Investing can be a roller coaster—and, when the market starts dropping, it may even feel more like a haunted house. With recession fears mounting, what can investors do to stay the course and escape unscathed? Here we discuss five tricks to help you navigate a scary stock market. Anticipate and Avoid Surprises If it has been a while since you reviewed your portfolio or evaluated whether your asset allocations are still in line with your investment goals, now may be a good time. Everyone’s risk tolerance is different, and if wild market swings make you nervous enough to want to cash ...

In early 2022, the IRS issued proposed regulations regarding required minimum distributions (RMDs) to reflect changes made by the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019. The IRS has held off on releasing final regulations so that it can address additional changes to RMDs made by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, which was passed in late 2022. In the meantime, the IRS has issued interim RMD relief and guidance for 2023. Final RMD regulations, when issued, will not apply before 2024. Relief with respect to change in RMD age to 73 The RMD age is ...

The S&P 500 lost 3.3% in the third quarter after sliding nearly 5% in September. Putting this into perspective, nothing really qualifies as out of the ordinary. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has historically declined in September 55% of the time, posting an average decline of 3.8%. September has certainly lived up to its reputation as being a weak seasonal period for stocks. The main culprits were rising interest rates and government shutdown fears. Whether your goal is growth, value, or probably some combination of the two, there wasn’t a difference in performance between the two (on the Russell 1000 ...

As you go through life, planning for life’s unpredictability is essential. If your family has children or adults with special needs, estate planning for their future care becomes vital. Estate planning for them is unique as it needs provisions in the plan to help ensure their independence and ongoing care when you are no longer around. Estate planning isn’t just about cash and properties; it’s also about ensuring your loved one can maintain the same quality of life in your absence. Estate planning for a child or adult with special needs takes research and legal and financial professionals and should ...