The U.S. economy was really cooking in 2021; bubbling with tasty ingredients like consumers eager to spend and a huge inventory spend in the last quarter, the economy grew at its fastest pace since 1984. But in 2022, the outlook predicts a blander cooling-down period. The challenges faced in 2021—tangled supply chains, tight labor markets, Read more
Credit Union or Bank: What’s the Difference?
The choice, if you have one, between putting your money in a bank or becoming a member of a credit union can seem tricky. But it doesn’t have to be. As with any decision about your personal finances, it’s important to know which kind of financial institution is best for your specific needs. Banks and Read more
Target-Date Funds: Does One Size Fit All?
So, you start a job and set up a 401(k). You’re asked to estimate a retirement date, so you do. This date seems far off in the future, so you don’t think too much more about it. But you should think about this: You are now likely in a target-date fund. Ready, aim Target-date funds, whose mix Read more
Holiday Tidings: Time for Year-End Planning
The holiday season is a time for good cheer, family and friends, celebration of the present (and presents) and reflecting on the past year. And what a year it’s been…global pandemic, a race for a vaccine, or better testing. With your requests to Santa out of the way, it’s good to look at another important Read more
Good Times, Bad Times: Where is the U.S. Economy Headed After the Third Quarter?
While the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic effects may look to be behind us, the best of the pumped-up growth resulting from lockdown recovery also appears likely to be in the rear-view mirror. At Bowen Asset Management, we expect the U.S. economy to return to more normal growth rates in the second half of Read more
What’s New, 72? How the Rules of Required Minimum Distributions Changed
It’s a good idea, no matter your age, to have a tax-advantaged retirement plan in place to provide financial security when you retire. This plan could take the form of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), which allows you to make tax-deferred investments, or a 401(k) plan through an employer, which allows you to contribute a Read more