Blog
A Look Ahead to 2024
At the start of 2023, we saw dire headlines about the economy and the markets despite positive economic data. Ultimately, the results this year followed the data, not the headlines. Yes, there were (and are) many concerns and risks. As...
Read MoreThe Global Economic Impact of the Tragic Attacks on Israel
With the news of the stunning attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorist forces, we once again face a war of undetermined proportions in the Middle East. This was an evil act that targeted civilians. The tragedy here cannot be exaggerated,...
Read MoreAnswering Your Questions About the Fitch Downgrade
On August 1, Fitch Ratings—one of the top three international credit rating agencies—downgraded its credit rating for the U.S. government from AAA to AA+, and although this may seem like bad news for U.S. markets, this...
Read MoreThe Week of Bank Collapses: A Q&A
It’s easy to summarize in one word what dominated headlines last week: banks. The collapse of three banks, with several more under pressure, caused confusion and panic, leaving many Americans wondering whether their money was...
Read MoreWhat Does the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Mean for Investors?
Americans have suddenly witnessed three very large bank failures in only a few days’ time. The first was the collapse last week of Silvergate, also known as “the Crypto bank.” Soon after, we read the news of both...
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ESG Investing: Unpacking the Controversy
The topic of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing has become increasingly popular over the last two to three years, sparking many discussions and questions. What is, at its core, a simple attempt to make better...
Read MoreDecoding the Debt Ceiling Crisis
The headlines this week have warned that we’re nearing a “debt ceiling crisis.” What does this mean? It’s estimated that on January 19, 2023, the United States will have borrowed as muchmoney as it’s...
Read MoreA Message for the New Year from Bartholomew & Company
It has been said that days go by slowly, and years go quickly; however, the year 2022 made that statement feel quite a bit different. There were times when it felt as though the year might never end. Now that it has, we wanted to take...
Read MoreIt’s Here: What You Need to Know About SECURE 2.0
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, an omnibus spending bill that includes the SECURE 2.0 measure (a.k.a. the Securing a Strong Retirement Act 2.0). Broadly, SECURE 2.0 is...
Read MoreA 2023 Outlook: It Will Be Better Than It Looks
In 2022, we faced rising prices, market volatility, and recession fears. Can we expect some good news in the new year? We always strive to keep you informed and help you stay on track toward your long-term financial goals. Today, we...
Read MoreTips for Avoiding Common Holiday Cyberscams
For many of us, the holiday season is a wonderful time of year. Unfortunately, it can also be an especially profitable time for cybercriminals. With many consumers shopping online, we almost always see a significant increase in...
Read MoreIRS Benefit Plan Limits for 2023
On October 21 2022, the Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2022-55, announcing cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and retirement accounts in 2023. The list below, though not exhaustive...
Read MoreWhy You Shouldn’t Panic About Higher Rates and a Falling Market
As we encounter another downswing in the ongoing bear market, it’s only natural to be concerned and ask questions. Here’s where we are at the moment: using the S&P 500 as a measure, the markets are down 22 percent from the...
Read MoreThe Current Market Decline, Explained
When you see the current headlines, you may be asking yourself: why is the market going down? The short answer is interest rates. Interest rates are going up, and when rates go up, stocks tend to go down. This leads us to ask...
Read MorePresident Biden Announces Student Debt Relief Plans
On August 24, 2022, President Biden announced plans to offer student loan forgiveness to selected individuals. Below is a summary of the executive action that the Biden Administration plans to effectuate. It’s important to note...
Read More2022 Midyear Update: Slowing, But Growing
As we enter the second half of the year, the outlook might appear grim at first glance. Covid-19 continues to spread, both here and worldwide. Inflation remains close to 40-year highs, and the Federal Reserve (Fed) is tightening...
Read MoreHow Did We End Up in A Bear Market, And What Comes Next?
As inflation has risen and stock prices have fallen, we’ve heard a lot of buzz about a bear market recently. And now we’re officially here. Traditionally defined as a period during which stock prices fall 20 percent or more...
Read MoreWhat’s Driving Gas Prices Higher?
Whether you’ve seen the prices at the pump, clicked on the headlines, or overheard discussions in the grocery store, you know the rising cost of gas has everyone talking. At the start of the summer driving season, the average...
Read MoreWhat Do We Do Now? A Strategic Response to the Stock Market Tumble
Many of the discussions around the market decline so far this year have revolved around two issues: why is it happening and how far will it go? Most people look at the market as an independent entity, trying to second-guess how it will...
