Mauro Financial https://www.maurofinancial.com/ Financial Planning, Investment Advisor, CPA Accountant Wed, 18 Dec 2019 01:52:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.4 The Middle Class is Disappearing…Because They’re Moving Up https://www.maurofinancial.com/the-middle-class-is-disappearing-because-theyre-moving-up/ Wed, 18 Dec 2019 01:52:00 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1101 Yes, the “middle-class is disappearing” as we hear all the time, but it’s because middle-income households in the US are gradually moving up to higher income groups, and not down into lower-income groups. In 1967, only 9% of US households (only 1 in 11) earned $100,000 or more (in 2017 dollars). In 2017, more than [...]

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]]> Yes, the “middle-class is disappearing” as we hear all the time, but it’s because middle-income households in the US are gradually moving up to higher income groups, and not down into lower-income groups. In 1967, only 9% of US households (only 1 in 11) earned $100,000 or more (in 2017 dollars). In 2017, more than 1 in 4 US households (29.2%) were in that high-income category, a new record high. In other words, over the last half-century, the share of US households earning incomes of $100,000 or more (in 2017 dollars) has more than tripled! At the same time, the share of middle-income households earning $35,000 to $100,000 (in 2017 dollars) has decreased over time, from more than half of US households in 1967 (53.8%) to less than half (only 41.3%) in 2017. Likewise, the share of low-income households earning $35,000 or less (in 2017 dollars) has decreased from more than one-third of households in 1967 (37.2%) to below one-third of US households last year (29.5%), a near-record low.

Mark J. Perry, “America’s middle class is disappearing … but it’s because they’re moving up.”, July 30, 2019, aei.org. Emphasis in the original.

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]]> The Equifax Breach https://www.maurofinancial.com/the-equifax-breach/ Wed, 23 Oct 2019 01:48:41 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1098 Courtesy of one of our clients, below is a link to determine if you were affected by the hack. Everyone should check. If you are affected, the site directs you to File a Claim.   Here’s hoping your name doesn’t show up. www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com

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]]> Courtesy of one of our clients, below is a link to determine if you were affected by the hack. Everyone should check.

If you are affected, the site directs you to File a Claim.  

Here’s hoping your name doesn’t show up.

www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com

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]]> The Death of Equities https://www.maurofinancial.com/the-death-of-equities/ Thu, 12 Sep 2019 10:10:07 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1090 August 13th marked the 40th anniversary of BusinessWeek’s famous cover and cover story, “The Death of Equities: How Inflation is Destroying the Stock Market”. At the time of that writing, the S&P 500 closed at 107.42. Today, as I write, the S&P 500 is north of 2,900. The fuel of financial journalism is negativity. The same [...]

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]]> August 13th marked the 40th anniversary of BusinessWeek’s famous cover and cover story, “The Death of Equities: How Inflation is Destroying the Stock Market”.

At the time of that writing, the S&P 500 closed at 107.42.

Today, as I write, the S&P 500 is north of 2,900.

The fuel of financial journalism is negativity. The same tired crap is being written today. Really, don’t read or listen to it. It can only cause you to underperform. Read something happy … and factual.

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]]> The Power of HSAs https://www.maurofinancial.com/the-power-of-hsas/ Wed, 28 Aug 2019 10:07:54 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1087 Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are powerful savings vehicles.   HSAs are triple tax free: Contributions are tax-deductibleThe account grows tax freeWithdrawals are tax free if used for medical expenses One of the best uses of an HSA is to save up for the enormous medical expenses we will experience in retirement. To be eligible, you have [...]

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]]> Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are powerful savings vehicles.  

HSAs are triple tax free:

  1. Contributions are tax-deductible
  2. The account grows tax free
  3. Withdrawals are tax free if used for medical expenses

One of the best uses of an HSA is to save up for the enormous medical expenses we will experience in retirement.

To be eligible, you have to have a high-deductible health insurance plan, which many, if not most, of us have.

This is a powerful addition to your retirement savings. If your health plan is HSA eligible, open one. I use Further at www.hellofurther.com. Low fees, more than enough investment choices.

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]]> The Latest Apocalypse https://www.maurofinancial.com/the-latest-apocalypse/ Thu, 08 Aug 2019 10:06:23 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1085 In response to Monday’s sizable market downturn, on top of last week’s stink up, I submit the following, courtesy of Scott Grannis’ Friday June 21st submission:    Household debt is at historically low levels   U.S. Household net worth has reached an all-time high, due to increased savings and investments   Per Capita net worth is at an all-time high [...]

