Blog
5 Ways a Financial Professional Could Be a Small-Business Owner's Best Friend
Having a financial professional to help you plan the economic future of your business might allow you to concentrate on more immediate needs.
Read MoreRetirement Planning for Teacher and Public School Workers
The ability to enjoy a secure retirement is an objective that many teachers and their colleagues pursue years before they leave their jobs.
Read More529 College Savings Plans: A Cheat Sheet for Common Questions
529 funds are tax-free when spent on qualified expenses, such as tuition, books, fees, and room and board.
Read MoreUnderstanding the Retirement Bucket Strategy
An investment approach that can help you work towards a confident retirement
Read MoreA Resilient March
The financial markets’ resilient performance during March was striking, despite pockets of uncertainty surrounding the strength of the economy.
Read MoreShow All
6 Money Myths That Are Limiting Your Wealth
When people think of “myths,” they often think of such stories as Pandora’s Box (the woman who took the lid off of a jar releasing all of the world’s ills upon the world, were taxes one of them?), or the Tale of...
Read MoreFive 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....
Read MoreOptimizing Your Social Security Retirement Benefits
What does it mean?Getting the most out of your contributionsOptimizing your Social Security retirement benefits means getting the best return possible on each dollar you've contributed to the system. Every pay period, you pay 6.2...
Read More5 Last Minute Considerations Before Tax Day
With April’s federal tax filing and payment deadline on the horizon, Americans are dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s as they prepare for the countdown to Tax Day. But before you rush to get that return out the...
Read MoreA Run on The Bank
For most of us, the words “bank failure” immediately trigger the same memory: the financial crisis of 2008. That was a year no investor could ever forget. The year some of the largest, most storied financial institutions in...
Read MoreWaiting for New Highs
We started the year hopeful that stocks would benefit from a better economic and monetary policy environment by the spring, but recent developments suggest that may be further out than we initially thought.
Read MoreSpring Clean Your Finances
Look for areas where you can cut costs or reallocate your resources to make your life feel more comfortable.
Read More6 Money Myths That Are Limiting Your Wealth
These six myths also tend to restrict people’s thinking regarding their money, which can potentially limit their wealth opportunities.
Read MorePlanning for Earned Income in Retirement
If you work after you start receiving Social Security retirement benefits, your earnings may affect the amount of your benefit check.
Read MoreUnderstanding Your Credit Situation at Your Current Stage in Life
Credit is a crucial component of your financial health and wellbeing. Without proper credit, it might be difficult, if not impossible to obtain the things you need throughout your life, such as a place to live, or a vehicle to drive.
Read More3 U.S. Presidents Who Still Influence Your Retirement Planning Today
While the earliest presidents were responsible for shaping U.S. democracy, it's the presidents of the last 100 years who have shaped the personal finances of many modern U.S. households.
Read MoreEverything Older Workers Need to Know About Retiring
Once this retirement date draws near, the prospect of giving up your primary source of income may be nerve-wracking
Read MoreOpportunities in 2023
Whether you’re one to set ambitious New Year’s resolutions or simply use the beginning of the year to reset on a few habits, there’s almost always some value in reflecting on the past year before looking ahead. The...
Read MoreTax Planning for Business Owners
Although business tax planning is a complicated area, it is essential to understand three major topics
Read MoreWhat Does The SECURE Act 2.0 Mean For Small Businesses?
The SECURE Act 2.0 was signed into law on December 29, 2022, which will work to close the retirement savings gap with over 90 new retirement provisions.
Read MoreReasons for Optimism
We wish you a happy New Year and hope you were able to close out 2022 with friends and family.The beginning of a calendar year is often the time when the previous year’s reflections transition to a new year’s hopes. Given...
Read MoreAdvanced Tax Planning Ideas: Tax Loss Harvesting & Ways to Quantify the Benefits
When you lose money on certain investments, you can typically claim the loss against other investments, and in some cases, you may even be able to claim all or a portion of the loss against regular income. Called tax-loss harvesting,...
Read MoreHow to Recognize and Protect Yourself Against Tax Identity Theft
When you hear the term identity theft, the first thought that comes to mind may involve a data breach or opening a credit card in someone else's name. But another common type of identity theft involves the use of someone's Social...
Read MoreTaxation 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 and how are...
Read MoreYour New Year’s (Financial) Resolutions
A resolution for every month to help you work towards financial independence Cleaning up personal finances remains one of the top resolutions every New Year. But we all know what happens to most such self-promises, so here’s a...
Read MoreOutlook 2023: Finding Balance
Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the markets...
Read MoreCountdown To Investing in the New Year: 10 Questions To Ask Yourself
If one of your New Year's resolutions involves enhancing and expanding your investment portfolio, look no further. In a true New Year's Eve countdown tradition, ask yourself these 10 questions to help review your investment plans...
Read MoreYear-End Investment Decisions
What are year-end investment decisions?Year-end investment decisions may sometimes result in substantial tax savings. Tax planning may allow you to control the timing and method by which you report your income and claim your deductions...
Read MoreYear End Employer Traditional & Safe Harbor 401(k) Checklist
The popularity of 401(k) plans today is because they offer certain tax advantages to employers and employees. For employers to qualify to have 401(k) plans, they must meet specified fiduciary responsibilities. Managing these tasks is...
Read MoreA Guide to Incorporating Philanthropy into Your Financial Planning
If you're considering giving back to society or a cause as part of your financial planning, there are many ways you can do so. You can make an impact while receiving tax benefits by including philanthropic giving as part of a holistic...
Read MoreHave You Checked Your Retirement Plan Lately
The classic definition of a correction is a decline of 10% or more in a stock index. A bear market is a downturn of 20% or more in several broad market indexes, typically over a period of several months or longer.It's generally a...
Read MoreLooking Ahead
October is now behind us and it has delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as major equity indices rose for the month. The downside pressure on equities had...
Read MoreFederal Reserve Preview
With a series of important economic indicators suggesting the economy is declining and inflation is finally decelerating, albeit very slowly, markets are beginning to factor in that the Fed may soon transition to a less aggressive...
Read MoreAppropriate Checklists for Year-End Tax Planning
What are appropriate checklists for year-end tax planning?Tax planners often develop checklists to guide taxpayers toward year-end strategies that might help reduce taxes. Typically, suggestions are grouped into several different...
Read MoreWhat the Mid-Terms Might Do to the Stock Market
The S&P 500 does best when one party controls Congress and the WH too The 2022 Midterm Elections will feature hundreds of hotly contested races at the state and local level and will decide whether the Democrats maintain...
Read MoreThree Things to Know About Recessions: The 3 D’s
If the U.S. economy enters a recession, the causes and potential outcome will be hotly debated. At LPL Research, our starting point is always looking at history. This week’s commentary will remind us of three things we know about...
Read MoreLow Bar for Earnings Season Brings Third Quarter Expectations Down
Expectations are very low for this earnings season. The challenges are many, with intense cost pressures and slowing economic growth at the top of the list. The chorus of analysts and strategists calling for big cuts to estimates has...
Read More4 Things You Should Know About The Midterms
With elections right around the corner, many clients have been asking me what the results could mean for the markets. So, without further ado, here are four things you should know about the relationship between midterms and...
