Blogs

Quarterly Market Review: Q4 2023 By: Paul Dickson, Director of Research and Giri Krishnan, Senior Portfolio Manager The “Soft-Landing” Has Become the Default Scenario The Federal Reserve signaled that it is likely done with rate hikes. The markets responded favorably, nearly doubling the annual return on the S&P 500. This signaling also moved the U.S. Aggregate Bond market from being in the red to having a decisively positive year. The pivot in policymakers’ outlook was somewhat of a surprise given that the data-informed policy has not improved nearly as much as their stance has changed. While...

Understanding 401(k) contribution limits can be confusing even sometimes overwhelming. They are, however, essential to know. Below is a break down of important contribution limits that help employees determine whether their savings are on track or if there is an opportunity to catch up. The annual contribution limit is a great goal to keep in mind. It also encourages individuals who are able to defer additional funds into retirement savings to take advantage of doing so. 2024 2023 2022 Employee Contribution Limit $23,000 $22,500 $20,500 Employee Catch-Up Contribution (For employees aged 50 and...

Plan Sponsors May Offer Emergency Savings Accounts to Employees Starting Next Year Emergency savings accounts within retirement plans are a relatively new concept that has not been widely studied yet. Recent research underscores the current emergency savings challenge and shines a light on the potential benefits of these accounts. Digging Into the Data According to a report by Bankrate, 1 30% of Americans made building an emergency savings account their top financial goal of 2023. The report also found that nearly half (49%) have less savings (39%) or no savings (10%) compared to a year ago...

Generational Differences Toward Retirement Readiness Can Help Inform Your 2024 Education Strategy On average, American workers today expect to need $1.27 million to retire comfortably, up from $1.25 million in 2022, according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2023 Planning & Progress study. Those expectations may be less than what is realistic, the study reported. That’s because the average amount saved for retirement has only modestly increased by 3% to $89,300, up from $86,869 in 2022. The study also highlighted a number of generational differences regarding retirement readiness that can help inform...

Your gut is not just where you digest your food. It’s also where you have trillions of tiny organisms that help you stay healthy, happy and smart. Here are some things you should know about your gut and how to make it stronger. What Is Gut Health? Gut health is all about the balance of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract. These microorganisms, also called the gut microbiome, help you break down food, get nutrients, fight inflammation and boost immunity. Gut health also affects your mental health, mood and brain function. In fact, your gut microbiome can produce vitamins, hormones...