Montgomery Community Media

Despite incredible political acrimony, mudslinging, and some seeming chaos in the new administration, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (“the Dow”) managed to rise about 14% from Election Day to February 28. While there have been gradual increases to the underlying economy and corporate profits that pre-date the election, three possible reasons for the recent stock […]

Few people enter a marriage expecting it to end in divorce, but unfortunately, many marriages do. While no one wants to plan for a divorce, sound financial planning can help ease or protect against the financial effects of a divorce, should one come to pass. Below are 9 steps you can take that will serve […]

With Valentine’s Day a few weeks away, it might seem coldhearted to be writing about divorce, but there are reportedly more divorce filings in January than in any other month. While repairing the cracks in cupid’s love bubble may not always be possible, couples can take some steps to reduce arguments, at least around money. […]

  December 2016 and Outlook into 2017 The Markets: In the fourth quarter of 2016, the U.S. stock market had a strong performance and was likely benefiting from three main areas of President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda: corporate tax reform, regulatory reform, and a robust infrastructure spending bill. To be sure, these areas can boost economic activity, […]

With the New Year fast approaching, many of us are thinking of goals and priorities for the coming year. Personal and family finances should be high on the list of important areas to consider. Spending just a few minutes on some key areas of your financial life can help you start 2017 on the right […]

The Markets:  November, at least as far as the stock market is concerned, was the opposite of March: it came in like a lamb and went out like a lion. At the start of the month, there was caution and uncertainty about the election and its impact on the stock market. The conventional wisdom was […]

Financial literacy can be learned at any age, but the earlier we start teaching our kids, the better prepared they will be for their adult lives. A recent Gallup Poll found that “financial literacy is crucial for students to successfully navigate their futures.” Gallup measured the level of “financial literacy” in students grades five through 12 […]

The Markets:  Like millions of Americans, the U.S. stock market seems to be waiting for the U.S. election for clues on what will happen next. After a sharp January – February 2016 decline followed by an immediate rebound, the end result is that several of the U.S. stock market indices are up only low single […]

Whatever the time of year, paying for college is usually on the minds of parents. For the middle class it is especially daunting. The wealthy usually have the means to afford the $50,000 to $60,000 annual cost at some private colleges. And, if a talented student is from an impoverished background, there are ways (grants, […]

With the start of the fourth quarter, it’s a good time to make sure we are executing on our 2016 financial strategies before year end. For some goals, the calendar year end is more of a guideline, but for others, December 31st is a firm deadline. Maximize your employer’s matching contribution in your 401(k) plan. […]