Monthly Economic Update Presented by Peck Financial Advisors January 2021 U.S. Markets A tumultuous year ended on a positive note as stocks rose in December, spurred by the rollout of multiple COVID-19 vaccines and the signing of a new fiscal relief bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which lagged all year, picked up 3.27 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 3.71 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite tacked on 5.65 percent. 1 Vaccines Take...
Retirement Blindspots Some life and financial factors that can sometimes be overlooked . Provided by Valerie Peck, Principal and Founder We all have our “blue sky” visions of the way retirement should be, yet our futures may unfold in ways we do not predict. So, as you think about your “second act,” you may want to consider some life and financial factors that can suddenly arise. You may end up retiring earlier than you expect...
Building a Healthy Financial Foundation How many pieces do you have in place? Provided by Peck Financial Advisors When you read about money matters, you will sometimes see the phrase, “getting your financial house in order.” What exactly does that mean? When your financial “house is in order,” it means it is built on a solid foundation. It means that you have six fundamental “pillars” in place that are either crucial for sustaining your financial...
Who Saved the U.S. Stock Market Last Spring? A report by John Rekenthaler, Morningstar. Dry Powder It wasn’t that long ago, yet it was also 10,000 Dow Jones points away. In late March, U.S. equities were reeling, having shed one third of their value over the previous five weeks. Then spring arrived--and boy, did it arrive. By August, the S&P 500 had fully recovered its losses. The broader market eventually followed suit, such that even...
Monthly Economic Update Presented by Peck Financial Advisors, December 2020 U.S. Markets Stock prices powered higher and emboldened investors in November thanks to a series of positive news events. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has lagged much of the year, led the rally, jumping 11.84 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index tacked on 10.75 percent while the Nasdaq Composite rose 11.80 percent. 1 All Eyes on the Election Stocks opened the month strong...
Robo-Advisors vs. Human Financial Professionals If an investor chooses a non-human financial advisor, what price could they end up paying? Provided by Peck Financial Advisors Investors have a choice today that they did not have a decade ago. They can seek investing and retirement guidance from a human financial professional or put their invested assets in the hands of a robo-advisor. What exactly is a robo-advisor? Robo-advisors are a class of financial advisors that provide...
How and When to Sign Up for Medicare Breaking down the enrollment periods and eligibility. Provided by Peck Financial Advisors Medicare enrollment is automatic for some. For those receiving Social Security benefits, the coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65. 1 If you are not receiving Social Security benefits at 65, you may be delaying until you reach full retirement age, or until you reach 70. If you’re coming up...
2021 Limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and More Numbers to know for the new year. Provided by Peck Financial Advisors On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note. 401(k)s. The salary deferral amount for 401(k)s remains the same at $19,500, while the catch-up amount of $6,500 also remains unchanged. However, the overall limit for...
Managing Money as a Couple What are the keys to prepare to grow wealthy together? Provided by Peck Financial Advisors When you marry or simply share a household with someone, your financial life changes—and your approach to managing your money may change as well. The good news is that it is usually not so difficult. At some point, you will have to ask yourselves some money questions—questions that pertain not only to your shared finances...
Monthly Economic Update Presented by: Peck Financial Advisors, November 2020 U.S. Markets Inaction on a second American fiscal stimulus bill and a rise in global COVID-19 cases put pressure on stock prices in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has lagged much of the year, dropped 4.61 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 2.77 percent and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 2.29 percent. 1 All About Stimulus The perceived progress by lawmakers to...
Monthly Economic Update Presented by Peck Financial Advisors, October 2020 U.S. Markets Stocks dropped in September as investors worried about stalled fiscal stimulus talks in Washington, the upcoming election, and new coronavirus cases in Europe. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which lagged this year slipped 2.28 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 3.92 percent and the Nasdaq Composite declined 5.16 percent. 1 Tech Stocks Under Pressure After a strong rally in August, investor...
How Elections Move Markets in 5 Charts. An American Funds article. How much do elections impact the stock market and portfolio returns? Should elections even matter to long-term investors in the first place? These are the questions investors and financial professionals are facing as we approach November 3rd. To provide answers, we’ve analyzed more than 85 years of data and identified five ways that elections influence markets and investor behavior. Click here to read more.
