The Federal Reserve has been at the forefront of economic news since the spring of 2022, when the central bank started aggressively raising interest rates to combat inflation. Now that the Fed has begun to lower rates, each move will continue to be analyzed for its potential effect on the economy. The Fed’s monetary policy
The level of the federal funds rate affects many short-term interest rates, including the yield on money market funds, which invest in high-quality, short-term debt instruments and cash equivalents. Investors often use money market funds as “sweep accounts” for clearing brokerage transactions. They can also be a good place to keep cash set aside for
Most of us would prefer not to think about an unexpected (and unwelcome) early retirement, but it does happen frequently. In fact, nearly half of current retirees retired earlier than planned, and of that group, more than 60% did so due to changes at their company or a hardship, such as disability.1 For that reason,
A decade ago, the Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was signed into law. The idea for it originated with a group of parents in Virginia who saw that individuals with disabilities and their families needed a way to save for the future without sacrificing eligibility for much-needed federal benefits. One
Retail spending during the winter holiday months of November and December accounts for about 19% of total annual retail spending and is even more significant for some retail sectors. In 2023, consumers spent $964.4 billion on retail goods and services during the holiday months. This was a 3.8% increase over 2022 and above the 3.4%
Thanksgiving week proved to be a positive one for stocks. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed higher, led by the Dow and the Russell 2000. Financials, consumer staples, and industrials led the market sectors, with only energy and communication services declining. Yields on 10-year Treasuries fell for the second consecutive week. Crude oil