Read MorePockets of Vulnerability Magnified by Monetary Policy
As Federal Reserve (Fed) officials continue to emphasize the Fed’s commitment towards restoring price stability, the dollar marches ever higher. Markets are currently pricing in another 75-basis point rate hike at the November 2...
Read MoreCommon Factors Affecting Retirement Income
All investments are subject to risk and loss of principal. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Mutual funds are sold by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges,...
Read MoreCould the Worst be Behind Us?
First, we want to acknowledge the tremendous damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Ian. Our thoughts are with those impacted by this devastating storm.This has clearly been a challenging year for households. Stocks and bonds are...
Read More6 Important Components of Estate Planning
Basic estate planning is something that everyone should do, regardless of your age, marital status, the value of your assets, and if you’re a parent or not. According to a 2021 poll by Gallup, less than half of U.S. adults...
Read MoreMarkets on Watch as Xi Jinping’s Influence to be Tested in October
On October 16, China will begin its 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. This plenum is especially significant because it is expected that President Xi Jinping will be granted an unprecedented third term,...
Read MoreMaintaining Your Financial Records: The Importance of Being Organized
An important part of managing your personal finances is keeping your financial records organized. Whether it's a utility bill to show proof of residency or a Social Security card for wage reporting purposes, there may be times when you...
Read MoreBetter Times Ahead
In the last several weeks, we have continued to face elevated uncertainty in financial markets due to high inflation and rising interest rates, and we thought it was an important time to take stock with the final quarter of 2022 just...
Read MoreAre You Cybersecurity Safe?
COVID-19 and remote work is continuing to increase the need for internet security. Social distancing has increased device use and strained security protocols. Although cyber-security attacks are often direct at companies, other attacks...
Read MoreWhat You Should Know About Qualified Charity Distributions for 2022
Whether you are preparing to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) from a retirement account this year or are looking for ways to make the most of your charitable donations, you may be wondering whether a Qualified Charity...
Read MoreWhy It May Be Time to Take Advantage of Higher Yields
The LPL Research Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation Committee is increasing its recommended interest rate exposure in its tactical allocation from underweight to neutral. Now that interest rates have moved substantially higher, we...
Read MoreHow Much Higher Can Rates Go?
Inflationary dynamics continue to surprise to the upside, and markets now expect the Fed to pursue one of its most aggressive rate hiking campaign in years. U.S. Treasury yields continue to move higher as well. We think we’ve...
Read MoreGetting Jobs Market Back into Balance
Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell reiterated his warning that getting inflation under control will require some pain. Powell is likely making these warnings based on the arcane, clunky relationship between inflation and unemployment....
Read MoreThe Best and Worst of Times
When it comes to stock market performance, August was “the best of times, and the worst of times.”
Read MoreSeptember’s Calendar Cruelty for Stocks
The difficult 2022 for stocks may not get much easier because as we now wait for better news on the inflation front, we have to contend with a seasonally weak month of September. While we got some welcome news in Friday’s jobs...
Read MoreProtecting Your Loved Ones with Life Insurance
How much life insurance do you need?Your life insurance needs will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your family, the nature of your financial obligations, your career stage, and your goals. For example, when you're...
Read MoreAn Essential Guide to Estate Planning Preparedness
A recent survey by Caring.com found that a whopping two in three American adults do not have an estate plan1—an alarming statistic, considering that an estate plan can protect your assets and ensure that they go to the right...
Read MoreEarnings Recap: Still Hanging In There
Earnings growth of 6-7% doesn’t sound very exciting, but given the challenges corporate America has faced, we consider the nearly-complete second quarter earnings season a resounding success.
Read More401(k) vs. Life Insurance: Comparing Your Retirement Savings Options
When it comes to saving for retirement, the options can seem endless. From 401(k) plans to IRAs, to Roth IRAs, health savings accounts, even life insurance policies, there are a variety of financial vehicles that allow you to set aside...
Read MoreSaving for Retirement and a Child's Education at the Same Time
You want to retire comfortably when the time comes. You also want to help your child go to college. So how do you juggle the two? The truth is, saving for your retirement and your child's education at the same time can be a challenge....
Read MoreHome Sales Fall (Again). What’s Next?
Existing home sales fell 5.9% in July, the sixth consecutive month of declines as higher interest rates weigh on housing affordability and prospective buyers. As the housing market slowed, so did prices. The median price for a single...
Read MoreIs This the Start of a New Bull Market?
Investors cheered the two better-than-expected inflation reports last week, pushing the S&P 500 to 16% above its June 16 low and only 11% below its all-time high. After this rebound, the key question investors are asking is whether...
Read MoreThe Case for a U.S. Recession Weakens
The market pundits remain intensely focused on the question of whether the U.S. economy is in or about to enter recession, so we thought a piece on what a recession might mean for the stock market would be of interest.
Read MoreIntroduction to Designing and Managing an Investment Portfolio
IntroductionOnce you've identified your financial and investment goals and assessed your investing personality, you'll need to create an investment portfolio that fits your needs and understand what's involved in managing that...
Read MoreBasic Strategies for Stocks
IntroductionEquities have a history of producing higher returns than most other types of investment over time, though past performance is no guarantee of future results and there also have been extended periods in which they have not...
Read MoreBig Week for Market Watchers
Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There was even a surprise out of...
Read MoreFive Keys to Investing for Retirement
Because inflation could reduce your purchasing power over time, you'll probably need to contribute more to your retirement plan than you think. What seems like a healthy amount now is likely to feel smaller and smaller over time...
Read MoreWhat a Week for the Stock Market
That was quite a week. These days a Federal Reserve (Fed) policy meeting alone gets a lot of headlines and has market participants on the edge of their seats. Add to that the second straight quarter of negative gross domestic product...
Read MoreSetting and Targeting Investment Goals
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful.Dollar-cost averaging does not ensure a profit or prevent a loss. Such plans involve...
Read MoreThree Factors That Could Change the Course of Inflation
For the past year, supply-related problems contributed more to inflation than demand-related imbalances, but that may be changing soon. There are at least three factors that could change the course of inflation. First, the improvement...
Read MoreManaging Market Volatility
Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2022: Navigating Turbulence
Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a...
Read MoreConstructive, Not Complacent: Lowering S&P 500 Target
Stocks have been unable to make up much ground since the June 16 lows, with a bear market rally amounting to only around a 4.3% gain in the S&P 500 Index since then (as of July 1). After the more than 6% rally the week of June 24 and...
Read MoreAre You Retirement Ready? 5 Ways to Help Your Parents Prepare for Retirement
The sandwich generation is a term commonly used to describe those between the ages of 40 and 59 who are responsible for raising their family and are also often helping their aging parents manage their ongoing needs. Those members of...
Read MoreThe Fundamentals of Disability Insurance
Disability insurance pays benefits when you are unable to earn a living because you are sick or injured. Most disability policies pay you a benefit that replaces a percentage of your earned income when you can't work.Why would you need...
Read MoreAn Introduction to Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation
For members of the "Sandwich Generation"—those currently in their 40s and 50s who are caring for children and their parents who are over 65-years old—estate planning may seem like a low priority. After all, when you're...
Read MoreSecuring Your Future with Life Cycle Planning
The need for regular saving and investing spans many life stages. Through the years, your goals will change and your strategies will shift, but don’t be alarmed. You’re just progressing through the normal stages of life,...
