This week's reads feature: (1) A very American story about capitalism consuming our national preparedness and resiliency; (2) A piece by, James Stewart, a highly regarded financial reporter for the New York Times and who appears regularly on CNBC, tells his personal story of investing through the current market turmoil. He tells how he lost his disciplined approach to investing in the emotional turmoil of the coronavirus. His problem? He was doing it all himself. A less emotional financial advisor would have been helpful in implementing a strategy that suited his objectives.; (3) Tom Colicchio, award-winning restaurateur, Top Chef head judge, and food activist, tells the story of what it’s like to lay off nearly 300 employees—and how he wants us to rethink unchecked capitalism; (4) As coronavirus sweeps the globe, there is not a single Trilogy Evo Universal ventilator — developed with government funds — in the U.S. stockpile; and (5) The CARES Act makes it easier to gain access to retirement accounts in a pinch, but they're not likely to be your best source of emergency cash.

March marks a celebration of both Women’s History Month and Financial Literacy Month. As a financial advising firm majority-owned by women, this month should be right up our alley. March 2020, though, is like no other March most of us have ever experienced with incredible upheaval in people’s daily lives. For many, schools are closed and parents are searching for tools and resources to help teach their children. We decided to combine Women’s History Month, Financial Literacy, and the quest to find homeschooling resources. We hope some of these materials can help parents as they navigate the coming days at home with their children.

In an uncertain investment climate, some investors retreat to cash. After all, it doesn’t seem to go down in value when the rest of the market does. The certainty of that cash helps investors sleep at night.

This week's reads feature: (1) Charts showing what we've learned about sticking out bear markets, avoiding short-term losses, and not trying to time the market; (2) algorithmic trading leading to increased volatility in the markets; (3) an analysis of whether you should buy stocks now; (4) key personal finance questions in the age of coronavirus; (5) the dollar is on a tear and why that is troubling; and (6) a bonus article on NASA fixing a probe on Mars by hitting it with a shovel - Don't you wish every fix was this easy?

This week's reads feature the dangers of corporate debt exposed by the coronavirus, Cash App’s novel business model to grow its business by giving money away, obstacles to the success of the Fed’s recent monetary policy, Harvard Business Review’s study on the world-wide decline in democracy and its effect on free markets, and reaction to the U.S. airline industry’s request for a bailout.

This week's reads feature the economic effects of coronavirus, the oil impasse between Russia and Saudi Arabia, tax preparation (and why you might consider hiring a professional), and an interesting look at the collapse of WeWork's IPO.

Congress passed the SECURE Act in December of 2019 with bipartisan support. It is supposed to promote increased retirement savings, but the most glaring change is the ACCELERATED TAX on inherited retirement accounts. Thought Estate Tax was only imposed on the most wealthy? Think again. Come enjoy refreshments and have a conversation about what this law means for you.

Join us for a complimentary breakfast buffet and a lively Q&A session. Topics will include: financial planning for 2020, savings vehicles you didn't even know existed, new and ignored tax issues, and estate planning documents that you really do need. For our police and fire trustees, we will also discuss protecting your retirement in light of the new consolidation law. Pomegranate Restaurant - Aurora, IL Saturday, January 18th - 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Propel Financial Advisors, LLC invites you to join us for a complimentary lunch and Q&A with our advisors about timely financial planning concerns: Hearth Restaurant 4604 N. Prospect Road Peoria Heights, IL Thursday, January 16th, 2020 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

On December 6, 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a glowing jobs report, stating the US added 266,000 new jobs in November.* These numbers impress, as the forecast called for 187,000 new jobs. The BLS also made positive revisions to the September and October jobs numbers, adding 13,000 and 28,000 respectively. The report marks 11 consecutive years of economic expansion and the unemployment rate dropping to a fifty-year low of 3.5%. (In Ames, Iowa, the unemployment rate is just 1.3%!) But with impressive numbers, comes skepticism. Can these numbers be real in a political environment rich in falsehoods and half-truths? If the economy is so strong why is wage growth stagnant? A look under the hood helps elucidate some of these questions.