Inflation and employment remain critical areas of focus for the Federal Reserve and Washington D.C. as politicians look to next year’s midterm elections. After a challenging September, equities roared back with an earnings season that is driving a wave of positive sentiment expected to last through the end of the year. The benefits of gold as a portfolio hedge are reexamined as inflation stakes its claim on the front burner.

The IRS recently announced updated retirement plan contribution limits, effective 2022. It’s a great time to review your retirement accounts and consider adjusting your contributions to be sure you are taking advantage of the increased contribution limits. To see the IRS changes made for 2022, review our new contribution chart.

When it comes to family finances, effective communication is critical for a healthy relationship. Sadly, money conflicts have led to a significant number of divorces among couples in the U.S. If you and your spouse have trouble discussing money, taking the couples and money quiz and following a few straightforward steps can help you avoid financial conflicts and strengthen your relationship.

Understanding the fundamentals of personal credit can help you more efficiently pursue your personal, professional and financial goals. Kathleen Kenealy, Director of Financial Planning at Boston Private, discusses the essentials that can help you quickly establish, oversee and optimize your credit and build it into a dependable resource that can be utilized throughout your lifetime.

Discover ways to reduce your taxes now and in the future. Our tax planning checklist has been revised and updated with the latest strategies needed for your 2021 tax planning. We discuss eleven simple tactics that may help you lower your tax rates. Be sure to review these options with your advisors before the December 31 deadline.

US Treasury yields have been trending lower despite favorable fiscal policies and strong economic conditions. For its part, the Fed been dealing with an elevated stock market, rising commodity prices and an ongoing surge in inflation. To combat these issues, the Fed has indicated it may begin to raise interest rates as early as next year. Overall, corporate and municipal bonds had a strong third quarter although upcoming reductions in enhanced unemployment benefits may have a negative impact on municipal issues

September saw broad declines across equity markets due to a confluence of factors including inflation, higher Treasury yields, the COVID surge and a rise in corporate tax rates. As we look toward the future, equity investors would be wise to continue considering organizations that are poised to deliver higher earnings over time.

Although this year’s third quarter was flat, the S&P 500 is up significantly. The vitality of the US economy is driving our affinity for US Domestic Equities. Risks, however, are on the horizon along with significant unknowns and variables that may challenge sustained market growth. We continued to advocate portfolio diversification across asset classes.