News From the Control Tower - 4/5/2023

News from the Control Tower: Our weekly curated list of news stories affecting you and your finances.

--Amanda Vaught

I do love DIY, but sometimes you have to recognize that professionals have valuable skills that aren’t easily reproduced. The Washington Post story quotes a survey that 50% of men, with no training or experience, think they could land a passenger airplane in an emergency. Meanwhile, pilots say there’s no way. Is anyone surprised?

Speaking of experts, the esteemed tax reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Laura Saunders, has a great write-up on how brokerage accounts can be a very beneficial part of your tax strategy in retirement.  Read more of our continual advice to take advantage of different tax buckets during your savings years in this recent post: Retirement Tax Buckets: Plant the Right Seeds this Spring.

Finally, a few articles on how businesses continually have to pivot in the face of changing circumstances: one on the lagged effect from retailers not innovating during the Covid lockdowns, one on the impact of a TikTok shutdown on brand strategies, and one on an egg seller taking advantage of rising egg prices.

 1.       Think you can land a plane in an emergency? Pilots explain why you can’t.

Aviation experts say it’s only happening in your Hollywood dreams

Out of 20,063 adults surveyed in the United States, nearly a third said they were “somewhat confident” or “very confident” that they could safely land a passenger airplane in an emergency.

2.       How You Can Grab a 0% Tax Rate

 The zero rate on investment income is often overlooked. Make sure it’s in your tax tool kit.

3.       That Style, Again? How Shopping Got So Boring

Manufacturers and retailers leaned on popular goods in the pandemic and often hit pause on innovating.

4.       TikTok hearing brings potential US ban into focus for brands and creators

5.       High egg prices send profits at largest US producer soaring more than 700%