Posts by FFG Team
IRA Refresher
IRA Refresher In 2019, the IRS increased the limit on annual individual retirement account contributions to $6,000 from $5,500. The catch-up contribution for people ages 50 and up remained the same at $1,000.1 If you’re thinking about investing in an IRA or increasing your contribution, here’s some information to help you make your decision. A traditional…
Read MoreInsights from the “Oracle of Omaha”
Insights from the “Oracle of Omaha” In his 2018 Berkshire Hathaway annual report, published in February, renowned investor Warren Buffett reiterated the holding company’s objective to purchase well-managed businesses with positive and sustainable economic characteristics – and to buy them at sensible prices.1 Berkshire Hathaway joined many other companies in buying back its own shares…
Read MoreTax Tips: Look ahead while looking back at 2018
Tax Tips: Look ahead while looking back at 2018 If you didn’t adjust your tax withholding in early 2018, you might be in for a surprise when completing your tax return this year. A lot of people opted for the “wait-and-see” approach to determine if the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would impact their return.…
Read MoreWorkplace Trends
Workplace Trends It’s common for all types of relationships to experience “power swings” — when one person or entity holds more sway over another, for a wide variety of reasons. We have witnessed this phenomenon recently in the job market.1 Starting during the Great Recession and for several years thereafter, many individuals lost jobs and…
Read MoreDon’t Leave Your Long-Term Care Plan to Chance
Don’t Leave Your Long-Term Care Plan to Chance According to new research from Genworth, one of the nation’s leading long-term care insurance companies, Americans are both entering caregiver roles and requiring care at younger ages. Among the study’s findings:1 Nearly half of family caregivers now are men The average age of a family…
Read MoreWomen in the Workplace
Women in the Workplace People are living longer, which also means more people are working longer, either because they want to stay engaged or they need more time to prepare for a longer retirement. Unfortunately, these trends haven’t made ageism any less prominent. One researcher found careers tend to peak at age 45 for men…
Read MoreImportance of Airline Industry Continues Ascent
Importance of Airline Industry Continues Ascent After all the inconvenience it caused nationwide, it appears the main impetus for ending the federal government shutdown in January was its impact on air travel. On Jan. 25, the FAA began restricting flights into and out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport due to a shortage of air traffic…
Read More2019 Market Prognostications: What the Experts Say
2019 Market Prognostications: What the Experts Say By the end of 2018, not one of the eight asset categories tracked by Ned Davis Research was on track to post a return greater than 5 percent. Since it’s common for the market to yield at least some “winners” and “losers” among asset classes each year, this…
Read MoreResponsible Investing Options Keep Sprouting
Responsible Investing Options Keep Sprouting Nearly $23 trillion of assets worldwide are managed using responsible investing (RI) strategies, a 25 percent increase since 2014, according to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance. New funds focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have also doubled since 2014.1 RI used to suffer under the guise of a…
Read MorePros and Cons of Municipal Bonds
Pros and Cons of Municipal Bonds U.S. stock markets were enjoying an eighth consecutive year of a bull market until volatility toward the end of 2018 erased all of the past year’s gains.1 In times like this, as share prices continue to bounce back and forth on a day-to-day basis, investors close to or in retirement…
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