This Week’s Takeaways:
- The events in Venezuela have geopolitical implications but shouldn’t impact markets or economic forecasts much.
- To save on taxes in retirement have a blend of Roth and Traditional retirement accounts and withdraw strategically from each or pursue Roth conversions, optimize the tax benefits of your charitable contributions, and use HSA accounts.
- Restrictive land use regulations set at the local level are the biggest reason why housing supply growth has been in a prolonged slowdown and housing affordability has declined.
- Warren Buffett is retiring and it’s worth a few minutes to read about his career as a brilliant investor.
- Boston Corner looking at the sputtering high-end condo market and biotech industry
- Things to Do This Weekend in Boston
Implications of U.S. Intervention in Venezuela by Wells Fargo
Events in Venezuela are top of mind for market participants, and while developments are associated with an elevated degree of uncertainty, we are not making any changes to our markets or economic forecasts as a result of the deposition of Nicolás Maduro. The geopolitics may prove to be the most interesting aspect of U.S. intervention in Venezuela as fragmentation may be exacerbated and countries may shift strategic alignments to demonstrate support or opposition to the U.S. operation.
How wealthy retirees slash their tax bills by MSN
The ten most popular retirement tax strategies used by high-net-worth investors include strategic withdrawals from traditional and Roth accounts to stay in lower brackets, optimizing tax benefits of charitable contributions, using an HSA account, and Roth conversions.
The State of Housing (Un)Affordability in the US by Goldman Sachs
Housing supply growth has been in a prolonged slowdown since the Great Financial Crisis leading to a shortage of about 2.3% of the current housing stock. This has caused housing affordability to decline sharply as well. The biggest reason why is restrictive land use regulations, which are mostly set by small local jurisdictions (making large-scale reforms hard to implement). Land limitations and a worker shortage are reasons two and three.
How Warren Buffett Did It by The Atlantic
The big guy is retiring. Seth Klarman explains how he did it in this excellent Atlantic profile.
Boston Corner
Boston Went Big on Luxury Condos. The Buyers Didn’t Show Up.
Ph.D.s Can’t Find Work as Boston’s Biotech Engine Sputters
