In late January, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup called DeepSeek launched a powerful, low-cost AI tool. This challenged the belief that only the most prominent U.S. tech firms could lead in AI.
No matter when you decide to stop or phase-out of work, there are some important milestones to remember and plan for:
Two important developments are worthy of exploration in this quarter's commentary. First, rising intermediate and long-term interest rates are creating a markedly different environment for bonds and the broader investment landscape. Second, the trends that have characterized stock market returns over the last few years continued to an even greater degree in the fourth quarter and full year 2024.
QCDs (Qualified Charitable Distributions) are not widely utilized but can be very beneficial to taxpayers aged 70 1/2 or older, who are charitably inclined and carry high IRA balances.
Investors were treated to a bumpy ride in the third quarter, but stocks are at record highs as the final three months of 2024 get underway, and bonds are solidly in the green. The Federal Reserve’s long-awaited reduction in interest rates played a crucial role in the solid returns on stocks and bonds.
Many of the TCJA's provisions will expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress extends them. Given the political uncertainty, some wealthy households may wish to revisit their estate plans over the next year and consider pulling forward planned bequests to take advantage of the greater lifetime exemption.