Read MoreRelief at the Pump and for Portfolios?
2022 has been rough all-around for the American consumer. Not only are we battling decades-high inflation, but investors’ portfolios are off to one of the worst starts to a year in history as we near the halfway point. Our...
Read MoreBear Market Q&A
The bear market that started on June 13 has left the S&P 500 Index 23.5% below its January 3 high. After the initial positive reaction to the Federal Reserve’s first 0.75% rate hike since 1994 and tough talk on inflation,...
Read MoreIs the 60/40 Portfolio Dead?
This year has been tough for investors, not just because stocks have fallen but also because bonds have not helped mitigate those losses as they have historically done. Below we discuss the outlook for diversified portfolios of stocks...
Read MoreThe Economy Is Slowing But Not Shrinking
Many pundits are issuing recession warnings and saying the economy is heading for a hard landing. Amid the cacophony of voices, we think the economy is slowing just like central bankers want but not shrinking. Further, we argue that a...
Read MoreInvestor Summer School: 3 Investing Moves to Make Before Summer is Over
Read More
Bull Market Hangs by a Thread
The bull market that began in March of 2020 came dangerously close to an end. From March 23, 2020 through January 3, 2022, the S&P 500 Index gained 114% (excluding dividends). From that January 3 closing high through the recent low on...
Read MoreLooking through the Clouds
At the risk of sounding cliché, making the case for stocks to stage a second half rally back to the prior highs requires investors to see through some heavy cloud cover. If you prefer another market cliché, it’s times...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Three Different Types of Annuities and Payout Options
Read More
Tax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Read More
3 Financial Moves to Consider Before Ringing in the New Year
Although you don't have to wait until January to begin working on your financial goals, a new year may bring a much-needed fresh start on your spending and saving goals. Read on for three financial moves you may want to consider before...
Read MoreRetirement Mistakes to Fix Before the Holidays
Spend as much time fixing your mistakes as you do planning the holidays You probably spend more time planning your holiday gathering than preparing for your golden years. As a result, you make basic mistakes in trying to fund your...
Read MoreRules for Charitable Giving are Always Changing
A financial professional can help guide you through the maze of IRS rules Contributing to charities comes with a load of tax rules. Here’s are a few things to think about.. Every April 16th (or in 2020, July 16th) should remind...
Read MoreThe Stock Market, Economy, and New Year: Three Reasons To Be Thankful
There are only six weeks to go in 2021 and it has been an incredible year for the stock market bulls. In fact, in many ways it could go down as one of the best years ever. This week, in honor of Thanksgiving, we wanted to take a...
Read MoreThings to Consider When Writing a Business Plan
You may know that your small business needs a written business plan—but how do you get started? What elements should your plan address, and do you need different plans for different audiences? Below we discuss a few of the key...
Read MoreA Peek at Peak Inflation
After an upside inflation surprise in October, it’s clear that peak inflation may still be ahead, possibly even pushing into 2022. While the Federal Reserve (Fed) maintains its position that elevated inflation will be transitory...
Read MoreDeveloped International: If Not Now, When?
Since we began our investing careers, we’ve had the concept of diversification drilled into our heads. Some refer to it as the only free lunch in investing. Well, when it comes to geography, that advice hasn’t been helpful...
Read MoreMany Reasons to Be Thankful
The past year and a half have tested all of us, but overall, the economy continues to strengthen, COVID-19 trends are greatly improving, and this still relatively young bull market is alive and well. As the leaves turn colors and begin...
Read More5 Things That Might Spook Markets
With Halloween over the weekend, what better to write about this week than what scares us? If our positive near-term market outlook proves to be overly optimistic, we believe one—or perhaps more than one—of these five...
Read More4 Year-End Tax Planning Tips for Small-Business Owners
The past two years presented many small-business owners with unprecedented challenges. This year’s tax planning preparations include necessary measures for small-business owners to satisfy existing, new and modified tax laws that...
Read MoreFive Things You Need To Know About Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that covers the costs related to long-term, chronic health concerns. It may cover things that traditional health insurance does not cover, such as personal care services. If you have a...
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know about Financial Fraud
Many of us grew up in a world where it was customary to be friendly, courteous, and trusting. Unfortunately, assumptions concerning these standards of conduct can sometimes get us into trouble. Con artists offering a variety of...
Read MoreA Financial Review Can Pay Off at Year End
Today, many people find themselves bombarded by a constant stream of financial news from television, radio, and the Internet. Yet, does all this “information age” data really help you manage your finances any better now...
Read MoreBullish Setup Into Year-End
The S&P 500 Index has gained more than 20% so far this year, making more than 50 record highs along the way. Certainly nobody should be upset with that return if that was all 2021 brought us. However, we see signs that there could be...
Read MoreQ3 Earnings Preview: Less Upside
We have used most of the superlatives we know to describe corporate America’s stunning performances over the past two earnings seasons. Despite lofty expections, results exceeded estimates by the biggest margins we’ve ever...
Read MoreAnswering the Top Debt Ceiling Questions
Last week, Congress was able to push back a fast-approaching deadline for raising the debt ceiling to December. Markets applauded the move with a relief rally. Despite decreased uncertainty in the near term, we may be confronted with...
Read MoreChange May Bring Opportunities
One constant in life is change. During the past year and a half, we have experienced more change than any of us bargained for. Change is disruptive—but also brings opportunities. For investors right now, there is no shortage of...
Read MoreEarly Thoughts on 2022
With the fourth quarter underway—historically the best quarter for stocks, by the way—2022 is fast approaching. While a lot can still happen between now and the end of 2021, we don’t think it’s too early to...
Read MoreThe ABC’s of Estate Planning
There is a common misconception that estate planning is something only the affluent need to do before they die. However, estate planning is important for everyone, regardless of income level or net worth. Planning for the disposition...
Read MorePaving Your Road to Retirement
Whatever your age, it’s never too soon to look ahead and begin giving thought to your retirement. With proper planning, you can make the transition to retirement a smooth, comfortable and confident ride. Today, more than ever,...
Read MoreDoing Well by Doing Good
A charitable remainder trust (CRT) can be a highly effective financial and estate planning tool. The CRT can allow you to: avoid capital gains taxes on highly appreciated assets, however when income is distributed to the income...
Read MoreLong-Term Care: Exploring Your Options
Have you ever thought about what would happen if you or a family member were no longer able to live independently? What if your elderly parents were no longer able to drive or perform basic activities of daily living, such as bathing...
Read MoreFinancial Planning at Every Age
In 2013, a Gallup poll found that only about one in every three U.S. households maintained a budget.1 A 2021 survey of 1,000 Americans found that 80% now say they have a budget.2 Americans are budgeting more due to the pandemic....
Read MoreRevisiting Our 10-Year Treasury Yield Forecast
Until recently, we expected the 10-year Treasury yield to end the year between 1.75% and 2.0%. Now, however, there are two key elements suggesting we are unlikely to see significantly higher interest rates by year end: The Delta...
Read MoreEducation: One of the Best Investments You Can Make
It wasn’t long ago when an individual went to college, got an education, and embarked on one career that usually lasted a lifetime. Many companies provided on-the-job training, and little emphasis was put on the idea of going...
