Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on July 23rd, 2018
For the first half of 2018, investment returns ranged from:
- Good (for stocks of US small and medium-sized companies)
- To mediocre (large US companies)
- To bad (bonds and foreign companies).
In addition, stock market volatility -- which was missing in 2017 -- returned.
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on June 12th, 2018
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a critical for the retirement security of Federal retirees. Most FERS retirees will need TSP withdrawals to supplement their annuities (pensions) at some point. If participants do not correctly manage their TSP accounts, their retirement security may be at risk.
Because the TSP is so important to Federal employees and retirees, Montgomery College asked Arthur Stein, CFP® to teach a three hour class.
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on June 12th, 2018
The terms “safe” and “low risk” are often used to describe the TSP bond funds (G and F). When TSP investors hear that the G and F Funds are safer, many take it to mean that investing in those funds minimizes the risk of exhausting the balance in their TSP accounts before they die. Actually, they are safe one way but not so safe in other ways.
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on April 16th, 2018
The first quarter of 2018 was not kind to TSP investors.
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on March 26th, 2018
Has this been a good or a bad year for stocks? Well it does depend upon your definition of the word “year.”
From the beginning of this year (Year-to-date or YTD), stock market volatility has been high and stock prices are down. S&P 500 Index Funds lost 2.8% through March 23. Bonds are down too. Not a pretty picture.
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on March 11th, 2018
Well, Happy Birthday to the Bull market, now nine years old. Blow out the candles, cut the cake, let’s enjoy it while we can.
“Bull market” and “bear market” are common financial terms. A bull market is
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on February 21st, 2018
Which of these statements is true for the period January 1 to February 16, 2018?
1. Stock returns were bad, down 4.7% from the previous high.
2. Stock returns were good, up 2.5% in less than seven weeks.
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on January 8th, 2018
Ah, floating on a cloud. Gradually going higher without many bumps. That was the stock market in 2017.
At the beginning of 2017, a common view among market commentators was that the financial markets would not repeat their
strong returns from 2016 (12% to 17%). Problems mentioned included political turmoil in the US, Brexit, conflicts in the Middle East, North Korea’s weapons buildup, Chinese debt, etc.
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on December 23rd, 2017
President Trump signed the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 on November 17, 2017. The new law allows the TSP to loosen some current restrictions on withdrawals from the TSP. Congress gave the TSP up to two years to make the changes.
Mike Causey interviewed me on this and other TSP topics December 13. You can listen to a rebroadcast by clicking here.
Or read the details below.
Submitted by Arthur Stein Financial, LLC on December 22nd, 2017
As December 31 approaches, I review my clients’ taxable investment accounts for “tax-loss harvesting” opportunities.
Tax-loss harvesting is an important year-end investment strategy. It refers to selling investments that declined in value, which generates capital losses. Those losses are then used to offset capital gains on client tax returns. That benefits them by reducing the capital gains taxes they pay.
