The field of behavioral finance focuses on the emotional and cognitive aspects of investing. In recent decades, well-known economists have advanced the theory that investors’ decisions can be driven by human emotions such as greed and fear, which helps explain why asset prices sometimes fluctuate erratically.1 It can be difficult…
The first part of 2020 was rocky, but there should be better days ahead. Taking a close look at your finances may give you the foundation you need to begin moving forward. Mid-year is an ideal time to do so, because the planning opportunities are potentially greater than if you…
Spring cleaning doesn’t just mean dusting off those bookshelves in your living room or vacuuming cobwebs off your ceilings. Spring cleaning can also mean tidying up your finances. Here are eight tips to get you started. Check your withholding It’s great if you received a big tax refund this year,…
According to the Federal Trade Commission (April 2020), the FTC has received over 20,000 COVID-19 related complaints since January 1, 2020. Fraudsters and scam artists are always looking for new ways to prey on consumers. Now they are using the same tactics to take advantage of consumers’ heightened financial and health…
On March 20, 2020, the Department of Education announced terms for student loan relief for tens of millions of borrowers in response to COVID-19.1 Here are answers to some questions about the new rules. For more information and to follow subsequent potential rule modifications, visit the federal student aid website. Does the relief…
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the due date for filing federal income tax returns and making tax payments has been postponed by the IRS from Wednesday, April 15, 2020, to Wednesday, July 15, 2020. No interest, penalties, or additions to tax will be incurred by taxpayers during this 90-day relief…
After losing ground in 2018, U.S. stocks had a banner year in 2019, with the S&P 500 gaining almost 29% — the highest annual increase since 2013.1 It’s too early to know how 2020 will turn out, but it’s been rocky so far, and you can count on market swings to…
Yesterday, March 11th, 2020 the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down more than 1,400 points, marking the end of a historic 11-year bull market for the index. The Dow closed at its peak on February 12th at 29,551.42, and subsequently fell 20.3% over the course of 19 trading days to…
Many market shocks are short-lived once investors conclude the event is unlikely to cause lasting economic damage. Still, major market downturns such as the 2000 dot-com bust and the 2008-09 credit crisis are powerful reminders that we cannot control or predict exactly how, where, or when precarious situations will arise….
Image source: Johns Hopkins CSSE Data as of 2/25/2020, 8:03:06 AM PDT. Key Takeaways: On February 24, 2020 the S&P 500 closed the day down -3.4% – its largest single-day loss since February 2018. Coronavirus outbreaks reported in Italy, South Korea, Japan, and Iran. Market volatility spiked amid concerns of…
