Posts by FFG Team
Non-Cyclical Stocks and Their Relationship to the Economy
Three pivotal economic events of 2019 were: (1) the prolonged trade dispute between the U.S. and China; (2) the series of three interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve; and (3) chatter about a possible 2020 recession. It remains to be seen whether a recession is on the way, but if you’re concerned about market…
Read MoreThe Future of Manufacturing
The Future of Manufacturing A concerted effort to draw American manufacturing operations back to the U.S. over the past three years has done little to move the needle. In fact, a recent report from the Department of Commerce reveals that the manufacturing sector is at its lowest representation of the national economy in 72 years…
Read MoreMarket Trends to Watch
Market Trends to Watch The investment world is like the weather: constantly changing. Financial vehicles are tweaked and improved upon, particularly when there are changes to tax law or compliance rules. The world of finance is fluid, and so are we. As our lives evolve, it’s important to review and sometimes make adjustments to our…
Read MoreThe Importance of Women Achieving Financial Confidence
The Importance of Women Achieving Financial Confidence Married or single, women are finding that taking an active role in their financial futures is critical. About 80% of married women outlive their husbands, and nearly half of all widows say they wish they’d been more involved in managing their finances when their spouse was alive.1 Whether…
Read MoreTax Updates and Reminders
Tax Updates and Reminders As we head toward the end of the year, consider maxing out your contributions on tax-advantaged accounts to help manage your 2019 return. While some accounts, such as an IRA or Health Savings Account (HSA), allow you to continue making contributions up until April 15, 2020, most payroll-deduction plans such as…
Read MorePharmaceutical Roundup: Lawsuits, Legislation and Growth Opportunities
Pharmaceutical Roundup: Lawsuits, Legislation and Growth Opportunities Drug manufacturers and distributors have been in the news lately. Here’s a roundup of some of the biggest headlines: The Opioid Crisis In October of this year, three of the biggest U.S. drug distributors and a drug manufacturer reached a $260 million settlement with two counties in Ohio…
Read MoreRetirement Planning During Changing Times
Retirement Planning During Changing Times According to the United Nations, across the globe, people older than 65 now outnumber children under five for the first time in history. In 1960, the average woman gave birth to five children in her lifetime; by 2017, that ratio had dropped to 2.4 children per woman. Meanwhile, our life…
Read MoreYear-End Tax Considerations
Year-End Tax Considerations Now that we’re in the fourth quarter, it’s time to think about what you can do to help minimize your liabilities for the 2019 tax season and position finances for next year. The following is a sample of the usual methods. However, if you’d like us to take a more personalized, comprehensive…
Read MoreMedicare Update
Medicare Update Some hard-working, taxpaying Americans get angry when they hear Social Security called an entitlement program, perhaps because the word “entitlement” has come to have a connotation with welfare programs. The reality is that Social Security is, by definition, an entitlement program, along with Medicare, unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation. These mandatory programs are…
Read MoreThe Economics of Immigration
The Economics of Immigration The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania has conducted extensive studies on the effects of immigration on America’s economy. In light of heightened policy debates in the U.S., some of the most critical findings are:1 Increasing the number of legal immigrants with a college degree would have little…
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