- Uneven Recovery And Uncertainty
How might election-year policy unknowns affect the economy’s early-cycle recovery?
Global stocks rebounded for the second quarter in a row, extending a broad-based recovery from steep Q1 declines. Commodities and riskier fixed income categories, including high-yield bonds, posted solid returns amid extraordinary monetary support and continued economic progress. US large-cap stocks moved into positive territory for 2020, but gold and higher-quality bonds remain the year-to-date…
read more - All in the Dysfunctional Family
Generational business fails and what to do about them
by Kate Zabriskie
Anyone in a family business knows that according to many statistics, the chance of the business surviving declines with each handoff to the next generation. What causes the drop off? Among the myriad of reasons, times change, dedication levels vary, and talent isn’t always genetic.
read more - Second Wave of COVID-19 Infections Continues To Be Top Risk Among Senior Executives
Pandemic has either exacerbated existing risks or created entirely new sets of operational risk areas
Gartner surveyed 119 senior executives across most industries and geographies on the top concerns facing their businesses during the third quarter of 2020. The “second wave” of COVID-19 topped executives’ concerns for a second consecutive quarter, with the majority of the top 10 emerging risks having a direct connection to the pandemic and the response…
read more - A Difficult Week for Stocks
Stocks treaded water last week amid fading prospects for a stimulus bill, fears of a second wave of COVID-19 cases, and increasing political and regulatory pressures on Big Tech companies.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added just 0.07% while the Standard & Poor's 500 eked out a gain of 0.19%. The Nasdaq Composite index picked up 0.79% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slid 2.08%
read more - Most Believe the 2020 COVID-19 Economy is Worse than the 2008 Great Recession
Whether its forced withdrawals from savings/retirement accounts, supporting family/friends, or simply paying bills, many are feeling the harrowing sting of the pandemic
More than half of U.S. adults (51%) believe the COVID-19 economy is worse than the 2008 Great Recession, according to a study released today by Edelman Financial Engines, the nation’s largest independent financial planning and investment advisor.
read more - Americans Are Maintaining Healthy Credit Profiles During COVID-19
Latest State of Credit report highlights less credit card debt, lower utilization rates and fewer missed payments year-over-year
In a continued effort to educate consumers about factors influencing their financial health, Experian® today released key findings from its 11th annual State of Credit report, which examined how consumers are managing their credit histories against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
read more - Employees With Company Stock Plans Seek More Advice
Uncertainty of the times driving participants to reprioritize short, long term goals
New research from Schwab Stock Plan Services shows the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on equity compensation plan participants’ decisions. The survey finds that of those who recently exercised or sold equity compensation, two-thirds (67%) were influenced by the market volatility and economic downturn related to the pandemic.
read more - Most Boomer Investors Are Confident About Their Retirement
Four in five believe they will have a better retirement than their parents, despite pandemic and market uncertainties
Amidst a global pandemic, economic uncertainties and an election looming, Boomers invested for retirement are confident that they will still enjoy their golden years. According to the Charles Schwab 2020 Modern Retirement Survey, more than 80 percent of both those who have retired and those who are soon-to-retire are satisfied or confident their lifestyle will…
read more - U.S. Life Insurers See Rising Losses in Investment Portfolios
Which are expected to become more impactful to ratings in 2021
Life insurer investment portfolio losses, which have generally been manageable amid the fallout of the pandemic, are expected to become more impactful to ratings in 2021, Fitch Ratings says. Impairments have ticked upward as the pandemic has caused widespread economic disruption and deterioration across most asset classes. However, Fitch's surveyed universe of life insurer investment…
read more - Small Businesses Feel Biggest Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic
Forty-three percent of those say the impact was significant to severe
Small- and mid-sized businesses in the U.S. have demonstrated a disproportionate impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 43% surveyed reporting a significant to severe impact, according to findings from the CBIZ Main Street Index. The index found the majority (84%) of businesses surveyed realized some impact from the pandemic and corresponding economic slowdown
read more - Women’s Health Care Costs in Retirement Projected to be $200,000 More than Men’s
Small steps can make a big difference in bridging the Women’s Longevity Gap
Health care costs are a major expense during the Women’s Longevity Gap, the period in which a woman will need to cover expenses single-handedly after the death of a male spouse or partner, according to recent data from HealthView Services, the nation’s leading provider of health care cost projection software. The company estimates that in…
read more - Pandemic Forces Financially Harmful Actions
More than half regret borrowing from their retirement funds
Millions of U.S. workers have admitted to withdrawing or borrowing money from their retirement plans, an action made easier by the CARES Act, but most who did so (55%) now regret it, according to research by Edelman Financial Engines.
read more - Guaranteed Income Benefit In Retirement Plan A Deciding Factor For Job Seekers
Two-Thirds of workers said these solutions would make it easier to budget their money in retirement and they would feel more confident in preparing for retirement
If employers want to “wow” current and prospective employees, they should offer a guaranteed income option within their retirement plan, according to new research from Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE: LNC). Findings from a new consumer survey reveal that workers indicate a strong preference for employers that offer a guaranteed income option in their retirement plan,…
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