Let’s talk about stock market volatility because we have seen some extraordinary volatility lately. Let’s start by recalling the basic axiom of investing in common stocks: If you want the so-called equity risk premium, then you should expect stock market volatility and, in fact, welcome it. It’s completely counterintuitive.
Stocks rose sharply Friday and for the week. Stock values have come down since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the price of the Standard & Poor’s 500 is now in line with its long-term compound annual growth rate of 7%. This indicates stocks are not overpriced like they were in the tech-stock bubble, which began in 1997 and peaked in 1999 and 2000 when the S&P 500 was out of line with the average annual 7% long-term growth trend.
Our tips are designed to make you think about how you could reduce your tax bill for 2022. They’re reminders about ways to cut your federal tax bill by December 31, 2022 in specific situations of interest to business owners, doctors, and employees in executive management as well as middle managers, teachers, and other hard-working lifelong retirement investors.
The good news is that the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation may be bottoming, but the bad news is the American consumer’s purchasing power declined by -4.8% in the 12 months ended August 31.
It’s only mid-September, but please begin to think about year-end tax planning. This is an unusual year for tax planning. Not only has the stock market been volatile but new rules about distributions from IRAs and federally qualified retirement plans (QRPs) – such as 401(k), 403(b) and defined benefit plans –became effective this year, and the newly-enacted Inflation Reduction Act also adds some planning opportunities.