‘Financial planning’ is often viewed within the framework of investments and investment decision-making, but the reality is that good planning should address multiple touchpoints in a person’s financial life. We detail four of them in this post.

The U.S. economy is clearly on strong footing. Strong spending, accelerating demand, and tight inventories are likely to keep inflation as a headline risk, and continued strength in the jobs market and wage pressures may motivate the Federal Reserve to shift into monetary tightening mode sooner than later—at first by tapering bond purchases, and eventually by raising interest rates.

U.S. stocks marched higher in the first quarter, with the S&P 500 pushing through 17 new highs and reaching 4,000 for the first time. “Risk-on” sentiment is being driven by improving economic data, a sense that the pandemic is nearing its end in the US, and what is perhaps the greatest fiscal stimulus experiment in the country’s history.

In our view, the best way to counter uncertainties in life—and to ensure long-term financial well-being and security—is by having a solid financial and estate plan. In this post, we offer readers six tips for strengthening your estate plan today.

The S&P 500 index priced-in the pandemic-fueled recession in record time, but it also rallied sharply off the bottom in given hyper-accommodative monetary policy, massive fiscal spending, and anticipation of a strong growth rebound sometime in 2021. In spite of all the challenges 2020 presented, U.S. stocks rose +18.4% for the year.

When it comes to politics, many investors like to assume their political party is better for the stock market, or that a specific balance of power between the president and Congress is ideal for business and the economy. The reality: the stock market has shown virtually no political preference over the years.