Read MorePolicy Risks Loom But Clarity Ahead
Several policy-related risks loom in September and October that may lead to an increase in market volatility. The debt ceiling needs to be raised (likely by mid-October), the government needs to be funded to avoid a shutdown by the...
Read MoreChoosing the Right 401(k) for Your Employees & Your Business
Implementing a 401(k) plan for your employees is good business. It means you're thinking strategically, that you care for your employees, and are focused on the long-term health of your company. Implementing a retirement plan: ·...
Read MoreThe Bull Market Continues
The bull market continues, with the S&P 500 Index now up seven months in a row. Stocks have impressively gained 20% year-to-date, with the S&P 500 making 53 new all-time highs before the end of August—another new record. All of...
Read MoreLife Insurance: Changing Times, Changing Needs
When Judy purchased her life insurance policy 10 years ago, she thought her insurance planning was complete. She assumed that if she paid her premiums on time, she could sit back and not think about life insurance anymore. Judy’s...
Read MorePoking The Bear
First and foremost, this week’s commentary should not be construed to suggest that we are saying stocks will go up forever. We are also not saying that stocks are immune from a pullback in the final four months of 2021....
Read MoreWhy Stagflation Isn’t In the Cards
The term stagflation has been circulating increasingly in the financial media as inflation readings have risen sharply in recent months. The term is often associated with the 1970s, which saw runaway inflation—largely driven by...
Read MoreCorporate America Does It Again
Corporate America did it again. Companies blew by estimates and made strategists and analysts look silly (though we humbly suggest that we may have looked less silly than most in our earnings preview on July 12). S&P 500 earnings...
Read MoreCOVID Update: Delta Variant Market Impact
The highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 now makes up an overwhelming majority of the new cases in the U.S., bringing with it a rise in cases and hospitalizations. Widespread vaccine distribution and distancing measures have...
Read MoreSix Months & Counting
Six months and counting. That is the current monthly winning streak for the S&P 500 Index. To take that a step further, this key equity benchmark has posted gains in 13 of the last 16 months—dating back to the March 2020 low....
Read MoreFive Things To Know Heading Into August
Last week was a huge news week, from the Fed, to gross domestic product (GDP), to a giant week of earnings reports. Below we review the big events from last week, while also looking ahead to what could be an eventful August for...
Read MoreStaying on Top of Your 401(k) Can Pay Dividends
Don’t just set it and forget it – tips for looking after your retirement money Lots of investors never bother to check on their 401(k) regularly. But you should keep a constant eye on your funds’ risk level, whether...
Read MoreInvesting 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 crazy, doesn't it? But that's what...
Read MoreSix Keys to More Successful Investing
2021 has been a very strong year for both stocks and the economy, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some surprises. Below we take a look at some things that have happened so far in 2021 that have surprised the LPL...
Read MoreWhat Parents Should Know About Investing with Kids
As every new parent knows, raising kids can be expensive. Experts estimate that the average cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 is nearly a quarter of a million dollars.1 With this kind of financial commitment, many parents...
Read MoreAppetite for Risk
Many prospective investors eventually shy away from a commitment when they hear the dreaded “R” word: risk. By itself, risk is innocuous, carrying no special meaning or predictive result. But the idea that investing...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed
It is hard to believe we have passed the halfway point of 2021. After a 2020 that would never end, the first six months of 2021 flew by. With the second half underway, we have updated our views of the markets and economy in LPL...
Read MoreThree Things to Watch This Earnings Season
We ran out of superlatives to describe corporate America’s stunning performance during first-quarter earnings season. Despite lofty expectations, results exceeded expectations by one of the biggest margins ever. So what will...
Read MoreManaging A Budget During Your Retirement
Unless you have accumulated substantial wealth where money is not a concern, you face a critical task when you reach retirement to make sure that your assets will support you through your lifetime. When you retire and no longer earn an...
Read MoreTest Your Investment IQ With Our Five-Question Quiz
Whether you've been investing for years or just made your first stock purchase, you may find that the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know. From capital gains taxes to dividends, how well do you know investing? Test your...
Read MoreThree Things That Worry Us
Markets are off to a strong start this year, with the S&P 500 Index up about 14% so far. However, most of those gains came early in the year, and many stocks have stagnated over recent months. While we remain overweight on stocks...
Read MoreUsing Trusts to Manage Wealth: What Investors Should Know
Whether you manage a trust for someone else, are the beneficiary of a trust, or are thinking of creating a trust, you probably have some questions about the "best practices" of trust management. A well-managed trust can help preserve...
Read MoreRevisit Your Investment Strategy at Each Age Milestone
As the saying goes, "50 is the new 40"—and with Americans living longer than ever before, it's not unusual for those in their 50s, 60s, or even 70s to be in their peak earning years.1 But for those who would prefer the option of...
Read MoreInflation And What the Fed Is Saying
Inflation has been on the rise. Investors are not as interested in what’s happening now as they are in what’s happening next. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve (Fed) shared its views at the conclusion of its last policy...
Read MoreSustainable Investing Becoming Mainstream in Fixed Income
On May 27, 2021, a couple of events in the energy sector occurred that demonstrated the continued mainstreaming of sustainable investing and underscored the risks and opportunities available to investors. While primarily thought of as...
Read MorePolicy Shifts May Challenge Markets
Fiscal stimulus, which was central to the market rebound in the last year, may start moving to the sidelines over the rest of 2021 and into 2022 as the recovery continues. Economic growth can compensate for the loss of government...
Read MoreUmbrella Policies: Extra Coverage and Peace
Additional insurance to protect your assets and future. Why doesn’t anyone ever tell you not to buy an umbrella liability policy? It seems like additional overall security for pennies. Sure, you can spend pennies paying for...
Read MoreFive Factors that Impact Your Retirement
Retirement can be a risky business if you don’t consider all the factors that can impact your retirement during your planning process. Although it’s hard to know what will happen in the future to you or your investments,...
Read MoreGearing Up For Summer
As we move into June, a path to normalcy is coming quickly with stadiums allowing full capacity, restaurants filling up, and summer vacations in full swing. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy continues to recover remarkably quickly and the...
Read MoreProceed With Caution in the Bond Market
After one of the worst starts to a year for fixed income, returns may not get much better from here. Long-term interest rates have traded sideways recently but we expect rates to potentially rise further, which would put downward...
Read More12 Estate Planning Must-Dos
Many of you already have estate documents, probably executed many years ago. You need an estate attorney to look over your documents every 10 years or so. Here are a dozen points to review. 1. Do you have a will and powers of attorney...
Read MoreCOVID-19 and Retirement
More and more Americans are contemplating their decision to retire this year. Others are tapping their retirement savings, while others continue to save more due to the economic fallout and impacts of COVID-19. The TD Ameritrade...
Read MoreStock Market Gains Likely To Slow
After one of the best starts to a bull market in history, the rally has started to show signs of fatigue. A strong economic recovery lies ahead as the reopening continues, bolstering a very strong earnings outlook that is helping...
Read MoreEconomy Picking Up Speed
The economic recovery continues, as the recipe of vaccines, the reopening, and record stimulus all have combined to produce what should be one of the best years for growth ever. Although some economic indicators could be peaking or...
Read MoreApplying for Small Business Grants
Oh, the things you could do with free funding for your small business! And thousands of those opportunities are out there1 – like fish in the sea. Landing one of those fish requires dedication, preparation, and hard work, but...
