The government shutdown is moving into week five and the damage is beginning to show. The direct economic damage is estimated at around 0.50 percent so far, which is material in an economy expected to grow around 2.5 percent in the first quarter. Slower growth is an inevitable result of the slowdown.

The U.S. economy remains healthy, and Vanguard is sticking with its prediction for only one more interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve in 2019, chief economist Joseph Davis said. Vanguard’s model predicts a less than 50 percent change of recession in 2019, he added.

–Corporate Insight announced the winners of its annual Monitor Awards, recognizing digital innovation and best practices within the financial services and healthcare industries. “In 2018, we saw a host of exciting innovations in digital financial services and healthcare,” said Michael Ellison, president of Corporate Insight. Morgan made significant…

NEW YORK- Banks surged Wednesday following strong results from a slew of financial companies, and U.S. stock indexes finished broadly higher. Concerns about trade tensions between the U.S. and China derailed a bigger gain. Report: Sears to stay with Lampert.

Bogle, a chipper and unpretentious man who invited everyone to call him“ Jack,” was founder and for many years chairman of the Vanguard Group, the Malvern-based mutual-fund company, where he pioneered low-cost, low-fee investing and mutual funds tied to stock-market indexes.

Jan. 16– The rollercoaster otherwise known as the stock market did not diverge from its usual operations in 2018, as investors saw an up-and-down year and likely expect the same in 2019.. The markets then had a post-Christmas rally, as the Dow saw its biggest one-day gain Dec. 26, with over 1,080 points; the S&P rose 4.9 percent; and the Nasdaq closed up at 5.8 percent.

White Glove Workshops, a digital marketing company specializing in planning, promoting and managing educational seminars for professionals in the finance, insurance, real estate and legal industries, has hired former National Planning Corporation CEO and president John C. Johnson.

Understanding how this significant influx of retirees will impact the market is critical to being able to capitalize on the nearly $35 trillion in financial assets they hold.

The bank, based in New York, said it had earnings of $1.64 per share. The U.S. bank posted revenue of $23.98 billion in the period. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $17.48 billion.

Most financial to-do lists focus on what you need to get done by Dec. 31, but there’ s also a brief window early in the new year to save yourself some significant cash. If you live in a high-tax area, have a bunch of children or otherwise take a lot of deductions, you may face an unpleasant surprise on April 15. Some people“ are going to be in really sad shape,” said Cari Weston,…

The volatility experienced at the end of 2018 is something long forgotten by some investors. Volatility isn’t always a bad word, it really means a tendency or vulnerability to rapid change, often unpredictably, especially for the worse. For equity investors, 2018 exuded evidence of increased volatility, and much of it was in the downward direction.

Despite much speculation from various industry sources saying that the SEC could have a final Regulation Best Interest rule as early as the first quarter, no one knows when in 2019 to expect the final ruling. The government shutdown has likely put work behind schedule and little is getting done, analysts say.

Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan addresses criticism of the bank and its recent missteps.

Some people are fortunate enough to have enough financial resources to leave a legacy to family members or some special cause. If they have accumulated more than they need to consume in their lifetimes, they may be able to multiply the size of their gift with proper planning. The advisor can help minimize the tax impacts.

Earnings reporting season is about to get underway, and Wall Street is expecting another quarter of big growth. But investors will likely pay little attention to a fifth straight quarter of double-digit gains. Instead, they want to hear what CEOs have to say about 2019 prospects, and how much the global trade war and rising wage pressures are dragging them down.

Employers are seeing more new hires rotate out of a position sooner, according to one Ohio firm. Waiting periods, disappearing employer-matches, early withdrawal taxes and penalties can affect your client’s employer-sponsored retirement account, says one adviser.

The month of January is often met with clients eager to complete their New Year’ s resolutions to act more adult. Besides new exercise regimes and attempts at savings accounts, from a legal perspective, the new year is the perfect impetus for tackling life’ s perennial to-do list. From an estate planning perspective, here is a punch list that every adult should look…

Wall Street’s analysts and market experts have scores of unique investing ideas and perspectives as we begin the new year. Experts from across the spectrum- from Wall Street’s most prominent stock-analysis outfits to “boutique” shops that specialize in just one or two corners of the market- have delivered their market outlooks for 2019. They include price…

Most partnerships are forged because people want to work together. There may be a little more to that in some cases, as in one has the capital and the other has the knowledge or business acumen. But generally, unless you inherited something with someone else, partnerships should be based on an amicable relationship with a prosperous goal.

For a smooth ride to retirement, take these financial steps when you have 10 years to go.

Retirees who have a financial plan feel more at ease about opening their wallets.

Holiday parties are fun for economists when the stock market is up and calm— then we are regaled with stories of savvy picks and personal triumphs. When equities head south along the pattern of a rat seeking out of a maze, folks irritably ask– professor, what’s wrong? Two facts should color assessments of the recent market correction: Stocks are undervalued and the…

–Focus Financial Partners Inc., a leading partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms, today announced that definitive agreements have been entered into under which Aurora Financial Advisors, LLC will join The Colony Group, LLC, and WG&S, LLP will join Gelfand, Rennert& Feldman, LLC. The Colony Group, LLC, Boston, Massachusetts: Aurora, an…

There’s been no shortage of financial news in 2018. From the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest to the ups and downs of the stock market, here are the best AdvisorNews articles of 2018.

