The drums of a trade war with China are echoing. Canada is miffed, with some of our neighbors to the north talking a boycott of U.S. goods. The European Union is looking to replace us with Australia as a trade partner. Markets are turbulent: the Dow’s 2018 gains have vanished, and the index posted a Read more
Bowen Reports
A Bumpy Ride: Economics and Market Update First Quarter 2018
2018 has been a good time to fasten your seatbelts. The markets have remained volatile over the last four months, after a stellar performance in 2017. The broader markets went parabolic through January, followed by 1,000-point swings. After the sharp correction in early February and continued volatility through early May, the market recovered much of the losses Read more
Mood Swings: Volatility and the Market
The new normal on Wall Street appears to be wild fluctuations, like the Dow Jones Industrial Average 1000-point drops earlier this year and the rapid-fire price reversals that can shift the mood from optimism to pessimism in a matter of seconds. There have already been 28 trading days in 2018 on which the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index Read more
Fourth Quarter 2017 Economic Update
The Economy Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2017, according to the “advance” estimate released by BEA. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.2%. Real GDP increased 2.3% in 2017 compared with an increase of 1.5% in 2016 and 2.9% in 2015. Consumer Read more
How Long to Keep Important Financial Papers
It is easy to get into the habit of keeping every financial or investment document forever, just in case you may need it. But if your New Year’s resolution is to get your financial house in order, the following suggestions about how long to keep financial and investment documents may be helpful to you. Keep Read more
Why You Need a Will
Having a will is very important. Not only does it protect your spouse, children and assets but it allows you some opportunity to dictate how your assets are handled from the grave. A will is a legally binding document that allows you to guide how your estate/assets will be distributed upon your death. If you Read more