In an unusual mid-year action, the Internal Revenue Service has announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expense purposes for the second half of 2026. This change was announced in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2026-29. The mid-year change was attributed […]
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Stocks Rise as Cooling Inflation Boosts Market Optimism
The stock market closed generally higher last week, despite a minor setback last Friday. Market momentum was driven by cooling inflation data (see below), solid Q2 corporate earnings reports, and strengthening opinions that the Federal Reserve may posture a more dovish approach to interest rates in the near term. The S&P 500 reached an all-time […]
Read MoreBillions of AGI Shifting to Lower-Tax States
According to the latest IRS Migration Data released in early 2026, a trend in taxpayer relocation is emerging: Taxpayers are leaving states with higher income tax rates and moving to states with lower income tax rates.1 But the migration is about more than just population shifts — billions of dollars in adjusted gross income (AGI) is […]
Read MoreStocks Rally as Cooler Jobs Data Eases Rate Concerns
Wall Street ended last week on solid footing, with each of the benchmark indexes listed here posting notable weekly gains, capped by a Friday rally. The market was buoyed by strong Q2 corporate earnings results and a cooler-than-expected labor report, which quelled immediate fears of aggressive monetary tightening in the near term. Ten-year Treasuries fell […]
Read MoreTrade Roundup: New Tariff Actions and Rates
On July 24, 2026, the United States imposed a fresh round of tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, citing Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Imported goods are subject to a baseline duty of 10% or 12.5%, depending on the trading partner’s efforts to address alleged forced labor practices. A temporary 10% […]
Read MoreMarkets Rebound After Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady
The last week of July was an event-heavy one for Wall Street. Investors had to evaluate the impact of significant Q2 earnings results, a Federal Reserve rate decision, the latest gross domestic product report, and more inflation data. Despite a sharp mid-week plunge following the Fed’s decision to maintain the current interest rate range, equities […]
Read MoreStudent Loan Auto Pay Discount Increases to 1% for Eligible Borrowers
The U.S. Department of Education has temporarily increased the interest rate discount for federal student loan borrowers enrolled in auto pay from 0.25% to 1% as of July 1, 2026. The enhanced discount will remain available through June 30, 2028, and applies to borrowers already enrolled in auto pay as well as borrowers who sign […]
Read MoreStocks End Lower as Oil Prices Swing on Middle East Tensions
Despite a broad-based rally last Friday, stocks generally closed the week lower. With the exception of the Global Dow, each of the benchmark indexes listed here ended last week in the red. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have wreaked havoc with crude oil prices, which jumped to over $100/barrel last Thursday, only to plunge […]
Read More530A Trump Accounts Officially Open: What Families Need to Know
Amid the July 4th fanfare, a new tax-advantaged investment account officially launched: the 530A account, also known as a Trump Account, which is designed to help children get a head start on their financial future. Parents (or other authorized representatives) have been able to apply since December 2025. By mid-June, more than six million accounts […]
Read MoreMarkets Slip as Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Stocks
Wall Street experienced a downturn last week. Investors were in a “risk-off” mood as the war in Iran escalated, while AI and semiconductor shares dropped, which dragged the overall market lower. Each of the major market indexes lost value, ending a streak of favorable weekly performances. Traders moved away from Megacap shares, which pulled prices […]
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