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When most people think about their 401(k), the obvious benefits that come to mind are: building retirement savings through investments, employer matching (if available), and tax deferral. But there’s a lesser-known advantage that high earners and business owners should be aware of to ensure they are maximizing the benefit—the marginal tax bracket opportunity that comes with 401(k) contributions. This article...

Comparing your investment returns to the S&P 500 is like judging a restaurant’s success based only on its dessert sales—you’re ignoring the appetizers, entrées, and drinks that make up the full experience. Not to mention, you’re also not including the ambiance, food quality, quality of service and staff, etc. Wouldn’t you say that holds some weight in a restaurant’s success?...

President Donald Trump implemented tariffs as a strategic negotiating tool to address issues such as illegal immigration and drug trafficking, as well as to bolster U.S. manufacturing. Tariffs on Canada and Mexico: In response, Canada and Mexico agreed to a one-month delay in the implementation of these tariffs, committing to increased border enforcement and cooperation with U.S. efforts to address...

So, here we are, January of 2025 and we’re starting to hear from all the pundits about what 2025 is going to look like. Before we dive into what the experts are saying, let’s take a look at what the experts said about 2023 and 2024, and see if they were right. What was the overwhelming Stock Market and Economic...

Hold too much cash, and you’re comfortably losing money to inflation. Hold too little cash, and you’re running the risk of being unable to deal with unexpected expenses. A good plan for managing existing cash and current cash flow balances three factors: financial planning best practices, your comfort with cash, and an active approach to managing cash on an ongoing...

Analyzing historical data reveals that stock market downturns and recessions have occurred under both Democratic and Republican administrations, indicating that these economic events are influenced by a multitude of factors beyond presidential control. Stock Market Downturns by Presidential Term: A review of maximum drawdowns during various presidential terms shows no consistent pattern linking the incumbent president to stock market declines....

As October unfolds, it’s a perfect time to reflect on your financial goals and reassess your strategies as we approach year-end—and the upcoming election. Political shifts can have significant implications for your finances, so understanding these dynamics is crucial. Here are key financial planning topics to consider this month, along with insights on how the election may impact your decisions....

What Should Be Our Top Financial Worry in 2024? Is it the election? No.Is it the stock market? No.Is it another pandemic? No. In 2024 there have already been nearly 3 Billion, yes, Billion, user accounts leaked.  This is up substantially from 2022 and 2023 where approximately 50 million and 300 million user records leaked respectively.  Stop and look at...

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) heralds a new era for businesses, characterized by unprecedented insight and efficiency. AI’s capabilities extend beyond mere automation, enabling companies to gain deep, actionable insights from vast amounts of data. As businesses increasingly integrate AI into their operations, they unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. This essay explores how AI is...

Investors’ enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) has propelled U.S. equity markets to multiple all-time highs as of June 2024. The strong outperformance of AI-related stocks, especially mega-caps, has some market-watchers asking if this could be like the dot-com bubble that burst in the early 2000s. AI is being viewed as one of the most revolutionary technological advancements in recent history,...