Month: March 2016

Market sentiment is very fickle and can turn quickly. Just look at the first quarter of 2016 as an example. It was a tumultuous period for stocks. The new year began ominously, as a global economic slowdown and the December decision by the FOMC to raise rates conspired to produce stocks’ worst two-week opening on record. The S&P 500 tumbled about 9% early in the year and remained depressed through the middle of February. Just as quickly, their gloom lifted and the S&P 500 Index rebounded to actually finished the quarter with a +1.4% gain? Has the negative tide turned for good or are there still risks that could derail the market's move higher?

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The Financial Planning Association of New Jersey (FPANJ) reports that they continue to hear of people who receive phone calls or voicemails from "the IRS" demanding payment or requesting a debit/credit card number or even threatening to bring in local police.  The scammers tend to target older individuals.  The FPANJ wants to remind you that the IRS will never contact you by phone and will never demand immediate payment.   The IRS issued a consumer alert in 2014 pointing out five easy ways to spot a suspicious call that still applies today.  Click "Read More" for the link to the alert.

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