The Federal Reserve shows a textbook yield curve in anticipation of a raise of rates, inflation continues to be an important economic indicator and new housing starts are slowing all in this week’s edition of Inside the Economy with SH&J. Larry also covers consumer spending and comments, “Those who are betting on a huge Christmas, well, I wouldn’t bet the farm.” A shorter discussion than normal this week, but an informative one which will give you some Thanksgiving table talking points. Listen in!
Author: sharkeyhowesandjaver
Happy Thanksgiving from Sharkey, Howes and Javer
At Thanksgiving we take time to reflect on how thankful we are for you — our clients. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones. We will be closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th to allow our team to celebrate the holiday.
In the spirit of the season, enjoy this excerpt from the poem “The Pumpkin” by John Greenleaf Whittier. Read the full poem here
Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest;
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored,
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Retirement Savings 101: What’s the Difference between a Roth 401(k) and a Traditional 401(k)?
Did you know many employers offer a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k)? Learn the difference between the two to see what’s right for you.
Last week we covered the difference between Roth and Traditional IRAs. This week we look at the differences between Roth and Traditional 401(k)s.
Let’s start by defining the 401(k)…
401(k)s are retirement savings plans sponsored by an employer. Employees can defer all or part of their paycheck to the plan, as long as you are within the IRS limits. You can think of it as a deferred salary. Many companies will also match contributions to the plan. Continue reading
Inside the Economy with SH&J: November 9, 2015
Larry Howes covered a gamut of information this week including the possibility of a Federal Reserve rate increase, consumer confidence, real estate, and oil’s slow recovery. His commentary led to many investigative questions from the team on everything from unemployment to Mexico’s supposed recovery and especially China. Larry discussed China’s “fundamental flaw” and went into depth on their unrealistic drive to become a consumer economy saying, “China wants to become a consuming economy, but you need income to be a consuming economy.” Don’t miss one of the best economic discussions the SH&J team has had in some time. Listen in!
Meet Melissa Baldwin
Name: Melissa Baldwin
Title: Certified Financial Planner™
SH&J team member since: January, 2011
My favorite thing about working at Sharkey, Howes & Javer is…
TEAMWORK! We all come from different backgrounds and have different views and insight on various topics and it is great to be able to use each other as a sounding board. Teamwork and collaboration opens the door for more perspective in problem solving and options for clients to reach their goals.
An Evening of Entertainment with Sharkey, Howes & Javer
On October 22, 2015, we held our annual client appreciation event. This year’s festivities were a little different than our previous events, as Sharkey, Howes & Javer was celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Rather than hosting our usual educational seminar, we hosted “An Evening of Entertainment” to celebrate twenty five successful years with the people who made it all possible, our clients.
The celebration took place at the beautiful Seawell Grand Ballroom within the Denver Center for the Performing Arts complex with approximately 380 of our clients in attendance. With lighting and drapery filling the ballroom, the ambiance set a festive mood for everyone.
The evening began with a cocktail hour, which included appetizers, drinks, and a magician who left guests in wonderment as to how he performed such tricks as turning dollar bills into one hundred dollar bills…If only we all knew his secret!
Following the cocktail hour, Eileen Sharkey presented a series of heartfelt speeches honoring our clients, staff, and her partners of 25 years, Joel Javer and Larry Howes.
Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner, and watched musical performances that took them on a journey through the years of Broadway. Acts included West Side Story, Grease, Chicago, Jersey Boys, and Rock of Ages.
The evening was a very special night for not only the clients in attendance, but for the partners and employees of Sharkey, Howes & Javer as we celebrated this important milestone.
On behalf of the entire team at SH&J, we want to thank each and every client for your continued trust and loyalty. We owe these past 25 years to you, and we look forward to the next 25 with you!
Inside the Economy with SH&J: October 26, 2015
The dollar looks like it might weaken, Puerto Rico could have a political solution, and for the first time the Congressional Budget Office named the public federal government accounts holding 13.1 trillion dollars in debt — all topics covered this week. During the commentary, Larry said, “I’m also in the camp, along with several people, who think China is in a recession…” Listen in to hear what else Larry shared about China and the global economy in this week’s Inside the Economy with SH&J.
https://vimeo.com/143934427%20
Note: We apologize for the audio quality this week. We experienced some technical difficulties during recording and will be back up to snuff in time for our next release in 2 weeks.
To Stay or to Go: Should You Downsize or Renovate as an Empty Nester?
The last kid has left for college or to start their career. As the past few years have gone by perhaps you have wandered from room to room wondering why you are paying for all this space or wishing your space was better used. It could be time for you to consider downsizing or maybe your home is in need of a few simple renovations.
Before you make the decision to stay or go, here are a few things to consider:
Have they really flown the coop?
It is becoming more common for college graduates to move back in with their parents for a while as they find a job and establish a career. Do you want to stay in your home and wait to see if they need their space again? Before making the decision to move, think through the possible scenarios with your children to determine if it makes sense to hold onto the family home for a while longer.
Inside the Economy with SH&J: October 12, 2015
The SH&J team kept Larry on his toes this week with a lot of interesting questions. Discussions arose over the stock markets, the dollar and CBO’s ten year Treasury outlook. Larry covered a lot of additional ground including minimum wage and upper-end staffing, the S&P 500, the dollar, and the TPP (Trans-Pacific-Partnership) which “kind-of passed this week.” It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the economy and Larry covered many important bases. Listen in to catch up on where the U.S. and global economy has been and where they might be headed.
Retirement Savings 101: What’s The Difference Between a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA?
The world of retirement savings can be confusing. Which option is best to help you move towards your goals? What is the difference between all of the retirement savings options? Over the next few weeks, we try to clear the muddy waters and help you gain an understanding of what retirement savings plan might be best for you.
Today we start with IRAs…
IRAs, Individual Retirement Accounts, are popular tools to save for retirement. The type of IRA you select can affect your long-term savings. It’s important to understand the various types of accounts to select the best one for you.
The main difference in Traditional and Roth IRAs comes down to when you pay income taxes. For Traditional IRAs, you pay taxes when you withdraw money in retirement. With a Roth IRA, you pay taxes on the front end, but no taxes when you withdraw.
Let’s start by looking at a Traditional IRA…
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