targeted at China, which has responded with a series…
Empowering the Relationship Between Women and Finances
Women are powerful. They represent the primary breadwinner in 44% of U.S. households and manage over $14 trillion (51%) of wealth today.[1] Even with that kind of influence, the relationship between women and finances isn’t always an empowered one. Only…
Q1 2018 | Team Update
Once a quarter, we like to give a team update to let you know what’s going on in our lives both personally and professionally. Here’s what the first quarter of 2018 looked like for us. Last month, Michelle wrapped up the extensive volunteer…
Quarterly Commentary | Q1 2018 | The Fed, Market Volatility and More
We’ve spent the last 6-12 months telling you to anticipate an increase in market volatility. We have a feeling many of you were recalling those conversations as you rode through the market volatility of the last quarter. For the first time…
Celebrating Spring
On St. Patrick’s Day, we were thrilled to join about 2 dozen other sponsors who gathered to support Liberty House. Their annual Celebrate Spring dinner and auction raises funds to support the important work this organization does. Liberty House is…
Volatility Returns – Part II
Markets were in the news again, with media headlines implying panic selling, akin to what we saw in early February when the market experienced its first correction in years. Headlines especially focus on the drop measured in the number of…
What do bulls and bears have to do with capital markets?
The juxtaposition of a bull and a bear to describe capital markets is thought to have originated in the early 1700’s. Even though several stories exist, there is no definitive answer as to which, if any, is correct. The following…
5 Questions to Test Your Medicare Knowhow
Do you know the difference between Medicare, Medigap and Medicare Advantage? What about supplements A, B, C, D and the rest of the alphabet soup? My parents are approaching Medicare age and late last month, I tagged along to attend…
New Tariffs and Their Potential Impact
At the end of last week, the news was dominated by President Trump’s announcement to implement tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products. This has a lot of us wondering how those tariffs would look in practice. Our on-staff Chartered Financial…
Women of Willamette University
Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of visiting Willamette University. I spoke with a group of brilliant students who were in their third or fourth year. Some of them were looking forward to graduation in June, others were gearing up for…
Client Question: How Should I Finance a Down Payment?
Recently, one of our client families came to us with questions around how best to finance a down payment for their future home. A young couple, their home was perfect back when it was just the two of them. But…
5 (More) Tips to Stay Safe Online
At a recent meeting with one of our long time client families we were asked for some tips on how to best maintain and protect their online profile in this ever changing digital world. “How do we manage all of…
2018 Rotary Auction: Setting the Stage
And a good time was had by all! Last Saturday, our whole team gathered at the Salem Convention Center to support The Salem Rotary Foundation. The annual GoodWorks Auction hosted by our club raises money for the foundation to support local…
Dow Dropped Over 4% – And That’s Okay
For the last several months, the USA Today insert in the local newspaper has had an ever-shrinking, almost non-existent “Money” section. I’d wager to guess that may not be the case in tomorrow’s edition. Today’s news of the Dow Jones…
Janet’s Last Stand
Today, Janet Yellen attended her last meeting of The Fed as chair. As anticipated, it was uneventful with no increase to interest rates for the time being, keeping short-term rates to a targeted range of 1.25-1.50%. New chairperson Jerome Powell…
Paper Files: What to Keep? What to Shred?
As you’re pulling together information to prepare your 2017 tax returns, you might be looking through your paper files wondering, “Do I really need all this?” It’s a good time to revisit the essentials of what you should keep and…
Women’s Worth | Free Financial and Estate Planning Seminar
Our team of financial planners is special. We’re diverse, we’re experienced and we’re of the belief that knowledge is power. Last fall, in partnership with Willamette Valley Hospice and Collier Law, I had the great privilege of speaking to a room full of intelligent women…
Quarterly Commentary and Yearend Review | Q4 2018
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Video: When Will the Bull Market End?
The market highs set in 2017 may have you a bit nervous. How much longer can this bull market go? Here’s Larry’s take.
