Market Commentary: Q3 2021
Stock market returns were mixed in the third quarter. Microsoft, Google and Apple led returns in the domestic large-cap stock market; stocks traded in international developed markets and REITs were also positive. The riskier domestic small-cap and emerging market stocks posted negative results, which dragged a portfolio diversified among all these markets down over 2% […]
State of the Labor Market
Covid-19 didn’t just bring volatility to the stock market, it also brought volatility to the labor market. The number of unemployed quadrupled from 5.7 million (3.5%) in February 2020 to 23.1 million (14.8%) in April 2020. Not surprisingly, the number of job openings decreased from 7.1 million to 4.6 million at that same time. Fortunately, […]
Inherited IRA Strategies Post-SECURE Act
Many people in the financial planning world referred to the SECURE Act as the “death of the stretch IRA” because of the new 10-year rule. The 10-year rule requires most non-spouse owners of inherited IRA’s to spend down the balance of their Inherited IRAs by the end of the 10th year. Beneficiaries may be forced […]
Build Back Better Act – Other Proposed Changes
Last week I wrote an article that dove into what the Build Back Better Act could mean for those currently using the Backdoor Roth IRA strategy. While that is a significant change that could be on the horizon, it is only one of many currently proposed in the several hundred-page plan. Shown below is a […]
Q&A – Social Security
Ethan Gilbert, CFA®, CFP®, was recently featured in a short Q&A on The Street’s “Ask Bob”. Shown below is what was asked, as well as Ethan’s answer to the question: Question: My husband wanted me to ask you something. He is 65 and will be 66 on October 16th this year. At what age […]
Build Back Better Act – Backdoor Roths
The year-end process can be stressful for many investors and 2021 is no different in terms of having proposed changes to the federal tax code. The proposed Build Back Better Act is currently structured to limit those who can use the “Backdoor Roth” strategy and/or make Roth Conversions in general. We don’t know if this […]
Exelon Resources
As Rockbridge continues to grow, so does the number of client relationships we have with employees of Exelon, mainly at the nuclear plant in Oswego, NY. Through working with employees of Exelon, we have developed an expertise for providing advice on Exelon’s employee benefits. Discussed below are a few areas in which we’ve added value […]