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]]> In response to Monday’s sizable market downturn, on top of last week’s stink up, I submit the following, courtesy of Scott Grannis’ Friday June 21st submission:

  •    Household debt is at historically low levels
  •    U.S. Household net worth has reached an all-time high, due to increased savings and investments
  •    Per Capita net worth is at an all-time high

Please don’t get twisted about the current state of affairs or the market’s short term reaction to them. Keep your long term financial plan on track, leave it just the way it is.

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]]> Kids Over 18 https://www.maurofinancial.com/kids-over-18/ Wed, 17 Jul 2019 10:04:12 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1083 An interesting idea from one of our clients: Kids over 18, legal adults, need a Will, a Durable Power of Attorney and a Living Will so you, as parents or close relatives, can act on their behalf if the unthinkable occurs. As ugly as this is, the pain of something happening doesn’t need to be [...]

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]]> An interesting idea from one of our clients:

Kids over 18, legal adults, need a Will, a Durable Power of Attorney and a Living Will so you, as parents or close relatives, can act on their behalf if the unthinkable occurs.

As ugly as this is, the pain of something happening doesn’t need to be magnified by having to hassle with existing laws.

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]]> IRS Telephone Scams Continue https://www.maurofinancial.com/irs-telephone-scams-continue/ Wed, 03 Jul 2019 10:02:19 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1081 The IRS warns that IRS phone scams are surging, with caller IDs being altered to read, ‘IRS’ or ‘Taxpayer Advocate Services’. Victims are told they owe taxes and must pay through a wire transfer, gift card or prepaid debit card, which is ridiculous when you think about it. The scammers are threatening arrest, foreclosure or deportation. [...]

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]]> The IRS warns that IRS phone scams are surging, with caller IDs being altered to read, ‘IRS’ or ‘Taxpayer Advocate Services’.

Victims are told they owe taxes and must pay through a wire transfer, gift card or prepaid debit card, which is ridiculous when you think about it. The scammers are threatening arrest, foreclosure or deportation. Seniors and low-incomers are especially targeted. Please be aware. If you get one of these calls, just hang up.

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]]> The 3 Engines of Wealth https://www.maurofinancial.com/the-3-engines-of-wealth/ Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:23:34 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1059 The 3 engines of wealth accumulation are: Personal InitiativeHard WorkThrift I don’t know any other way.

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]]> The 3 engines of wealth accumulation are:

  • Personal Initiative
  • Hard Work
  • Thrift

I don’t know any other way.

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]]> Gambling https://www.maurofinancial.com/gambling/ Thu, 09 May 2019 17:21:44 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1057 Heard a great quote from one of the speakers at The Investment Center’s Educational Conference in New Orleans that Maria and I attended. “Gambling odds are less than 50%. The longer you’re in, the greater your chances of failure. The market goes up 75% of the time. The longer you’re in, the greater your chances of success.”

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]]> Heard a great quote from one of the speakers at The Investment Center’s Educational Conference in New Orleans that Maria and I attended.

“Gambling odds are less than 50%. The longer you’re in, the greater your chances of failure. The market goes up 75% of the time. The longer you’re in, the greater your chances of success.”

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]]> Accept Uncertainty https://www.maurofinancial.com/accept-uncertainty/ Fri, 15 Mar 2019 17:20:10 +0000 https://www.maurofinancial.com/?p=1054 In the world of investing, the future is unknowable. ‘Uncertain’ is simply the way it is. How much uncertainty you can handle will determine your ultimate rate of return. ‘Certainty’ and rate of return are inversely related. If you want ‘certainty’, like a money market or a Treasury bond, your returns will be scant. Factor in inflation, and your [...]

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]]> In the world of investing, the future is unknowable. ‘Uncertain’ is simply the way it is. How much uncertainty you can handle will determine your ultimate rate of return.

‘Certainty’ and rate of return are inversely related. If you want ‘certainty’, like a money market or a Treasury bond, your returns will be scant. Factor in inflation, and your ‘certain’ return is actually negative.

If you can accept ‘uncertainty’, now you’re in the game. Embrace uncertainly and buckle up for a wild and rewarding ride!

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