In a survey of workers who participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, 71% said they wanted their employers to increase their savings rate automatically by 1% each year.1 Some plans have auto-escalation features that increase workers’ contributions by a percentage point on an annual basis.

Second thoughts are part of life, which may explain why some investors change their minds about the types of accounts they use for retirement savings in Charleston SC, Charlotte NC, Miami FL and Atlanta GA.

The stock market has been on a wild ride since October 2007, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 index both hit record highs, only to lose more than 50% of their value over the next 15 months.

Developed market equities have had an impressive run so far in 2013, while fixed income, emerging markets and commodities have lagged.

The Affordable Care Act Goes into Action - What should you do? Call us first.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been the subject of speculation and uncertainty since it was passed by Congress in 2010.

In a recent survey of Generation Z (ages 13 to 22), 39% of teens and young adults said they expect to receive an inheritance and therefore don’t need to worry about saving for retirement! However, only 16% of Gen Z parents expect to provide an inheritance — and there’s no guarantee that an inheritan

Short-term interest rates have been at historic lows for more than four years, due in large part to Federal Reserve policies intended to stimulate the economy.1 The Fed’s actions have also suppressed longer-term rates, leading to low yields on new-issue bonds of varying maturities (see chart).

Because of tax changes that take effect in 2013, some upper-income households are facing the prospect of higher tax rates on investment earnings.

Risk assets were off to a decent start in the second quarter but then retreated after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s testimony to Congress on May 22 laid the ground work for a reduction in monetary policy accommodation through tapering their asset purchases as early as September.

In a recent study, 40% of consumers responded that they don’t have enough life insurance to meet their families’ long-term needs.1 This concern raises an obvious question: How much life insurance is enough? What might be appropriate for a family with two young children and a stay-at-home spouse coul

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor.

Although the Affordable Care Act does not require companies to provide employee health insurance, business owners may want to pay special attention to the law’s tax implications.

Key U.S. Economic News

Non-farm payrolls increased +236,000 in February.  Gains in previous months were revised downward by -15,000.  Average hourly earnings increased +0.2% and hours worked +0.3%, supporting the consumer.

Despite the uncertainties of the Charleston SC, Miami FL , Atlanta GA or Charlotte NC job market, today’s workers stay in a job for an average of only 4.4 years.

The collapse of the U.S. housing market helped drive the economy into the worst recession since the Great Depression. Unlike previous recessions, however, the housing sector lagged as the broader economy began to grow, holding back what might have been a stronger recovery.1

That may be changing.

It may not be pleasant to think about the possibility of being unable to take care of yourself, but about seven out of ten people over age 65 are expected to need some form of long-term care during their lifetimes.1

Many people might be able to stay in their own homes and receive care from family m

More than one-third of retirees lack confidence that they will have enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement years.1 Committing to a savings strategy during your working career could go a long way to help alleviate this concern, but it’s also important to make sound decisions whe

As an investor, you probably own mutual funds and have an understanding of how they work. However, you may not have considered how the vast majority of other investments work or how they integrate into various investment portfolios.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, approved by Congress on January 1, 2013, left current income tax rates in place for most households.

The number of Americans aged 90 and older almost tripled between 1980 and 2010 and is expected to quadruple by 2050.1 This trend reflects the fact that life spans have been increasing steadily since 1900 (see chart).

Key U.S. Economic News

Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 155,000 in December, in line with expectations.  Upward revisions to prior months were a modest +14,000.  The unemployment rate held steady at 7.8%, as did the broader U-6 measure at 14.4%.

The share of overall U.S. exports for companies with fewer than 500 employees rose steadily from 27% in 2002 to 34% in 2010.

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