Education, Articles and Videos
Please choose any of the following articles below that interest you. Each article is listed under the month it was written. Articles written in prior months may still have educational interest.
U.S. Oil Production Reaches Another Record – Commodity Sector Overview
Despite efforts to curtail oil consumption and production of domestic oil, the U.S. achieved another record producing year in 2023. With over 13 million barrels...
Market Performance During Presidential Election Years – Political Dynamics
Election year markets are always a quandary, as candidates propose economic and fiscal plans in order to boost the nation’s economy. Interestingly enough, political parties...
More U.S. Households Own Stocks – Consumer Finances
A recent survey conducted by the Federal Reserve, called the Survey of Consumer Finances has identified that 58% of U.S. households own stocks, up from...
Global Tax Rates On The Rise – Global Tax Policy
Governments worldwide rely on tax revenue in order to fund government expenses and operations. Tax policies and initiatives vary from country to country depending on...
The Fed Hikes Rates 4 Times In 2023 – Bond Market Overview
The Federal Reserve raised rates eleven times between 2023 and 2022, increasing the Fed Funds rate from 0% at the beginning of 2022 to 5.5%...
Stocks Finish 2023 On A Positive Note – Global Equity Review
Major global equity indices experienced a reversal in performance towards the end of 2023 relative to earlier in the year. Domestic indices including the Dow...
Year-End Tax Planning Activities – Tax Planning Overview
As year-end approaches, the importance of gathering necessary tax items is essential. Even though not much may have changed since 2023, it is always clever...
IRS Tax Rates & Limits For 2024 – Tax Planning Update
Update IRS limits and rates for tax year 2024 apply to income tax returns filed in 2025. Tax items for tax year 2024 affecting most...
Why Gas Prices Rise Faster Than They Fall – Commodities Review
Consumers nationwide are frustrated at gasoline pumps as prices have leaped much more quickly than they have dropped. As the drop in gas prices has...
Bond Yields Fall As Bond Prices Rise In November – Fixed Income Update
Bond prices rose in November with Treasury and corporate bonds posting record gains. The resulting drop in bond yields was encouraging for the overall market...