Business Groups Propose Raising Age for Entitlement Benefits
Did you know that Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for 42% of the federal budget? The Business Roundtable, which represents chief executives of major U.S. companies, proposed shoring up Social Security and Medicare by raising the eligibility age without increasing taxes on income subject to the Social Security payroll tax. For Social Security, the Read more ➝
A Breakdown of the New Fiscal Cliff Law
On January 2, President Barack Obama signed the American Tax Relief Act, an eleventh-hour bill designed to resolve the year-long fiscal cliff debate over expiring tax breaks and automatic spending cuts set to take effect in 2013. The legislation staves off massive job losses and a potential economic recession, but it raises more questions about Read more ➝
2013: The Beginning of the End of the Great Financial Crisis?
Although risks remain and volatility will continue, Andreas Utermann (global CIO from Allianz) is more positive about the world in 2013 than at any point since 2007. US growth could surprise on the upside and markets could see the beginning of the end of the great financial crisis. The key takeways from Utermann’s article on 2013 Read more ➝
Arnott on All Asset
The PIMCO All Asset All Authority funds has been a top performing fund (in both good and bad equity markets) for nearly a decade and is a cornerstone investment for many of our clients’ portfolios. In his November 2012 report Mr. Arnott talks about the dominant themes driving his portfolio positioning as well as his Read more ➝
Housing Builds Momentum Amid Earnings Gloom
Housing, once the bane of the U.S. economy, is now a bright spot. Home sales and prices are up while inventory is down to a 5.4 month supply – the lowest since February 2006. Year-over-year sales have increased for eight consecutive months and previously owned homes listed for sale are at the lowest level since December Read more ➝
10 Key Components of the Fiscal Cliff
“When a nation has engaged in financial irresponsibility for decades, it is extremely difficult for politicians – who gloss over deficits and point fingers at each other – to reverse course and begin the painful steps needed to redress failed fiscal policies. It’s even more chalenging when it calls for shedding deeply held positions on Read more ➝
Fiscal Cliff Obscures Fading Fundamentals
Investor fears about going over the “fiscal cliff” may be exaggerated. A more tangible threat is the weakening U.S. economy. Earnings are declining, manufacturing has slowed and companies may reduce reinvestment and rehiring. According to this article from Allianz Global Investors “the chances of [the fiscal cliff] actually happening in its entirety are slim. However, if Read more ➝
Congratulations, Mr. President. Here’s how to fix the economy.
In a letter to President Obama, PIMCO CEO Mohamed El-Erian offers a four point plan for getting the country back to 3% annual growth and less than 5% unemployment. He challenges the president to enable and protect what works well in America today, and to help rehabilitate what has stumbled, what continues to struggle, and Read more ➝
Retrain Your Brain for Financial Success
Even the best laid retirement plans are subject to our emotional restlessness. Our emotional attachment to instant gratification sets us up for financial defeat. The ability to know one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values and goals and recognize their impact is a vital component to one’s overall financial plan. The importance of expense mangement and the cost of waiting to save are two things Read more ➝