Read MoreAmazing Earnings Season
It’s embarrasing to admit this but in our earnings season preview on April 12, when the consensus estimate reflected a nearly 24% increase, we wrote that S&P 500 Index earnings growth for the first quarter could potentially...
Read MoreContribute to an IRA Before the May 17th Deadline
Your financial professional can help you navigate the ever-changing IRS rules Taxpayers of all ages may be able to claim a deduction on their 2020 tax return for contributions made to their Individual Retirement Account made through...
Read More5 Investment Considerations for Small Business Owners
If you're a small business owner, many of the best practices employed by individual investors are also available to you (of course!), but you also have some additional options and factors to weigh while creating your investment plans....
Read More"Sell in May and Go Away"
As the calendar has turned to May, the popular “Sell in May and Go Away” stock market cliché is getting a lot of airtime. This is the idea that the stock market tends to be weakest between May and October (and...
Read MoreTime To Sell In May?
“Sell in May and go away”1 is probably the most widely cited stock market cliché in history. Every year a barrage of Wall Street commentaries, media stories, and investor questions flood in about the popular stock...
Read MoreIs All The Good News Priced In?
Last week we discussed whether stock prices might be reflecting peak optimism. In that commentary we noted that while sentiment may be overly optimistic and a pickup in volatility would be totally normal, strong breadth measures...
Read More4 Reasons to Consider a Life Insurance Policy
Buying a life insurance policy is something that many people push off, sometimes until it is too late. For many people, the thought of buying life insurance means thinking about their death, which is something that most people wish to...
Read MorePeak Optimism?
Global stock markets are off to a strong start in 2021 as the world begins to emerge from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, vaccinations are increasing, the economy is expanding, unemployment is falling, and...
Read MoreThe Earnings Boom Is Here
The outstanding fourth-quarter earnings season we had in 2020 is a tough act to follow, but 2021’s first quarter has the makings of another potentially great earnings season. The reopening of the economy continues to move...
Read MoreSpring Into A Positive Outlook
“The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.” Peter Lynch They say April showers bring May flowers. Well, after a lot of showers and storms over the past year, flowers are starting to bloom and...
Read MoreRaising Forecasts…Again
The U.S. economy’s recovery from the pandemic continues to surpass our expectations, aided by the accelerating vaccine distribution, massive stimulus, and America’s desire to resume some semblance of normal daily life....
Read MoreAre We on the Brink of an Inflation Crisis?
There is a growing debate over whether an expanding economy, in conjunction with historic fiscal and monetary stimulus, may cause inflation to overheat. Adding to the intense debate, the Federal Reserve (Fed) has shifted its policy...
Read MoreThe Second Year of the Bull Market Begins
The bear market ended one year ago this week, finishing one of the fastest and most vicious bear markets of all-time—one that led to a drawdown of 34%. Things have come full circle now, as stocks have staged a furious rally,...
Read MoreTax Day for Individuals is Extended to May 17th
But ask yourself whether there is any real benefit to waiting to file your taxes The U.S. Department of the Treasury is delaying the April 15th deadline to file and pay taxes until May 17th, giving individuals and businesses another...
Read MoreThe 3 Components of Social Security
Many have heard Social Security retirement benefits referred to as part of the "three-legged stool" of retirement: Social Security, a pension or defined benefit plan, and personal savings.1 The idea is that with these three sources of...
Read MoreMarch Madness: Stock Market Edition
With the NCAA college basketball tournament getting underway this week, LPL Research is getting in the spirit with its own version of March Madness. Here we share our “Final Four Factors” for the stock market in 2021:...
Read MoreRetirement Planning: To Roth or Not to Roth?
When saving for retirement, it often makes sense to contribute to employer-sponsored retirement plans to take advantage of any available employer match opportunities. However, not everyone has access to an employer-sponsored plan. Even...
Read MoreHow to Increase Your Financial Literacy
Unlike verbal literacy, financial literacy isn't often taught in schools—which means that many people may enter adulthood without having all the tools they need to make informed and effective financial decisions.1 Fortunately,...
Read MoreRising Rates And Stock Market Performance
The 10-year Treasury yield continues to climb higher, but remains low by historical standards. Still, the size of the move since July 2020—and the more recent acceleration—has some market participants worried about the...
Read MoreThe Return of Normal is Approaching
It’s now been over a year since COVID-19 first hit American shores. While the pandemic has affected everyone to varying degrees, we can all agree that everyone’s life is different today than it was a year ago. It’s...
Read MoreOne Year Later: 3 Lessons Learned Since the Market Peak
Today marks one year since the market began to price in the effects that COVID-19 would have on the world. The old market adage “stairs up, elevator down” certainly rang true over the coming weeks, as the S&P 500 recorded...
Read MoreTax Identity Theft Awareness- Protecting Yourself From Tax Identity Theft
Tax identity theft is when someone steals your Social Security Number, files a tax return with your number, and directs a refund to their own bank account. In other cases, this type of identity theft may involve a scam artist calling...
Read MoreWhy Bulls Will Like The Year Of The Ox
“Bulls make money, bears make money, and pigs get slaughtered.” Old Wall Street saying. The Chinese New Year (often called the Lunar New Year) will kick off Friday, February 12, and with it will begin the Year of the Ox....
Read MoreStay The Course
“In the short-term, the market is a popularity contest. In the long-term, the market is a weighing machine.” Warren Buffett 2021 is under way, as our nation and the rest of the world look to begin to put the global pandemic...
Read MoreAs Goes January, So Goes The Year
Stocks got off to a nice start in 2021, until the late January selloff, as everyone got GameStop fever. Should bulls worry about what a down January might mean for the rest of 2021? There’s an old adage on Wall Street that...
Read MoreBenefits of Incorporating Lifetime Income Strategies in Your Company’s Retirement Plan
Lifetime income (LTI) strategies, such as target income payout funds or annuities within company-sponsored retirement plans, are designed to help investors plan for and manage their accumulated wealth after retirement. However, these...
Read MoreTips for Growing (and Preserving) Your Family Business
When you're first starting out with your own business, you're likely to be focused more on staying afloat than on contingency planning. But as your family business expands and grows, it's important to ensure that this is done in a...
Read MoreWill GameStop Stop The Bull Market?
The incredible action from some of the most heavily shorted names has investors everywhere wondering what it all means? GameStop (GME) specifically has taken the country’s imagination by storm, as the stock started the year under...
Read MoreHow Stocks Perform in a President’s First Year
2021 kicks off the first year of a new four-year presidential cycle. One of the most popular questions we’ve received lately is how have stocks performed historically during this political year. For starters, the S&P 500 Index...
Read MoreConsolidated 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...
Read MoreKey Tax Deadlines for 2021
While the 2020 tax year saw some significant changes to filing deadlines due to the effects of the global pandemic, the 2021 tax season seems to be set to be on track with normal filing deadlines. With the pandemic still in sight, it...
Read MoreWho to Ask When You Need to Help With a Business Plan?
A business plan is critical when you're getting ready to launch a business. It helps you stay organized on the path to your goal, while also helping you to hone in on key concerns such as funding objectives and marketing plans. At the...
