Insights

Every August, we “Chart the Course” with a series of charts highlighting key current and historic trends in the economy and markets. We hope you find them both insightful and useful. Our regular commentary will resume in September.

The stock market closed generally higher last week, despite a minor setback last Friday. Market momentum was driven by cooling inflation data, 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.

You don’t have to stop working when you start collecting Social Security. But depending on your age and earnings, continuing to work can affect your benefits, taxes, and Medicare costs. Here’s what retirees need to know.

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.

Should federal employees invest outside the TSP? Learn when an IRA makes sense, compare Roth and Traditional options, and maximize retirement savings.

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.

What's Inside: Businesses That Built America; Phased Retirement Can Help Smooth the Transition; Travel Tips for Globetrotters; Is It Time to Declare Your Financial Independence?; Understanding the "No Tax on Tips" Deduction; and The Employment Situation: A Closely Watched Report

Most people assume Medicare will cover their healthcare costs when they retire. If you retire before 65, you are responsible for finding and funding your own health insurance until Medicare begins. For many people, that coverage comes through the Health Insurance Marketplace, and those costs can be significant enough to affect the shape of an entire retirement income plan.