We Answer Your Questions on Roth IRA Conversions by The Wall Street Journal
If you can convert regular IRA to a Roth and pay less tax than you’re expecting to pay later when withdrawing from the IRA, it makes good financial sense. The challenge of course is you don’t know what your future tax rate will be, so it’s easiest to do it when you know you are in a very low bracket now. Don’t do it if you’re leaving the IRA to charity and also be wary of the 5 year rule and Medicare surcharges.
Stocks are in the midst of their best two years since the dot-com boom by Sherwood
There are some similarities with the market of the late 90’s (tech concentration and lofty valuations), but it feels like the valuation issue isn’t as pronounced especially when you remove Nvidia from the equation.
2025 Global Outlook: Clearing the Hurdles by Charles Schwab Asset Management
2025 may bring hurdles for stocks in the form of uncertain trade policy, tighter fiscal policy, and slower than average growth in the global economy and corporate earnings. All these may drive volatility. But improving growth, along with a rise in stock valuations, may support solid returns overall for international stocks in 2025, with differing opportunities by region which argues for sector and country diversification.
The business community’s 2-part plan for addressing tariffs by TKer
Tariffs are bad for the economy. Companies have been preparing by stockpiling imported goods before they kick in and warning customers that they’ll raise prices, which is a reminder that even when presented with challenges you have to realize that companies can adapt to face those challenges. Tariffs may hurt the economy and the market. It’s just not a given nor do we know how much.
2025 Tax Updates You Need to Know by Heritage Financial
The Internal Revenue Service announced its annual inflation-adjusted changes to tax brackets, annual exclusions for gift and estate taxes, FSA limits, and more for 2025. We’ve provided a few highlights of the release and a summary of the financial facts and figures you need to know for 2025.
Book Recommendation
Hunting the Falcon: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the Marriage That Shook Europe by John Guy
A groundbreaking, freshly-researched examination of one of the most dramatic and consequential marriages in history: Henry VIII’s long courtship, short union, and brutal execution of Anne Boleyn.
Boston Corner
Ho ho ha! 11 must-see comedy shows bringing the laughs to Boston for winter 2024-25
New England’s Lotteries: Trends in State Revenues and Player Spending by Federal Reserve of Boston
Mass and Rhode Island have the country’s highest per capital spending on lottery purchases, and the New England states are on average more reliant than the country as a whole on lottery income for state revenues.
