How the Conflict in the Ukraine affects Investors
The war that began this week between Russia and the Ukraine is a human tragedy and a stark reminder that dollars and cents are secondary to health and safety. Some of us who have friends and family in the areas affected by war are focused on the wellbeing of their loved ones. But for most […]
Major Firms predict Expected Returns in the coming Decade
Every year large Wall Street firms publish their forecast of expected returns for the coming decade. The following table shows what each firm expects from capital markets in the coming 10-years. The first thing that jumps out is the poor expected performance by U.S. equities. Despite averaging nearly 10% over the last 100 years, forecasters […]
Tax Scams
As we head into a new year and with it, a new tax season, we wanted to draw attention to a number of scams and schemes to defraud unsuspecting taxpayers. We think it is important that our clients be aware of how these scams work, and what precautions you can take to protect yourself. How […]
Retirement Plan Contribution Limits & Other Tax Changes for 2022
Every year the IRS reviews a variety of retirement plan contribution limits and other important fiscal boundaries. Here’s a list of changes made effective January 1st, 2022. Item 2021 2022 401(k) Employee Max $19,500 $20,500 401(k) Catch Up $6,500 $6,500 401(k) Total Max $58,000 $61,000 HSA (Individual) $3,600 $3,650 SIMPLE IRA $13,500 $14,000 SIMPLE IRA […]
The Fed’s new path and what it means for Investors
The Federal Reserve met in December and outlined a new course for monetary policy going forward. They signaled two big changes: The Fed will stop buying Treasury Bonds and Mortgage-Backed Securities by March The Fed expects to raise interest rates 3 times next year, bringing the Fed Funds rate from a target of 0.00% – […]
Things to be Thankful For: Stock Market Returns, Not Bank Interest
Over the last 90 years, the stock market has been great to investors. No one knows what the market will do tomorrow, but the longer your horizon, the more the odds are in your favor – and you don’t have to wait very long for the numbers to look pretty good. With bank interest close […]
Rockbridge becomes Upstate NY’s only “Recommended Advisor” by the White Coat Investor
We are happy to announce we have joined 34 other Advisory firms from around the country who are labeled “Best Financial Advisors for Physicians” by the White Coat Investor. Who is the White Coat Investor? Jim Dahle is a practicing emergency physician in Utah. After several bad experiences with financial professionals, he developed a passion […]
How to give to charity in the most tax-efficient manner
Whether it’s giving Tuesday or end-of-year outreach, many non-profits will be asking their supporters for donations as we head into holiday season & year-end. To our readers who are charitably inclined, first let us say thanks for your generosity helping those in need. We also want to make sure you are giving your money in […]
Market Commentary: Q3 2021
Stock market returns were mixed in the third quarter. Microsoft, Google and Apple led returns in the domestic large-cap stock market; stocks traded in international developed markets and REITs were also positive. The riskier domestic small-cap and emerging market stocks posted negative results, which dragged a portfolio diversified among all these markets down over 2% […]
State of the Labor Market
Covid-19 didn’t just bring volatility to the stock market, it also brought volatility to the labor market. The number of unemployed quadrupled from 5.7 million (3.5%) in February 2020 to 23.1 million (14.8%) in April 2020. Not surprisingly, the number of job openings decreased from 7.1 million to 4.6 million at that same time. Fortunately, […]