New Focus on Wealth with Chad Burton

News of higher than expected increase in producer prices comes at the same time the feds announce a .25% rate increase. continued inflation surprises will lead to expectations of 4 rate hikes this year. Plain and simple this will mean more volatility in the bond market. Other topics include: • Increase of mergers and acquisitions • New tax laws concerning passive income • Mega backdoor Roth IRA • Selling a rental property • Blockchain and leveraged loans • Dynasty trust planning

Many of us stayed up late watching Trump and Kim at the North Korean Summit. The Feds are expected to hike interest rates on Wednesday and the ECB is unwinding quantative easing. The end result of all this? An expected flat opening in the market. Other topics include: • Consumer price index numbers • Effect of rising rates on stocks • Social Security –Disability benefits ,widow benefits and self-employed couples working together • Blockchain outside cryptocurrency • Paying for college

There’s a lot of back and forth on where we are in the stock market. Quantitative easing is being pulled away as interest rates begin to rise and tariff issues have companies sitting on their cash just a few months after corporate taxes were lowered. Other topics include: • Are Medicare finances getting worse? • Barbell investing • Things you need to hear from your advisor in a financial planning meeting

Ticketfly is down this morning after a significant cybersecurity incident. A reminder that it’s rarely a matter of if your identity will be compromised, but when your identity will be compromised. Always have an identity insurance company that white gloves the process and saves you from dealing with attorneys and detectives. Other topics: • Donating to charities and your tax return • Real estate investing –renting vs. selling • Stocks vs. real estate • Divorce and the new tax plan

Triggered by fears that Italy might leave the Euro, a flight to safety sent US bond yields lower….the opposite direction the media has told you they will go. Bill Gross’s Janus Henderson unconstrained bond funds dropped 3% in one day making a tough year for him even worse. Are we at the top of our economic cycle? Also: • Partial Roth conversions that can harm you • 3 major things to consider as you go into retirement • Hybrid life insurance policies and annuity rescue options • When to avoid

 “By age 35” is an internet meme where millennials post funny or sarcastic goals in response to a MarketWatch article suggesting you should have saved twice your salary by age 35. Are these money milestones an unachievable goal or are millennials simply not willing to sacrifice and plan enough to meet these goals? Other topics include: 6 misunderstood IRA rules Quality of life and medicare talks in retirement Divorce issues Gifting to a dying relative to save on taxes

A little over 80% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings and so far the numbers are looking great. Blended earnings are up 24.2% setting the stage for the largest year over year growth rates since Q3 2010. Is the market expensive after this amount of growth? Other topics include: • Stock market concerns • Everything you need to know about long term care insurance • Alternative investments as your portfolio reaches over half a million

“By age 35” is an internet meme where millennials post funny or sarcastic goals in response to a MarketWatch article suggesting you should have saved twice your salary by age 35. Are these money milestones an unachievable goal or are millennials simply not willing to sacrifice and plan enough to meet these goals? Other topics include: • 6 misunderstood IRA rules • Quality of life and medicare talks in retirement • Divorce issues • Gifting to a dying relative to save on taxes

Do we have a truce on the Chinese trade war? It could be true. China is set to cut the import duty on US cars to 15% furthering opening up the world’s second largest economy. Meanwhile Trump has retreated from imposing tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods. Today I take a look at the future of Chinese-American trade. Other topics include: • Buying vs. leasing a car • Getting a good rate on a lease • The issues with 401ks and bond funds • Age-based savings benchmarks

So far 2018 Q1 is an absolute blow out quarter with blended earnings hitting 24.9%, but PE ratios (which have been north of 17) are now at 16.5%. Why isn’t the market trading at 20x earnings when the S&P is resulting in 24% earnings growth? Is it all due to tax cuts and financial engineering? Other topics include: • Various signs of a recession • Making your money last till age 100 • Saving to buy a house • Healthcare costs in retirement • Save on capital gain taxes by gifting to a dying re

Interest rates are increasing, however, high demand from bond investors can actually push rates down, but it isn’t quite that simple. Today I explain complicated treasury rules that affect bond rates. Other topics include: • Protecting your online data • Alternative investments as your portfolio reaches over half a million

Interest rates are increasing, however, high demand from bond investors can actually push rates down, but it isn’t quite that simple. Today I explain complicated treasury rules that affect bond rates. Other topics include: • Protecting your online data • Alternative investments as your portfolio reaches over half a million

A little over 80% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings and so far the numbers are looking great. Blended earnings are up 24.2% setting the stage for the largest year over year growth rates since Q3 2010. Is the market expensive after this amount of growth? Other topics include: • Stock market concerns • Everything you need to know about long term care insurance • Mega backdoor Roth IRA’s

Three more rate hikes are projected by the end of the year which won’t affect mortgage rates as much as it affects things like credit cards, HELOC’s and anything tied to prime. Also in the news is ISM’s manufacturing report and the ECB fighting lackluster growth. Other topics: • Portfolio levers that can cause risk • Why wage inflation is tough on portfolios • Rebalancing your portfolio • Financing your parents move to a memory care facility • Sequence of return risks in retirement

Rates hit 3% yesterday and bond traders are dealing with a huge amount of new US debt issuance at $96 Billion worth of bonds, the largest since 2014. Was this planned prior to rates moving up? Caterpillar and Twitter make a good showing in the market and cryptocurrency takes a step in the right direction. Also: • Cryptocurrency scams and other financial fraud • Chuck needs help figuring out a strategy on a house he inherited with a mortgage • Getting you and your spouse involved in financial plans