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When you think about money, it comes down to how you earn it, how you spend it, and the various demands for your dollars. With high demand on goods, shortages of supplies, and changes in the labor force, inflation became the main threat to our economy in 2022.
There is an equilibrium between inflation and interest rates and the impact on the economy. Increasing the money supply makes each individual dollar worth less. This can stimulate the economy but at the cost of higher inflation. The Federal Reserve System handles the monetary policy that influences how money functions in the financial system and controls the target borrowing rate, “Fed rate,” which dictates interest rates in the economy. In 2020-2021, the Fed increased the money supply and lowered rates attempting to prevent a pandemic-driven recession. [Read more]
When you buy a stock, you are buying a small share of ownership in a company. The price of that share is determined by market forces – more people wanting to buy shares of that company than sell them will raise the price whereas fewer buyers and many sellers will lower it. In the long run, if a company does well, the demand for ownership of that company would be expected to increase and the stock value to rise. A company that is struggling will generally see its stock price decline. If the company fails and has no underlying assets, the stockholder owns a piece of nothing and the stock becomes worthless.
One of the biggest investments a parent may make in a child’s life will be in their education. One thing we all know is that college is expensive and that can put a burden on many families. Many parents and grandparents want to save through an investment that will help them to achieve their goal while still allowing them control and flexibility.
This overview will provide the benefits as well as the drawbacks of the 529 Savings Plan, Coverdell Education Account, and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA).
Over the past decades, the total amount of student loan debt in the United States has more than doubled to over 1.3 trillion dollars. Although 67% of borrowers owe less than $25,000, for many who attend graduate or professional school, balances can grow much larger and payments can make up a large portion of monthly income. Since 2009, though, the number of options has grown dramatically.
In addition to ICR, the new plans include Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE), and Income Based Repayment (IBR). The last of those, IBR, was modified in 2010 with the new provisions only applying to the most recent of borrowers while the previous rules continue to apply to those who took out loans prior to 2014. [Read more]
If you are getting close to retirement age you may have heard of social security claiming strategies such as “file and suspend” or a “restricted application.” You may have also seen in the news that the November 2015 bipartisan budget deal made some changes to the social security system. While none of these changes will affect benefits that have already been claimed, those who are not yet retired may see a change in how they are able to receive benefits due to recent changes made by Congress.
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic FA, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic FA is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic FA.
See Osaic FA’s Form CRS Customer Relationship Summary, available here, for succinct information about the relationships and services Osaic FA offers to retail investors, related fees and costs, specified conflicts of interest, standards of conduct, and disciplinary history, among other things. Osaic FA’s Forms ADV, Part 2A, which describe Osaic FA’s investment advisory services, Regulation Best Interest Disclosure Document, which describes Osaic FA’s broker-dealer services, and other client disclosure documents can be found here.
*Associated persons of Osaic FA who hold a JD and/or CPA license do not offer tax or legal advice on behalf of the firm. Osaic FA, Inc. and its representatives do not offer tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax or legal professionals regarding their specific circumstances.
Julie VanTilburg, CA Insurance License #0C21028; Maritza Rogers, CA Insurance License #0E50369; Robin Starr, CA Insurance License #0G64012; Jeffrey Better, CA Insurance License #0182274; Kaitlyn Zawada, CA Insurance License #4084200
