Fundamentally, the topic of tariffs is good. Government leaders implement tariffs on foreign products and services to restrict imports by tacking on additional taxes or fees. The aim is to make foreign products less attractive to domestic consumers. ¹

As you age, calculating the chances that you’ll need long-term care—and the associated costs—is incredibly important. More than half of people turning 65 will require long-term care during their lifetimes, and the costs may be much higher than you expect. In 1980, the U.S. had $30 billion in long-term care spending.

December 2016

• Playing Catch-Up with Your 401(k) or IRA
• The Giving Season: Six Tips for Making Smart and Effective
• Charitable Donations This Holiday Season
• What It Means to Be a Financial Caregiver for Your Parents
• What should I evaluate when considering a new job offer?
• I received a new job offer but the salary is low. Should I make a counteroffer?

November 2016

• Will vs. Trust: Is One Better Than the Other?
• Are You Ending 2016 Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise?
• Pretax, Roth, or After-Tax Contributions: Which Should You Choose?
• Do I need to make any changes to my Medicare coverage for next year?
• What changes can I make during this year's Medicare Open Enrollment Period?

October 2016

• Earnings Call: A Closer Look at Financial Reports
• Ten Year-End Tax Tips for 2016
• Top Financial Concerns of Baby Boomers,
• Generation Xers, and Millennials
• What are my health-care options if I retire early?

Regardless of your age, the thought of not having to work, but still enjoying a great quality of life is probably quite appealing. Retirement sneaks up on you as each year goes by faster and faster.

I don’t spend a lot of time offering specific market commentary at Financial Planning Fort Collins.  I think there are a lot of places and a lot of personalities that can offer plenty of very fine commentary for you to enjoy, if that's your thing.  But when bigger picture things happen, I will try to put them into context, as much as possible.

Which segues into interest rates, and bonds.  Interest rates have recently made a sharp move higher.  In early May the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was at a yield of 1.66%, near the all-time lows hit in July of 2012.  The difference between this year and last is that in just over a month the yield on that 10-year T-note has snapped up to around 2.20%.  On a relative basis, that's a big move for the bond market - yields moved up by nearly 1/3rd in around 30 days.¹