Read MoreA Closer Look: Why Is the Stock Market Going Down?
Job growth is still at high levels, consumer spending is still healthy, and businesses are continuing to invest. So, you may be confused when you see news of the stock market going down in an economy that seems to be doing well. The...
Read MoreWhat Happened to Bond Prices—And What Lies Ahead?
If you’re a fixed income investor, there’s bad news—and good news. The bad news: so far this year, rising interest rates have caused bond prices to fall and led to declines for most fixed income investors. You may be...
Read MoreThe Ukraine War and Your Investments
Now that we’re almost two weeks into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, some of the dust is starting to clear around the financial markets. Since the invasion on February 24, markets first rallied, then dropped, and (as of this...
Read MoreThe Ukraine Invasion—What Does It Mean for Investor Portfolios?
Russia launched attacks on Ukraine yesterday, marking the start of the next phase in the Ukraine crisis. It makes sense that the markets are already reacting. Before the market opened, U.S. stock futures were down between 2 1/2 percent...
Read MoreIs the Stock Market Poised for a Crash?
With the recent market pullback, investor concerns are starting to mount. To be sure, there is plenty to worry about—the Omicron wave, inflation, interest rates, and a potential war in Ukraine, just to name a few. Given all the...
Read MoreThe Medicare Advantage Do-Over: What You Need to Know for Open Enrollment
We’ve all made decisions we wish we could change. If you enrolled in Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, during the annual fall open enrollment and now doubt whether it’s the right health insurance for you,...
Read MoreOutlook 2022: Opportunity Ahead
As 2021 wrapped up, the world looked different from a year ago—and yet very much the same. Another wave of the virus emerged, with a new variant more contagious than its predecessor. This new medical threat, combined with rising...
Read MoreGrateful and Proud
Looking forward into 2022 (albeit with some sense of pandemic-related trepidation), we wanted to share our thoughts, reflections, and well wishes to you as the new year begins. Working in the finance world, we take unique pleasure in...
Read MoreDo I Need Estate Planning?
Everyone needs an estate plan, no matter the size of the estate. Not only does this plan help carry out your wishes after your passing, it benefits you while you’re living. A good estate plan includes a plan to manage your...
Read MoreCould Evergrande Kick Off China’s Lehman Moment?
Yesterday (September 20, 2021), global markets slumped on the news that Evergrande, a Chinese real estate developer, was headed for bankruptcy. For some, it’s brought to mind the great financial crisis in 2008, when a collapsing...
Read MoreDefensive Planning for Proposed Tax Increases
In 2021, the news has been full of reports of proposed tax increases contained in bills submitted to Congress under the Biden Administration. Whether these bills will be approved is uncertain as of this writing (July 30, 2021). With so...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2021: Finding Our Way Back to Normal
Halfway through 2021, we can finally see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. There has been much progress with public health and the economy. Vaccines have controlled the virus and brought new case growth down to pandemic lows...
Read MoreHere’s What You Should Know About Bitcoin
We’ve all seen the stories about bitcoin over the past few years—the triumphs and the pitfalls. For many investors, this cryptocurrency has raised a lot of questions and a lot of curiosity. Is bitcoin just a...
Read MoreWomen and the Pandemic: Planning for a Healthy Financial Future
Over the past year, we’ve all felt the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in one way or another. But, as the job losses and unemployment numbers tell us, it’s staggeringly clear that women—particularly women of...
Read MoreUnderstanding the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“the Act”) into law, with large portions of the bill acting as an economic stimulus for individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19...
Read MoreHas Reddit Revealed Major Cracks in the Market?
With concerns growing over a potential stock market bubble and a recent market pullback, it seems another crisis has hit the headlines: a group of retail traders has come after the market itself. Specifically, these retail investors...
Read MoreOutlook 2021: Where We Are and Where We’re Headed
As we approach the beginning of a new year and consider what it may bring, it’s helpful to reflect on the one now behind us. After what has been a tumultuous year of unbelievable events and unprecedented circumstances,...
Read MoreDespite Election Uncertainty, Markets Rally
As the election continues to play out—with Biden being declared the winner of the presidential race and the Republicans taking back some seats in the House and likely retaining control of the Senate—it’s a good time...
Read MoreDoes the Presidential Election Spell Risk for the Markets?
As the U.S. presidential election draws closer, there are growing questions (from both sides) on whether the outcome will negatively affect the markets. Of course, this is not unusual. As you may remember from the last election cycle,...
Read MoreIs Now the Time to Buy or Refinance?