Is Santa Real?
This weekend, I ran into a couple of experienced mom’s who shared some holiday advice. “Whatever you do, do NOT start the Elf on a Shelf thing,” said one. The other added, “OR let grandma set up an expectation for…
The Rise of Cryptocurrencies
Last month, our team of financial advisors wrote about cryptocurrencies and bitcoins. We gave you an overview on the mysterious investment and highlighted some of the dangers. Today, cryptocurrencies are making headlines again. With exponential gains in bitcoins dollar price (currently…
Reflections on a 35-Year Career with Ron Kelemen
Ron Kelemen and his wife and Kathy retired on November 2, after 35+ years in the financial advisory business. Before they got too far down the retirement path, we interviewed Ron about his years in this industry. How did you…
Getting Into the Holiday Spirit
As a member of our Salem community, we are proud to support a number of deserving organizations, several of which come with the gift of beautiful music. If you’re looking for an event to get you and your family into…
Top 5 Ways Tax Reform Will Impact You
Tax reform took a lurch forward over the weekend with both the House and Senate passing different versions of the bill. You’ll find a lot of similarities between the two: overall tax rates are lower for individuals and businesses, child…
Finding the Best Way to Give
For some of our client families, this time of year means tax planning. For others, we’re focused on how to help them complete the charitable resolutions they set back in January. In today’s blog post we discuss how to achieve…
Raising a Family of Philanthropists
For those with a charitable heart, they know the secret: that the very act of giving makes us happier. They want share that secret with everyone, especially their families. No matter what your family looks like, you can instill values that will…
Inside the Federal Reserve Board
The Federal Reserve Board can seem mysterious. With signs of the stimulus program unwinding and the recent nomination of Jerome Powell to replace Janet Yellen next year as chair of the board, there’s renewed interest in unpacking this opaque government…
Happy Trails, Ron and Kathy
For over 35 years, Ron and Kathy Kelemen have worked in the financial advisory business. Last Thursday marked their final day of work as they join several of our client families in retirement. Check out this fun, surprise video our…
Bitcoins: Should You Use or Invest in Them?
As fee-only-Certified Financial Planners, clients often ask us our opinion about various investments. It seems like we get this question every time there is a new investment fad or a new IPO offering. Because we are investment fiduciaries, we always…
What Biases Affect Your Financial Decisions?
What biases affect your financial decisions? Now that Richard Thaler has won the Nobel Prize in economics for his groundbreaking research in the field of behavioral finance, perhaps we’ll all be more aware of our often-flawed decision making. Dr. Thaler…
Memories and Lessons from the October 1987 Stock Market Crash
With the Dow at over a record 23,000, we just passed the 28th anniversary of the October 19, 1987 stock market crash, in which the Dow fell 508 points, or 22.6% in one day. That would be the equivalent of…
1986 + 32 = Tax Reform in 2018?
As fee-only financial advisors, the fall often means some hands on year-end tax planning for our clients. Couple that with recommendations of early filing in the wake of the Equifax data breach and news of a tax reform proposal, and…
Quarterly Commentary | Q3 2017
The long‐awaited fall is finally upon us. We are pleased to present our review of the third quarter of 2017. Once again, it’s been a good quarter for stocks, except for some rough patches during August. The past 12 months…
Identity Crisis
If you’ve spent the month of September evaluating your online presence and security measures, you’re not alone. The Equifax data breach has served as an unfortunate reminder of just how public our “private” information is. This breach has also rekindled…
More Tips for Identity Safety
Another week has passed since we’ve checked in with you on the Equifax data breach. We hope by now that most of you are starting to feel better about the identity safety measures you have put in place. Aside from the…
Are You Eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness?
Our clients often express concern about the debt that they, their kids or their grandkids are saddled with straight out of college. In the last several years, news about the possibility of student loan forgiveness has surfaced. If ever there…