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The last 18 months have been a roller coaster ride for investors, even though stocks and bonds have delivered strong returns this year. With interest rates around the world declining, the financial markets have been mostly ignoring the increasing number of signs our global and U. S. economies are slowing. The volatility that initially reappeared in 2018, then in early May of this year, and now again within the last week, is increasingly looking like a precursor for more in the future. Although we feel the global economic expansion can continue, our business cycle appears to be in the later stages. Investing is likely to become more challenging from here.

Eligibility for Medicare coverage begins at age 65. Those who retire before this age and lose health insurance coverage provided by their employer will pay considerably more for health insurance until they become eligible for Medicare. The cost of monthly premiums increases steadily with age, peaking at age 64.

Cyber crime affects hundreds of millions of individuals globally each year with victims often unaware they have even been affected. The sophistication of methods is ever-increasing and even large corporations and governmental institutions (e.g. Anthem, Equifax, the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission) have fallen victim to egregious security breaches. In absence of a cybersecurity panacea there are basic measures that can be taken to minimize both your exposure and vulnerability.

Small California estates with assets worth $150,000 or less may be settled without formal probate proceedings, using relatively simple transfer procedures. However, if the gross estate exceeds this amount and it contains assets which must pass through probate, the estate can expect to incur substantial expenses.

Financial markets are now navigating the negatives of “bumpy” trade negotiations and the positives of a more accommodative monetary policy. We expect our U. S. Federal Reserve Bank will leave interest rates alone through the remainder of the year, and neither raise nor cut rates in 2019.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 (2017)1 is the most significant tax legislation since the Tax Reform Act of 1986. The law entails consequences for all taxpayers. Some of these consequences are beneficial, some are adverse. Below is a summary of the most significant changes organized by taxpayer category (individual, business, investor). These changes are further subdivided according to those who may be ‘helped’ and those who may be ‘hurt’ by the new law and what the net effect of this change is.