Read MoreBetter Understanding Employee Benefit Planning
In the past, employee benefits were selected from a “fixed menu” with no choices available. If you were fortunate, your employer provided a pre-determined benefit plan. Today, things are a little different. Many employers...
Read MoreChoosing a Retirement Plan for Your Business
You’re an entrepreneur and you’re not looking back. You’ve opened your own business, whether alone or with partners, and you’ve achieved success. Now you’re thinking about retirement, not just for you, but...
Read More4 Types of Entrepreneurship
Being an entrepreneur is a dream for many. The idea of being the boss and watching your ideas take shape into a company or endeavor can be appealing. While there are many steps on the road to becoming an entrepreneur, one of the most...
Read MoreCOVID-19 Stimulus, Round Two: What Should You Know?
After months of intense debate, the House and Senate voted to pass a second COVID-19 economic stimulus bill and the President has signed it into law.1 At a total cost of $900 billion, this 5,600-page bill1 contains everything from...
Read MoreStimulus Bill May Help
Stimulus Bridges to Recovery Recent economic data shows evidence of slowing momentum in the US economy, but the new stimulus package could keep the recovery moving forward. This week’s Market Signals podcast reviews the stimulus...
Read MoreChart of the Year
Stocks continue to surprise to the upside, with the Russell 2000 Index (small caps) and the Nasdaq making new all-time highs on Tuesday. The S&P 500 Index, a chip shot from new highs, already has made 30 new highs so far this year....
Read MoreWho is Doing Your Taxes? Are They Qualified?
Tax season looms, but who will prepare your return? If you don’t do your own, then make sure your preparer has the right professional designation. Two warning signs: If the person who prepares your return does not sign it,...
Read More5 Tips to Get Started With Tax Aware Investing
Ultimately, the goal of investing is to try to make as much money as possible, and of course, you don't want to let taxes eat into your gains. Tax aware investing helps you minimize the effect of taxes on your investment portfolio....
Read MoreOutlook 2021
More than most years , it’s hard to look ahead to the next year, to 2021, without looking back at 2020. A global pandemic, a massive economic collapse, a bear market, a surprisingly sharp reversal, a hotly contested election...
Read More30,000 Reasons To Be Thankful
As 2020 winds down, it has been an extremely tough year on all of us. Still, there are many reasons to be thankful and today we will share some reasons investors should be thankful. Stocks have had one of the largest reversals ever in...
Read More2020-2021 YEAR-END GUIDE: Investor Edition
To ease some of the burdens of the upcoming tax season, we’ve created this helpful guide, which will assist you in becoming familiar with important dates, deadlines, challenges, and opportunities that may arise toward the end of...
Read MoreIs Masters Golf A Bogey Or Hole-In-One Market Predictor?
This year’s Masters Golf Tournament teed off Thursday at the Augusta National Course in Georgia. While there will be some familiar sights as the players compete for the coveted green jacket, it will also be a year unlike any...
Read MoreEnd of Year (EOY) Deadlines Checklist
2020 has been one of the most unprecedented years in recent history, but some things—like tax contributions and retirement deadlines—don't change much, if at all. And with the uncertainty surrounding just about everything,...
Read MoreCreating a Business Plan for Small Businesses
Your business plan is an important part of creating a business and a critical tool for drawing in lenders and investors. If you're thinking about launching a small business or if you want to take your small business in a new direction,...
Read MoreElection 2020 is Undecided
The American people have voted, casting a record number of ballots under extraordinary circumstances, which is a testament to the enduring resilience of our democracy. Determining the outcome of our elections is a process, but it...
Read MoreAn Election Pattern You Might Not Know About
With Election Day a mere five days away, we at LPL Research thought we would add one last election forecaster to the mix of what we’ve presented over the last several months—as much because of what it might tell us about...
Read MoreThe Best Day Of The Year Is This Week
With the election only eight days away and earnings season in full swing, stocks have bucked the usual October weakness during election years so far in 2020 (Monday’s losses notwithstanding). The good news is this could continue,...
Read More5 Charts We Are Watching
There are many charts that caught our attention this week, and today we share the top 5 charts we’re watching. The S&P 500 Index recently had a four-week losing streak and fell nearly 10% along the way, while the Nasdaq and many...
Read MoreCharitable Giving: How it Affects You Financially as Well as Personally
The holiday season is just around the corner and many charitable organizations are in desperate need of donations to help provide the vital services needed in the community. You are most often inundated with a number of charitable...
Read MoreConsiderations for Charitable Giving
Any endeavor worth undertaking, especially one that may affect others, deserves our careful consideration before we begin. When contemplating charitable giving, think about the following points: · Choose Your Causes. Worthy...
Read MoreThe Market’s Mixed Election Signals
With Election Day just under a month away and voting already taking place in many states, it is still anyone’s guess who will win on November 3. With all of the noise surrounding the election, we prefer to focus on the signals...
Read MoreWhat Worked In Q3
Stocks fared well during the third quarter despite September’s weakness, with the S&P 500 Index returning about 9%. The quarterly gain brought the return through the first nine months of the year to 5.6%. Here we peel back the...
Read MoreSigns of Strength in the Economy
Autumn has arrived, with students back in school, baseball playoffs beginning, and football in full swing. Life is trying to get back to as normal as possible despite the ongoing impact from COVID-19. While the number of new daily...
Read MoreHow Stocks Do Around The First Debate
The first presidential debate is tonight, September 29, with millions of people expected to tune in to see how each candidate handles the pressure. With tensions heightened amid an election that may be much closer than the polls...
Read MoreElection Charts You Need To See: Part 3
One of the top requests we’ve received the past few weeks is for more charts on the US elections. We shared some of our favorite in Election Charts You Need to See: Part 1 and Part 2, and today’s the third blog in our...
Read MoreElection Charts You Need To See: Part 2
As we noted last week, the demand for election charts is off the charts (pun intended), so we are sharing some of our favorite election charts. Without further ado, here are some more election charts you need to know as November 3...
Read MoreElection Charts You Need To See: Part 1
One of the top requests we’ve had here at LPL Research is for more charts on the election. Over the next week, we will share some of our favorite charts on this very important subject. Here’s how the S&P 500 Index performs...
Read MoreWhat Should Women Entrepreneurs Know About Small Business Grants?
One of the biggest challenges for any new business involves maintaining liquidity and consistent cash flow. Many entrepreneurs take only a minimal salary—if any at all—during the first few years their business operates,...
Read MoreInvesting in an Election Year
The world's events always affect the markets, and making smart investment choices requires you to look at what's happening around the world. But what about during an election year? How should you invest while the country is deciding...
Read MoreBack To School In A New Way
Back to school this year will be different. On the one hand, like other years, it marks the end of summer, the arrival of cooler weather, kids hitting the books again, and Labor Day gatherings. But unlike other years, going back to...
Read MoreCritical Business Strategies for Entrepreneurs Preparing for Retirement
When you work for an employer, saving for retirement can be as simple as signing up for a 401(k) plan and making regular contributions, but when you own your own business, preparing for retirement can be more challenging. While pouring...
Read MoreBusiness Contingency Planning for Small Business Owners
There comes a point in time when almost every small business owner contemplates the future of his or her business. Because “the business” typically is a substantial asset, an owner must address a number of estate planning...
