Posts by safeguard
Vaccines and the Stock Market
If there’s one thing that can move the economy and stock market forward, it’s hope. This year, that hope is being presented in the form of COVID-19 vaccines. Economists and Wall Street analysts have long proclaimed that comprehensive economic recovery is not possible until we have contained the virus. The prospect of wide distribution…
Read MorePreparing for a Loved One’s Funeral
America began 2021 experiencing the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Feb. 1, case numbers continued to rise, with recorded deaths since January 2020 ranging from 413,1961 to 441,4092, depending on sources used (CDC provisional count waits for a death certificate, which can cause up to a two-week delay). Fox News reports that…
Read MoreWhen To “Buy Low”
The beginning of the year is typically full of hope. We make New Year’s resolutions, and it may take a few months for our enthusiasm (and vigilance) to wane. There’s also the “January Effect,” when the stock market generally gets a performance boost thanks to tax harvesting in December and subsequent reinvestments. But even that…
Read MoreHow To Help Maximize Social Security Benefits
There are good reasons to delay starting Social Security benefits, but there are also good reasons to begin them early. It really does depend on your circumstances. If you claim earlier than your full retirement age (FRA), your benefit will be permanently reduced. The age to qualify for the full Social Security benefit varies…
Read More2021 Outlook: Wealth Managers Weigh In
While challenges likely still lie ahead, there’s no denying we all weathered our fair share of storms in 2020. Now that the calendar has turned to a new year, we looked to wealth managers across the nation to find out what they’re expecting for 2021. As you’ll see, the answer often changes depending on where…
Read MoreWhat’s Ahead in the Stock Market?
In November, the Dow experienced its best month since 1987, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes enjoyed their best month since April of this year.1 With the election behind us and a vaccine on the horizon, the stock market has plenty to celebrate. Many consumers used the pandemic period to shore up their…
Read MoreAirline Industry in Trouble
The airline industry has been largely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Secluding people in a confined space with limited air circulation for hours on end is not a great recipe for containing an airborne disease. However, airlines that have invested in protocols and protections to keep passengers safe are the ones that will likely…
Read MoreOpen Enrollment: Health Care Insurance Takes Priority
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) – passed in 2010 and known colloquially as “Obamacare” – has experienced quite a ride. Initially, it was embraced by millions of Americans for whom it afforded tax-subsidized health insurance without access to employer-sponsored coverage. At the same time, it was derided for increasing government sharing costs…
Read MoreSocial Security Updates
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced a new cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) starting in 2021. Beneficiaries can expect a 1.3% increase in their income payouts next year, which is actually smaller than the COLA increase was for this year.1 For single households, that’s an average increase of about $20 a month; $33 for married retirees.2…
Read MoreLet’s Talk About Bankruptcy
According to a recent paper by a Wharton Business School professor, 1 in 10 U.S. households have filed for bankruptcy at some point. Moreover, approximately 1 million file for personal bankruptcy each year. Yet, even in the wake of total household debt soaring to a record $14.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2020, the…
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