Investment Commentary – November 19, 2014 Dow – 17,685.73 (11/19/14 close) S&P 500 – 2,048.72 (11/19/14 close) 10-year Treasury – 2.35% (11/19/14 close) · The broad equity markets have remained resilient in the face of lower energy prices because it is widely understood that the falling price of oil has more to do with the [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: The Social Security administration has announced that all benefits recipients will see a 1.7 percent increase in their monthly checks, beginning January 15, 2015. The increase is due to the program's annual cost of living adjustment (COLA), which is tied to the Consumer Price Index. When prices of goods and services [...]
Investment Commentary – November 12, 2014 Dow – 17,614.90 (11/11/14 close) (all-time high) S&P 500 – 2,039.68 (11/11/14 close) (all-time high) 10-year Treasury – 2.36% (11/11/14 close) After a strong September jobs report, the October report further confirmed that the summer weakness was probably a blip. The board of labor statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Most people are aware that having life insurance is important, but a much bigger question is usually, “How much life insurance do I need?”. The truth is that there is no single answer that will work for everyone. But there are definitely factors most of us need to consider before arriving [...]
Investment Commentary – November 5, 2014 Dow – 17,383.84 (11/4/14 close) S&P 500 – 2,012.10 (11/4/14 close) 10-year Treasury – 2.34% (11/4/14 close) Republicans captured majority control of the Senate Tuesday, gaining at least 7 seats as Democrats faced strong political headwinds in midterm elections where discontent with President Obama was a decisive theme. In [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Many seniors hope to pay off their mortgages before they retire, allowing for a roomier budget and a more comfortable lifestyle. However, this isn't always possible for everyone, so one thing some retirees choose to do is refinance their current mortgages. Since interest rates remain very low right now, this might [...]
Investment Commentary – October 29, 2014 Dow – 17,005.75 (10/28/14 close) S&P 500 – 1,985.05 (10/28/14 close) 10-year Treasury – 2.28% (10/28/14 close) The Federal Reserve ended is QE (Quantitative easing) program today, ceasing the final $15 billion of bond purchases it had made in an effort to keep the economic recovery going. Though it [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: If you're a small business owner, you probably know that attracting and retaining the best workers in your industry can be a challenge. The Affordable Care Act encouraged business owners to provide health insurance to employees, and many business owners have found that offering this benefit helps to promote a healthier [...]
Investment Commentary – October 22, 2014 Dow – 16,614.81 (10/21/14 close) S&P 500 -1,941.28 (10/21/14 close) 10-year Treasury – 2.21% (10/21/14 close) Stocks recouped some of their losses since last Friday after the recent market selloff. Volatility as measured by the VIX index traded at its highest level since December 2011 and equity markets experienced [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: What would you do if you encountered high medical bills due to an accident or serious illness? If you're like almost 90 percent of middle-income Americans, you may be forced to dip into your retirement savings. Since it's generally a bad idea to take early withdrawals from a retirement savings account, [...]