June usually marks the height of the spring real estate market—it's National Homeownership Month, after all. But this June hasn't been typical. With job loss numbers in the tens of millions, the economic impact of the coronavirus...
Read MoreValue-Based Investing: SRI and ESG
Investors desire to have their money grow – that is the fundamental point of investing, of course! Value-based investing is a multi-faceted investment philosophy that allows investors to align their personal beliefs, or simply their...
Read MoreShould You Save for Retirement or for a Child’s College Education?
For parents, deciding how much to save for retirement versus what to set aside for a child’s education can be a difficult balancing act. Saving for your future should be a priority, particularly through maximizing the benefits of...
Read MoreTips for Teaching Your Children About Money
Do your children act like money grows on trees? If they observe you effortlessly pulling out the credit card for every purchase or they play video games where they can buy accessories for avatars, it’s understandable why they...
Read MoreIs the Bear Market Here to Stay?
With the Dow dropping 20 percent from its highs and the S&P 500 following suit, we have finally seen the end of the bull market. And so we find ourselves officially in a bear market, with all that implies. Stock markets around the...
Read MoreWill the Coronavirus Spell the End of the Bull Market?
March 9, 2020, marks the 11th anniversary of the bull market, which started back in 2009. But as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc, many are worried that we may see the end of that winning streak at some point this year. So,...
Read More2020 Stock Market Declines: Data Vs. Headlines
March 2020 has not been kind to the markets. Earlier this month, markets dropped worldwide. On March 9 (the 11th anniversary of the bull market), they declined by 7.5 percent, the largest drop since 2008. In less than a month,...
Read MoreThe SECURE Act: What It Means for Your Company’s Retirement Plan
A bill that comprehensively reshapes the realm of employer-sponsored retirement plans for employers and employees alike has been passed into law. The bipartisan Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE)...
Read MoreThe Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act
On December 20, 2019, the SECURE Act was signed into law. The SECURE Act contains 29 provisions, encompassing many aspects of financial planning and retirement saving. Once treasury regulations are released, nuances in interpreting...
Read MoreMarket Continues to Slide on Coronavirus Fears: What Should Investors Do?
As of this writing (February 28, 2020), the Dow and S&P 500 are down more than 15 percent from recent highs. Given that we’ve had one of the worst weeks in history for the stock market, many fear that we’re on the road to...
Read MoreWhat Does the Coronavirus Mean for Investors?
Despite attempts by Chinese authorities to contain the coronavirus, the numbers make clear that the virus is now spreading around the world. According to the World Health Organization, there are 79,331 confirmed cases, of which 77,262...
Read MorePrioritizing Your Financial Health in the New Year
It’s that time of year when many people set goals with the hope of changing their lives in the months to come. Some may set their sights on losing a significant amount of weight or training for a marathon, while others may want...
Read MoreMarket Faces More Turbulence, But Positive Trends Continue
It’s been a tough time for the markets. Indeed, we recently saw the largest stock market drop of 2019. With the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining more than 800 points (over 3 percent) on August 14, investors are starting to...
Read MoreWill Trade War Lead to More Market Volatility
On July 26, 2019, the S&P 500 peaked—but it has since dropped by almost 6 percent (as of August 3). To be sure, such a large and fast drop has rattled investors. So, what’s behind this sudden pullback—and is it likely...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Borrower Defense to Repayment Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Have you heard the term borrower defense to repayment but are not sure what it means? Are you wondering if it could apply to your student loans? Read on to learn more about this program, as well as how to determine your eligibility and...
Read More2019 Midyear Outlook: A Story of Headlines Vs. Fundamentals
At the end of last year, the big question was, “Will 2019 bring the end of the recovery?” All of the data seemed to point to an answer of “Not yet.” And so far, that answer still holds. The big picture suggests growth is likely to...
Read MoreRecession on the Horizon? Not So Fast
Recently, the markets have experienced another round of volatility as the worries seem to be piling up. Tech stocks struggled on the news that Washington will be taking a hard look at regulating them. Concerns over a trade war continue...
Read MoreTime to Hit the Panic Button on Market Volatility?
Recent declines have taken the U.S. stock markets down more than 2 percent. Not surprisingly, worries have started to grow. After all, this could be the end of the bull market. But is it time to hit the panic button? The simple answer...
Read MoreIs This the Beginning of the End? A Look at October 2018 Market Volatility
Not for the first time, October was a difficult period for the stock market. With the drop seen over this past month, there is increasing fear that this is it—the big one that will take us back to the depths of 2008. Although...
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