With the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, Congress introduced a new class of tax-advantaged savings vehicles for minors known as Trump accounts. Here’s a breakdown of the key features. What are they? Trump accounts are custodial savings and investment accounts that can be established for U.S. children under age […]
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The Markets (as of market close August 1, 2025)
The U.S. stock market endured a significant downturn last week, largely due to unexpectedly weak hiring data (see below) and the imposition of new tariffs by President Trump. After reaching record highs for six straight sessions in the prior week, the S&P 500 ended last week in the red, with last Friday marking the worst […]
Read MoreMining Maelstrom: Why Rare Earths Are Making Headlines
Over the past several years, news reports have grown more intense about the precarious global supply of rare earth minerals. Yet outside scientific and national security arenas, many people may not fully understand the importance of rare earths. What are these mysterious materials and why are they receiving so much attention? Essential elements of everyday […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close July 25, 2025)
The stock market last week had a mixed performance across major indexes, largely influenced by corporate earnings reports and ongoing discussions around trade tariffs. Both the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ reached new record highs last week, driven by strong performances from several big tech companies, which reported better-than-expected profits. In fact, last Friday’s gains […]
Read MoreSocial Security and Medicare 2025 Trustees Reports: It’s Time to Address Funding Concerns
Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds provide detailed reports to Congress that track the programs’ current financial condition and projected financial outlook. These reports have warned for years that the trust funds would be depleted in the not-too-distant future, and the most recent reports, released on June 18, 2025, […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close July 18, 2025)
Stocks began last week mostly lower on mixed bank earnings and rising inflation data. While the June Consumer Price Index was in line with expectations (see below), it is worth noting that some imported goods, such as coffee, furniture, clothing, and appliances, climbed higher, which could be due to increased tariffs. However, favorable earnings data […]
Read MoreTax and Spending Bill Signed into Law
President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on July 4, 2025, after months of deliberation in the House and Senate. The legislation includes multiple tax provisions that will guide individuals, business owners, and investors in planning their finances for many years to come. It makes permanent most of the 2017 […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close July 11, 2025)
Last week, the Trump administration sent letters to dozens of trading partners informing them of country-specific reciprocal tariff rates ranging from 20% to 50%. The levies were initially slated to take effect on July 9, but were pushed back until August 1, presumably to leave room for continued negotiations. The stock market seemed to shrug […]
Read MoreSurprises May Be in Store for Online Shoppers in the Tariff Era
On April 2, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order eliminating the de minimis exemption for low-value imports from China, which previously allowed U.S. consumers to buy goods worth up to $800 directly from online marketplaces based outside of the United States without paying duties. Since the order took effect on May 2, some U.S. shoppers have […]
Read MoreThe Markets (as of market close July 3, 2025)
Stocks advanced notably during the Fourth of July holiday-shortened week. Both the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ recorded record highs as investors were encouraged by a better-than-expected labor report (see below). Tech stocks and AI-driven companies moved higher following the White House’s decision to lift export restrictions on chip-design software to China. All 11 market […]
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