There’s no denying that U.S. markets are on shaky ground.

Holistic planning and financial wellness are two of the themes that life insurance agents can expect to see in their business in 2019, according to an industry analyst. The challenge for agents is “How do I continue to do what I’m really good at – life insurance – but also be more for my client?”

Dec. 20– BOSTON– The secretary of state’s office filed an administrative complaint against a South Orleans investment adviser Wednesday, seeking to have his registration revoked after he allegedly ran a scheme with a stockbroker to overcharge his clients more than $1 million in trading fees. According to the complaint, Weller worked with broker Timothy…

The Federal Reserve is increasing interest rates by 0.25 percent, equaling a hike in late September. Clients might not fully understand the implications of the rising interest rates, or how it impacts their portfolio. This offers a golden opportunity for advisors to provide an education and bond with clients.

Woodbridge collapsed into bankruptcy in December 2017 and the SEC previously charged the company, its owner and others https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2017-235 with operating a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme and charged five of the top Florida- based sales agents https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2018-157 for securities and…

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following order instituting administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings involving Ancora Advisors:. The Securities and Exchange Commission deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to…

This week, we will talk about some unusual IRA rules. Sometimes, federal law allows special benefits for military personnel. One of these special treatments that most people do not know about allows the beneficiary of military death gratuities and Service members Group Life Insurance to contribute funds to a Roth IRA or a Coverdale Education Savings Account.

All signs point to 2019 being a good year to be a financial advisor. The regulatory shackles are in abeyance, while surveys show consumers are happier and better prepared when they get financial advice. In addition, annuities are on the way back and more Americans are gaining access to retirement plans.

Especially once you drive off I-95 or U.S. 202, little Delaware has almost the lowest gas prices in the U.S., averaging more than 50 cents below what Pennsylvanians have been paying this fall, according to AAA and Boston- based GasBuddy.com. With the U.S. selling more oil to foreigners than it buys abroad, higher oil prices will mean more money flowing into the U.S.,…

While teaching corporate finance at Augusta University in Georgia, associate professor Peter M. Basciano noticed that students who hadn’t been exposed to investing seemed intimidated by it. That led him to re-think his own family’s financial education. Forty-five percent of parents in a T. Rowe Price 2018 Parents, Kids& Money Survey said they talk with their…

The Nasdaq fell into correction mode, and most of the Standard& Poor’s 500- stock index’s components slipped into either a correction or an outright bear market. Trade talks between the U.S. and China are threatening to take out one of the major headwinds on American stock performance. There are plenty of risks, of course, including a collapse in trade relations…

Nearly one in five (18%) respondents said they will include financial planning in their resolutions for next year, with millennials once again leading the way at 27 percent. Fewer Americans are troubled about financial issues like stagnant wages (23%) and job security (18%) than they were in 2017 (30% and 26%, respectively).

Morgan Stanley, a multinational financial services corporation, issued the following news release:. The majority of investors and bank loan officers do not see the significant funding imbalance facing female and minority entrepreneurs in the U.S., despite making imbalanced investment decisions themselves, according to a new report and survey released by…

The stock market is up and down and most analysts expect the Federal Reserve to raise short-term rates during its meeting this month and continue to raise rates in 2019. The wild swings of the economy are likely to continue, necessitating a cautious investing approach.

WINDSOR, Conn., Dec. 11, 2018 – U.S. single premium pension buy-out product sales topped $6.2 billion in the third quarter 2018. This…

Sixty-nine percent of Millennial business owners work with an insurance agent, followed by Boomers at 66 percent and Gen X at 59 percent. The most common reason for working with an insurance agent among all generations is the trust that business owners place on the guidance and expertise from an agent.

Forty-four percent of financial advisors say their confidence level in the economy is about the same as it was this time last year. Thirty-eight percent are less confident, while 18 percent are more confident. The results come via a new survey by ALPS Advisors.

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that three broker-dealers have agreed to pay more than $6 million to settle charges for providing the SEC with incomplete and inaccurate securities trading information in required SEC productions known as “blue sheet data,” which the SEC uses to carry out its enforcement and regulatory obligations,…

Eastern District of New York. Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Steven Pagartanis pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme over the course of 18 years. Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F….

I talked to a small group of consumers and savers recently and was asked about my “year-end advice” for investors. They wanted the live version of “Five things to do before the year ends.” But New Year’s Day is always an impetus for change, so if you can fix some financial wrongs before the start of the year, go for it.

His crimes lasted roughly 45 years, according to FBI agents now speaking publicly about the case for the first time, a decade after Madoff’s arrest. Special Agent Patrick J. Duffy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation helped oversee the government’s probe. A South Jersey native and 2002 LaSalle University graduate, Duffy worked as a KPMG accountant in…