On December 20, 2019 a new Act was signed in law that advisors should understand.  

Most advisors know they should probably touch base with clients more often than they do, but when those discussions are too frequent, the dialogue may end up sounding like all previous conversations.

Fears over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its rising death toll have resulted in significant market volatility in recent weeks. The market rallied, only to fall again, then up, then…you get the idea.¹ When the Federal Reserve issued an emergency rate cut in an effort to ease investor concerns, stocks experienced sharp gains yet again, only to quickly fall.²

It’s said that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and it appears that many Americans are heeding that age-old advice when it comes to their money. Credit Unions, in particular, are enjoying a 6% surge in deposits while traditional bank deposits grew 2.4% in 2019.¹

You know annuities can be powerful tools, yet aren’t the right strategy for everyone or every situation. And annuities vary so widely in what they can do, it really requires some searching to determine an annuity’s effectiveness for each client’s situation.

Are guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWBs) poised to have a “moment?” That’s what David Hanzlik, Vice President of Annuity and Retirement Solutions at CUNA Mutual Group concludes.¹

Despite some older Americans choosing to remain in the workforce, Baby Boomers continue to retire in droves. Roughly 3.8 million Boomers will turn 65 every year during this decade, which will have a significant impact on the labor force.² It will also have a significant impact on the income of those retirees.

It’s a common assumption that wealthy individuals already have financial advisors assisting them, making them difficult to engage as prospects. But this isn’t always the case; some have quietly accumulated wealth over their lifetimes without the help of others – through higher earnings, real estate, employer-sponsored plans, inheritances or good old-fashioned savings (and a bit of luck).

There are also affluent investors who may, in fact, be working with an advisor but are looking to switch. Take, for example, an executive who accepts a position at a company that requires relocating to a different state. Understandably, they may prefer to work with someone close to home who can help manage their finances. 

As an advisor, it begs the question: how will that executive or another affluent individual get introduced to you? The answers can vary.

Age often denotes certain milestones in life. Traditionally, age 65 has been earmarked as “retirement age,” and people generally manage their working lives and retirement planning goals with that number in mind. 

According to the most recent data from the Society of Actuaries, seniors who are age 65 today can expect to live another 20 years or more.¹ Additionally, it’s not unreasonable to consider that advances in medicine, nutrition and lifestyle choices could easily add several years in some situations. Such a reality may jeopardize a financial plan based on “expected” years of life, and put retirees in danger of outliving their savings.

As a result, those approaching age 65 may want to rethink the amount of retirement income they’ll need once they leave the workforce.

With Valentine’s Day happening next week, divorce proceedings may not be something on your mind. But financial matters never take a break, even for the year’s most romantic day, and you never know when you may be asked for guidance.

Obviously, you’re in a unique position to influence the financial lives of many people; it’s what you do after all. And while you may typically talk with your clients about retirement investments, estate planning, or when to take Social Security benefits, you’ll eventually be asked about prenuptial marital agreements (or prenups).

For 2019, world financial markets performed exceptionally well, with double-digit returns in virtually all major asset classes, including domestic and international equities, domestic fixed income, and precious metals. The 2020 investment landscape should become increasingly favorable as the year unfolds. Economic, financial, and policy trends should support another year of positive returns, although annual returns are virtually assured of trailing those of 2019, and by a wide margin.

In this edition of Economic Commentary, Robert F. DeLucia, CFA and Consulting Economist for MEMBERS Capital Advisors, Inc., provides a financial market review and landscape outlook and an annual investment review for 2020. Here are the highlights: