December 2022 Newsletter Topics

Our financial newsletters are designed to provide helpful information on a wide variety of financial topics. Simply click on one of the newsletter topics below to read the article in its entirety.

December

• HOT TOPIC: ‘Tis the Season for Tax-Friendly Giving Strategies

  Donating to charity can make a difference at any time of the year. But taking a strategic approach, possibly as part of your year-end tax planning, could offer tax benefits and potentially increase your ability to give. This article provides an overview of various tax-advantaged giving strategies.

• Sectors: Overweight, Underweight, or Just Right?

  Did you know varying performance can change the balance of sectors in a portfolio? Learn how sector funds can be used to shift sector weighting.

• Is It Time to Buy an Electric Vehicle?

  The electric-vehicle market is evolving quickly. This article offers some ideas to consider before purchasing an electric vehicle.

• IRA Distributions Can Benefit Your Favorite Cause … and Your Tax Bill

  IRA owners who are 70½ or older can give to charity without itemizing and still get a tax break. Find out how.

• Talk About These Money Matters Before the Wedding

  Get an overview of financial topics couples should discuss to help keep surprises and disagreements from disrupting newlywed bliss.

• Fraudsters and Scammers Pocket Nearly $6 Billion in 2021

  This article discusses the most common and costly types of scams, and how would-be victims can spot them.

Hot Topic - Economy In A Recession?

 In an early July poll, 58% of Americans said they thought the U.S. economy was in a recession, up from 53% in June and 48% in May.1 Yet many economic indicators, notably employment, remain strong. The current situation is unusual, and there is little consensus among economists as to whether a recession has begun or may be coming soon.2

What Are Some Tips for Managing My Money?

 

As with virtually all financial matters, the easiest way to be successful with a cash management program is to develop a systematic and disciplined approach. Spending a few minutes each week to maintain your cash management program, can help you keep track of how you spend your money and pursue your financial goals.

How Can I Better Manage My Short-Term Cash?

 

The most important attribute of a cash reserve is its availability in time of sudden need. And even though a federally insured savings account is considered one of the safest places to put money being reserved for emergencies you may want to consider other alternatives when interest rates are low.

Going Public: How Are Direct Listings Different from IPOs?

 An initial public offering (IPO) is the first public sale of stock shares by a private company. IPOs are important to the financial markets because they help fuel the growth of innovative young companies and add new stocks to the pool of potential investment opportunities.

When a company files for an IPO, new shares are created, underwritten by a bank, and sold to the public. But that’s not the only way for a company’s stock to become publicly traded. When a company uses a direct listing, typically only existing shares are sold to the public on a stock exchange — no new shares are issued, and no underwriters are involved.

There were more U.S. IPOs in the first half of 2021 than there were in all of 2020, which was also a record year.1 The number of direct listings has ticked up, too, but there were just three in 2020 and four in the first half of 2021.2