Hello March! As the "in like a lion, out like a lamb" month gets underway, here's our latest Money Roundup.
Nasdaq notches first record high close since 2021 (Reuters). At one point, in December 2022, the index had fallen 30% from its previous high.
What if you invested at the peak right before the 2008 crisis? (Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense). "The best defense against significant losses in the stock market is a long enough time horizon."
A friendly reminder for those new to Bitcoin (Charlie Bilello via X). Enthused about the latest Bitcoin run-up? Fine. But carefully review this table.
How rising interest rates affect your retirement plan (Christine Benz and Margaret Giles, Morningstar). Be aware of the implications for returns, asset allocation, and withdrawal rates.
4 rules for retirement savings (Fidelity Viewpoints). A simple approach to thinking through four critical aspects of retirement savings.
The case for and against dividend ETFs (Nick Maggiulli, Of Dollars and Data). A helpful "explainer" about dividend-paying stocks/funds.
Car loans haven't been this hard to get since August 2020 (Bloomberg via Financial Advisor). "Lenders have become more risk averse."
How to avoid paying higher taxes when your spouse dies (Wall Street Journal). A surviving spouse, who must file as a single taxpayer, steps into the "survivor trap."
The U.S. national debt is rising by $1 trillion about every 100 days (CNBC). Related: The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2024 to 2034 (Congressional Budget Office). "Federal debt...increases each year in CBO's projections, rising from 99 percent of GDP this year to 116 percent in 2034. That would be the largest amount ever recorded in U.S. history."
Social Security: Could cutting 401(k) tax exemption fund program's shortfall? (GOBankingRates via Nasdaq). The (controversial) idea is to repeal the tax break for contributing to a workplace retirement account and use the "ensuing revenue" to shore up Social Security.
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