Understanding economic cycles is fundamental for both business decision-making and personal financial planning. The economy naturally moves through phases of expansion, peak, contraction, and recovery. Knowing where we stand today can inform smarter choices for your future. What Are the Phases? In the early-cycle phase, the economy moves out of a trough or recession: consumer [...]
The pandemic has put a lot of people out of work, due to mandatory closures, economic fallout, and other conditions associated with the virus outbreak. But something called the Great Resignation has also contributed to changing employment rates, as millions of workers have voluntarily left their jobs. But why? And is this a good thing, [...]
During any period of great change, it is not surprising to see the effects ripple into many different areas of life. The pandemic is a great example of this concept. Not only has Covid impacted our healthcare system, schools, and employment; the effects have reached retirement planning as well. In particular, an event called the [...]
News outlets have been all abuzz about the debt ceiling in recent weeks. As you might have heard, the debate over the debt ceiling has heated up in Congress. Some lawmakers push for raising the ceiling, while others continue to refuse. But what is the debt ceiling, anyway? And why do we care? How does [...]
The American Rescue Plan brought us a third stimulus package, in the amount of $1400 each, including children up to age 17. The IRS has distributed more than $379 billion in payments since the bill passed in March. And yet, some polls show that the money won’t last more than three months for most households. [...]
With the coronavirus outbreak looming and trade with China volatile, you might be feeling a bit of tension right now. But like most storms, this one will pass as well. In the meantime, it is usually best to avoid drastic moves. Avoid the temptation to sell off assets or spend a lot of cash “prepping” [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: With the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak now reaching nearly 3,000, public health officials are releasing a variety of warnings to help us prepare for the potential impact. But aside from washing your hands and eating a healthy diet to avoid infection, you might also be wondering about the financial [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: First, the good news: As of June 2019, the US has enjoyed its longest period of economic growth ever. That’s certainly something to celebrate. While the past ten years have marked the longest period of expansion, they don’t represent the time of greatest expansion. In the early 1990s, a nearly ten-year [...]
We’ve enjoyed several years of economic recovery and upswing, but could another recession be looming on the horizon? Some experts seem to think so, although nothing is set in stone at this time. Recently, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business surveyed CFOs on their opinions of a recession in the near future. Respondents predicted our [...]
Back in October 2018, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index reached its highest level since September 2000, even in the midst of a stock market slide and fears of inflation and rising interest rates. Another measure of consumer confidence, the Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, remained higher in 2018 than in any year this century. [...]