Read MoreFamily Business—Laying the Groundwork for Potential Success
Is your growing business still a one-person operation? As your company continues to grow and the workload increases, it is easy to find yourself wearing too many hats and not having enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that...
Read More5 Types of Retirement Plans for Small Business Owners
Small business owners are different from the average hourly employee in a lot of ways. One often-overlooked difference is how they plan for retirement. Although small business owners may offer a classic 401(k) for their workers along...
Read More3 Estate Planning Strategies You Should Consider Now
Today's low interest rates are a far cry from the double-digit rates seen in the 1970s and 1980s when even a certificate of deposit (CD) could yield up to 20 percent per year.1 But there are some distinct advantages to a...
Read MoreRefinancing Your Mortgage
When you refinance your mortgage, you take out a new home loan and use some or all of the proceeds to pay off the existing one. Why refinance your mortgage? There are a variety of reasons why you may want to consider refinancing your...
Read MorePositive Territory
The battle versus COVID-19 continues. The spread in some of the recent hotspots like California and Florida is slowing, while states in the Northeast and Midwest are now experiencing increases in cases. According to the World Health...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2020: The Trail Ahead
AT THE MIDPOINT of 2020, we’re mindful that it’s been an extremely challenging year so far in the United States and around the globe. We’re in the midst of a pandemic that continues to impact all of us, our...
Read More5 Valuation Factors for Retiring Financial Professionals to Consider When Selling Their Businesses
If you are getting ready to retire and thinking about selling your financial firm, you have to decide how much your business is worth, and it can be challenging to put a number on something you've been building for your whole life....
Read MoreWhat to Consider Before Making Major Purchases
Many people who diligently seek out money-saving discounts on smaller purchases may still find themselves inadvertently overspending by thousands on major purchases. Over time, this type of large-scale overspending may cut into your...
Read MoreA Business By Any Other Name…May Be A Hobby
Mike Harris is the proud owner of a deep-sea fishing boat. Although fishing for tuna and swordfish isn’t his primary line of work, he takes the “Mariner’s Mermaid” out most weekends and often sells his catch....
Read MoreThe April 15th Tax Deadline is Now July 15th
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is delaying the April 15th deadline to file and pay taxes by 90 days, giving individuals and businesses another 3 months to file and then pay the government what they owe. What Should You Do? Putting...
Read More8 Steps for Pre-Retirees to Pursue Retirement Income
Sometimes people get caught up in the numbers so much that they forget why they're saving for retirement. At the beginning of your career, you may not have known what you wanted to do. Now that you've officially joined the ranks of...
Read MoreBalancing Act: Saving for Both Retirement and College
Linda and Peter are worried about their financial future. "We want our one-year-old son, Raymond, to go to college, but we're concerned that in 17 years, the cost might be more than we can afford," says Peter. "We also need to save for...
Read MoreCountdown to Retirement: Strategies for Saving in Your 50s
Many retirees today are redefining the “golden years.” Forget about endless days of leisure. Retirees seek adventure, travel, and new business pursuits. While these changes may redefine retirement, will retirees be able to...
Read MoreBenefits of the CARES Act for Businesses
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security act – the CARES Act – is the largest economic bill in U.S. history and was designed to “provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals,...
Read MoreTips For Surviving Market Volatility During COVID-19 Virus Uncertainty
During this time, it may be somewhat comforting to remember that you are not alone. Everyone is wondering what the immediate future holds for the impact of the COVID-19 virus. Everyone else has the same fears and anxiety that you are...
Read MoreCoping With Market Volatility in Uncertain Times
As the United States desperately tries to flatten the contagion curve for the coronavirus, many state governors have mandated the closure of an unprecedented number of businesses and issued stay-at-home orders to their citizens. The...
Read MoreHow a Financial Professional Can Guide You Through Choppy Seas
In these trying times, even those with veins of steel can find themselves nervous about the market's direction and what it could mean for one's financial future. And the unprecedented nature of the novel coronavirus—and its...
Read MoreLooking Forward
As we look ahead to the summer months, we can’t help but think what a challenging year it’s been so far. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the resiliency and accelerated innovation among US businesses and the...
Read More2020 In Charts
2020 is only five months old, but in many ways it is one of the most historic years we’ve ever seen. “2020 went from moving along nicely, to seeing the worst recession in a generation and the fastest bear market ever...
Read MoreThe Ripple Effect Of Housing On Our Economy
As states begin to ease stay-at-home orders, communities across the county are starting to see “For Sale” signs planted in neighbors’ lawns again, after a dearth of signs since late February. And as we head into the...
Read MoreTax Planning for Family Business Succession
Many owners of family businesses are so busy running their companies that they never get around to making formal arrangements to pass on the business to the next generation or to other partners. But a failure to prepare for having to...
Read MoreRetiring Business Owners - Plan for Succession
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve invested a great deal of time and effort into building your company. With day-to-day demands, it may be difficult to imagine your eventual transition into retirement. Yet, if you...
Read MoreBetter Times Are Coming
“Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald The economic struggles in our country are among the worst we’ve ever seen. In April, a record 20 million people lost their jobs, and 36...
Read More2020 CARES ACT Small Business Employer FAQ – Key Provisions
During this stressful and uncertain time, LPL Financial is here to help you with understanding all the new resources and financial assistance available for small businesses, as well as certain non-profits and other employers. The...
Read MoreNowhere To Go But Up
Investors like labels for the economy and financial markets—many of them with the word “great” in them. The Great Depression. The Great Recession. The Great Lockdown. Well, we’ve moved into what we might call...
Read MoreRetiring Business Owners - Plan for Succession
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve invested a great deal of time and effort into building your company. With day-to-day demands, it may be difficult to imagine your eventual transition into retirement. Yet, if you...
Read MoreThe Nasty “Business Interruption” Insurance Fight
Restaurants, hotels, gyms and other businesses that were forced to close due to COVID-19 are now battling their insurance companies over their business interruption insurance and have asked the federal government to step in. In one...
Read More10 Tips for Small Biz Owners
Small businesses owners should conduct an annual assessment of their personal finances. Owners of small businesses have much the same concerns as everyone else, except they are personally responsible for the fortunes of their...
Read MoreRemembering the Flash Crash
One of the most historic market crashes ever took place 10 years ago today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index plunging more than 1,000 points, or 9%, within minutes, only to regain most of the losses by the end of the day....
Read MoreBenefits of the CARES Act for Businesses
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security act – the CARES Act – is the largest economic bill in U.S. history and was designed to “provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals,...
Read MoreHow We Respond Matters
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” — Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame football coach As the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, how we respond to it will determine how we beat it....
Read MoreStaying Calm and Positive During Trying Times
News about the coronavirus has flooded the media, saturated social media streams, and dominated most people's minds for the last few weeks, and the crisis shows minimal signs of abating soon. When worry about this pandemic has affected...
Read MoreBalancing Working from Home and E-Learning: A Parent's Guide
If the coronavirus crisis has led you to recently join the more than 5 million U.S. workers who work from home, you may still be settling into a routine.1 Adding homeschooling (or e-learning) into the mix can introduce additional...
Read MoreA Unique Economic Situation
These are challenging times, and this week may be the toughest as we wait for COVID-19 to reach its peak in the United States. As the war against COVID-19 wages on, we continue to be inspired by the tremendous bravery shown by...
