Welcome to 2025, where the economy is like your Uncle Bob at Thanksgiving—predictable in its unpredictability. The headlines are full of dramatic twists, inflation is the talk of every dinner table, and interest rates have been on more rollercoaster rides than a county fair. But don’t worry; we’ve got your back. Let’s break it all down, keep it light, and figure out how to make the most of this wild economic ride.
Retirement planning isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to procrastinate, yet somehow, it ends up on the same to-do list as “clean the garage” or “start a kale garden.” But hey, 2025 is creeping up faster than that mystery charge on your credit card, so let’s get serious for a moment. Are you ready for the golden years, or are there a few glaring gaps in your plan? Let’s break it down with a checklist that will have you confidently waltzing into 2025.
Adulting is hard. Balancing a budget, saving for retirement, and trying to figure out whether you’re a cat person or a dog person—it’s a lot. But of all the things we juggle in life, one unsung hero tends to get left off the “adulting checklist”—life insurance. Oh, I know, I know, it sounds about as exciting as watching grass grow, but stick with me here. Life insurance isn’t just about morbid thoughts of “what if.” It’s about financial security, peace of mind, and (surprise!) making sure your loved ones aren’t left scrambling for pennies if life decides to throw a curveball.
The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) – a trade association for the retirement income industry – advocates annuities as a vehicle that can help provide retirees income, guaranteed by the insurer. The organization has been actively educating and lobbying legislators to expand annuity access as part of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Under this scenario, whatever portion the investor contributes to an annuity option in his 401(k) would be eligible for distribution throughout his lifetime based on an estimated calculation of life expectancy.
Amid lost jobs and a scaled-back economy in 2020, some workers may have decided to retire earlier than planned. There are a couple of Social Security strategies worth considering in this scenario. First, if both spouses are over age 62, determine if you can make ends meet by taking only one Social Security benefit while letting the other benefit accrue to a higher level. It may be better to let the higher earner’s benefit accrue untapped as long as possible.
Back in 2019, economists claimed that the large population of older Americans dubbed the “silver tsunami,” was creating a drag on the economy. The fear was that Americans were aging toward retirement at a faster rate than young adults were entering the workforce. Not only does this put a strain on our finance-as-we-go Social Security and Medicare programs, but a smaller workforce is less able to drive economic growth in the future.
If there’s one thing that can move the economy and stock market forward, it’s hope. This year, that hope is being presented in the form of COVID-19 vaccines. Economists and Wall Street analysts have long proclaimed that comprehensive economic recovery is not possible until we have contained the virus. The prospect of wide distribution of effective vaccines and herd immunity by the end of the year has put recovery in our crosshairs.
The beginning of the year is typically full of hope. We make New Year’s resolutions, and it may take a few months for our enthusiasm (and vigilance) to wane. There’s also the “January Effect,” when the stock market generally gets a performance boost thanks to tax harvesting in December and subsequent reinvestments. But even that phenomenon tends to fade.
Planning for retirement income may seem like a daunting task, but can help you get a handle on preparing for your financial future.
Welcome to 2025, where the economy is like your Uncle Bob at Thanksgiving—predictable in its unpredictability. The headlines are full of dramatic twists, inflation is the talk of every dinner table, and interest rates have been on more rollercoaster rides than a county fair. But don’t worry; we’ve got your back. Let’s break it all down, keep it light, and figure out how to make the most of this wild economic ride.
A recent article in The New York Times tackled the challenge of how the federal government can pay for its list of to-do items, such as nationwide infrastructure updates, investing in clean energy, ensuring every American has access to affordable health care, and paying down the massive $28.1 trillion in debt. The recommendation was simple: Don’t raise individual or corporate taxes — just collect was is owed under current rules and legislation.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the ongoing distribution of vaccines combined with the latest government stimulus is expected to jumpstart economic activity in the U.S. However, projections for sustainable growth are not equitable among various countries and business sectors. Faster and more effective vaccination deployment across the world is critical. The OECD emphasizes that global recovery is key.
Millions of Americans have embraced the new relief money resulting from the $1.9 trillion America Rescue Plan. They’ve been able to pay for utilities and put food on the table. Those who maintained their jobs have embraced the payout as well, but for different reasons. For them, it’s not about survival, it’s about ways to spend that lovely windfall. It’s also about jumpstarting the economy right about the time people can get back out and find work.
The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) – a trade association for the retirement income industry – advocates annuities as a vehicle that can help provide retirees income, guaranteed by the insurer. The organization has been actively educating and lobbying legislators to expand annuity access as part of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Under this scenario, whatever portion the investor contributes to an annuity option in his 401(k) would be eligible for distribution throughout his lifetime based on an estimated calculation of life expectancy.
Amid lost jobs and a scaled-back economy in 2020, some workers may have decided to retire earlier than planned. There are a couple of Social Security strategies worth considering in this scenario. First, if both spouses are over age 62, determine if you can make ends meet by taking only one Social Security benefit while letting the other benefit accrue to a higher level. It may be better to let the higher earner’s benefit accrue untapped as long as possible.
Welcome to 2025, where the economy is like your Uncle Bob at Thanksgiving—predictable in its unpredictability. The headlines are full of dramatic twists, inflation is the talk of every dinner table, and interest rates have been on more rollercoaster rides than a county fair. But don’t worry; we’ve got your back. Let’s break it all down, keep it light, and figure out how to make the most of this wild economic ride.
Oil prices are influenced by supply and demand, and 2020 was a great demonstration of this principle. With global and local shutdowns due to the spread of the coronavirus, there was less demand for products and services. While online shopping was up, foot traffic in stores languished and retailers suffered from reduced consumerism. Wholesale orders dropped, as did the need to transport them from manufacturers to distributors to vendors.
A recent article in The New York Times tackled the challenge of how the federal government can pay for its list of to-do items, such as nationwide infrastructure updates, investing in clean energy, ensuring every American has access to affordable health care, and paying down the massive $28.1 trillion in debt. The recommendation was simple: Don’t raise individual or corporate taxes — just collect was is owed under current rules and legislation.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the ongoing distribution of vaccines combined with the latest government stimulus is expected to jumpstart economic activity in the U.S. However, projections for sustainable growth are not equitable among various countries and business sectors. Faster and more effective vaccination deployment across the world is critical. The OECD emphasizes that global recovery is key.
Millions of Americans have embraced the new relief money resulting from the $1.9 trillion America Rescue Plan. They’ve been able to pay for utilities and put food on the table. Those who maintained their jobs have embraced the payout as well, but for different reasons. For them, it’s not about survival, it’s about ways to spend that lovely windfall. It’s also about jumpstarting the economy right about the time people can get back out and find work.
The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) – a trade association for the retirement income industry – advocates annuities as a vehicle that can help provide retirees income, guaranteed by the insurer. The organization has been actively educating and lobbying legislators to expand annuity access as part of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Under this scenario, whatever portion the investor contributes to an annuity option in his 401(k) would be eligible for distribution throughout his lifetime based on an estimated calculation of life expectancy.