Assumptions of a global slowdown sent stocks further down in January. The blue chips and the small caps both fell more than 3% on the month. Housing indicators were mixed, and the latest data on consumer spending, inflation and retail sales raised some questions. If institutional investors had felt as confident as American households last month, stocks might have performed better. Read more in our February economic update.
No one wants to delay their federal tax refund. Filling out your 1040 form correctly is essential. Here are seven common 1040 mistakes which can aggravate both the IRS and the taxpayer.
Did you know that the toaster was invented in Scotland in 1893? And new “gadgets” just keep coming. I love progress. What I’m not a big fan of is the ongoing monthly costs of all that technology. One of the questions I get frequently from clients is, “How can I decrease my monthly expenses?
You can file your federal tax return starting January 20. What should you gather up for your CPA? Did you pay for your own health insurance in 2014? If you received any health insurance subsidies, you may want to wait until February to file. Read more here.
When 2014 ended, the S&P 500 had posted another double-digit yearly gain – and while some foreign economies seemed to be slowing or sputtering, ours looked quite healthy. Third-quarter GDP went in the books at 5.0% (up from 3.9% in the second estimate). Consumer spending rose by a very strong 0.6% in November with consumer wages also rising 0.4%. Cheap gasoline and growing consumer confidence seemed apparent factors in the impressive 0.7% November gain in retail sales. Read more in our January economic update.