Read More2020 CARES ACT Small Business Employer FAQ – Key Provisions
During this stressful and uncertain time, LPL Financial is here to help you with understanding all the new resources and financial assistance available for small businesses, as well as certain non-profits and other employers. The...
Read MoreThe CARES Act Key Components
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE Recovery Rebates Provides all U.S. residents with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less $1,200 for singles and heads of households ($2,400 for married couples filing joints returns). The rebate is phased out...
Read MoreExamining Bear Market Bounces
The big equity bounce has continued, with the S&P 500 Index up more than 17% from the multi-year lows hit last Monday. The big question on many investors’ minds is could this be a bear market rally? After all, some of the most...
Read MoreSocial Security's Future Is Safe
Social Security is the bedrock of Americans’ retirement income security. So you may have been concerned by the news that the federal government needed to dip into the Social Security’s trust fund to pay for the program this...
Read More5 Ways To Build A Better Tax Plan
You just finished your taxes, but it’s not too early to make plans for next year. It’s important that as you build your plan, you think about some strategies to reduce or defer your taxes now or in the future. Here are some...
Read MoreApril Is Financial Literacy Month
April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing and maintaining healthy financial habits. But ask yourself this: what have you learned about anything...
Read MoreTax Strategies For Retirees
Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. — Benjamin Franklin That saying still rings true roughly 300 years after the former statesman coined it. Yet, by formulating a tax-efficient investment and distribution strategy,...
Read MoreMaking Sense of Skyrocketing Jobless Claims
Weekly new jobless claims were reported this morning, and to no one’s surprise they rose to levels thought unimaginable just a few weeks ago. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, 3.3 million people filed new claims for...
Read More7 Tips to Help You Stay Productive at Home
With the rapid spreading of COVID-19, and more and more people either on self-quarantine or practicing social distancing, many of us are working from home. While working from home definitely has its perks – no commute! –...
Read MoreCooking With What You Have
We are currently living in a confusing time where most of us cannot leave our homes. At first, this sounds great, but then you are hit with reality. You, and probably your spouse are working from home, and your kids’ school has...
Read MoreRoad To Recovery Playbook
After recording two double-digit drops in equity prices over the last three trading days, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has sent world equity markets into bear market territory. The result is a cumulative 30% drop in the S&P 500...
Read MoreClient Letter March 19th
Our everyday lives have changed dramatically over the last few weeks as we work together to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know these efforts are necessary, but they also have come at a cost. Global economic growth...
Read MoreBear Market Playbook
Having a playbook to follow can be very helpful during bear markets. It helped us here in the LPL Research department in 2008–09, and we think it can be helpful for the current situation. We all want to know the answers to the...
Read MoreWhen To Call Me: Times To Call Your Financial Advisor
Most of us go to see professionals when we’re in trouble or during times of crisis. Think about it. We go to the doctor when we’re sick. We go see a lawyer when we have a pending legal matter. We go see a counselor when...
Read MorePicking Your Financial Advisor In The New Year
Many financially successful people are comparison shoppers. If you’re one, you pore over ratings in consumer magazines, read websites for reviews and compare scores of products before you buy even everyday products like coffee or...
Read MoreFinancial Planning: Who Needs It?
No matter how much money you make, completely mastering money early on in life can help you pursue what everyone wants: a financially comfortable today and a financially secure tomorrow. Mastering money in our society can be a...
Read MoreFed Is All In
The Federal Reserve (Fed) surprised markets over the weekend by holding its March 17-scheduled meeting a few days early and introducing a wide range of provisions. Those provisions are intended to add liquidity, increase credit...
Read MorePayroll Tax Reduction Q&A
The Trump administration has recently signaled that it’s looking at temporary reduction in payroll taxes as one way it can help support the economy through any COVID-19-releated economic slowdown. Today we take a brief look at...
Read More11 Ways to Help Yourself Stay Sane in a Crazy Market
Keeping your cool can be hard to do when the market goes on one of its periodic roller-coaster rides. It's useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. Here are...
Read MoreThe Coronavirus Outbreak Is Spreading
News that the coronavirus—known as COVID-19—has spread to South Korea, Italy, Japan, and Iran, has led to massive selling around the globe, with many European markets closing down more than 4%. U.S. stock markets are...
Read MoreIncome Inequality and Its Impact on Women's Retirement
Here are the facts. Generally speaking, women earn less than men, live longer than men, and often take time out of the workforce to have children and/or to care for an aging parent or sick loved one. The potential consequence of these...
Read MoreAsset Allocation
If you live in or have visited a big city, you’ve probably run into street vendors – people who sell everything from hot dogs to umbrellas – on the streets and sidewalks. Many of these entrepreneurs sell completely...
Read MoreInsuring Your Business With A Buy/Sell Agreement
Life insurance is designed to help protect a household from the financial hardships that may follow the untimely death of a primary wage earner. But how will a death affect a small business? One way of safeguarding a business is to...
Read MoreStrategies for Managing Retirement Assets in the Event of a Layoff
Layoffs are a fact of corporate life as companies grapple with economic cycles and global competition. If you get caught in a corporate downsizing and you are not immediately moving to a new employer, you generally have three options...
Read MoreCloser Look At February
A late month selloff in January saw the S&P 500 Index close marginally lower for the month. But stocks have taken off in February, with the S&P 500 up nearly 4% this month, as US economic data remains strong and fears over the...
Read MoreFinancial Aid For Students 101
Preparing for college while still in high school can be difficult for even the most academically minded student. These days, you need to excel in the classroom, make sure you’re involved in extracurricular activities, and enroll...
Read MoreCatch-Up Contributions
A recent survey found that 23% of people were very confident about having enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years. At the same time, 33% were not confident.1 Congress in 2001 passed a law that can help older...
Read MoreThe SECURE Act
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act is now law. With it, comes some of the biggest changes to retirement savings law in recent years. While the new rules don’t appear to amount to a massive...
Read MoreFour Purposes of an Estate Plan
When Carolyn Bessette died with her husband, John F. Kennedy Jr., in a 1999 plane crash, she died without a will or an estate plan. She left behind a legal mess. Bessette was not unusual in her neglect of an estate plan. Many people,...
Read MoreThe 10 “Never-Break” Rules of Good Credit
Some rules are meant to be broken—like the one about not wearing white after Labor Day. Others should remain sacrosanct, such as the rules of good credit. Those are the kind of rules that can make life easier and happier when you...
Read More2018 Mid-Year Market Outlook
Presenting the LPL Research Midyear Outlook 2018: The Plot Thickens, packed with investment insights and market analysis to guide you through all the action we may see in the year ahead. When we as investors began 2018, we were tuned...
Read MoreFive Ways to Improve Your Social Security Benefits
Navigating social security benefit options can be overwhelming and small mistakes can become costly. Going over your options with a professional who understand your financial picture is a first step to making better choices. Be sure to...
Read MoreWho Will You Disinherit?
Careful estate planning is so important for so many reasons. The fact is, leaving a legacy is about much more than just figuring out a way to avoid taxes. First, we need to start by avoiding common pitfalls. Over three decades in this...
Read MoreApril 2018 Market Update
The month of April has opened with some volatile market swings, accompanied by speculation of an escalating trade war. It’s during times like this that we need to take a step back, avoid getting caught up in the headlines, and...
Read More