The second-largest bank failure in history and the possibility of more interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve are the hot topics of the week. Last week, Chairman Powell testified in front of Congress about how it’s quite possible they will continue to raise rates. We’ve started to see the fallout of these rising rates and what it means for banks. Banks are required to keep a certain amount on deposit and in certain instruments to be available for customer withdrawals, and rising rates have affected the value of those reserves.
What do rising rates and this recent bank failure all mean for you personally and our overall economy? How can you earn more interest on your “safe” money? Rising rates don’t mean you have to lose money if you’re prepared. The Sandman is walking through our playbook on what you need to do in this type of environment.

Last week, we had a five-year breakeven on inflation expectations by hitting a new four-month high, underscoring new concerns about price pressures and where inflation is headed. Next, critical economic reports will be coming out in the next few weeks that will help determine if stocks may continue to regain lost ground, as they have after hitting their worst weekly decline in several months. All this and more on Protect Your Assets.

Figuring out what to do with your company pension when you retire can be complicated—you have important choices to make that can impact both your and your family’s financial future. Once you choose your pension benefit, you are locked in forever. Plus, The decision you make will have a lasting impact on your family as well because how that money gets paid out to your spouse and/or your family after you’re gone is all a function of that decision. Stephen Dobrow from Primark Benefits is on the show to discuss lump sum vs. regular pension payments and how to determine what’s right for you and your family.
Plus, last week, we had a five-year breakeven on inflation expectations by hitting a new four-month high, underscoring new concerns about price pressures and where inflation is headed. Next, critical economic reports will be coming out in the next few weeks that will help determine if stocks may continue to regain lost ground, as they have after hitting their worst weekly decline in several months. All this and more on Protect Your Assets.

The Core PCE Price Index shows inflation is not decreasing, which is how the Fed determines if interest rates should continue to rise in an attempt to combat it. This creates a headwind on stocks, making it tougher for companies to make money. Add that recipe into the market, and you get a negative reaction. How can shorter-duration Treasuries help mitigate some of the losses you may be experiencing in your stock portfolio? All that and more on this week’s market segment.

One of the biggest decisions—and largest risks—you’ll face is retirement is how to take money out of your accounts and live off of that for the rest of your life when the markets are going up and down. If you do it right, it’s possible to have predictable, consistent income month after month. But if you do it hastily, you could run out. That’s what we want to help you avoid against, and one of the main reasons people run out of money is something called SOR risk, also known as sequence of return risk. This is one thing you have to closely guard against. The Sandman is covering what SOR risk is and how you can protect your retirement from it.
Plus, one of your most important assets is your health and well-being. Angie Campos, the clinical director of Egoscue postural therapy, is here to discuss how this therapy can help relieve pain.

2023 is off to a strong start for consumer spending. Even though the economy started on solid footing in January, the unexpected consumer strength, the tight labor market, and inflation, which keeps hanging in there, are challenging the Fed to keep interest rates higher for longer. Hear the rest of The Sandman’s market report.

Some uncertainty and volatility returned to the markets last week, prompting the question: Will the rally continue or will volatility increase? Plus, the 10-2 spread is inverted, meaning the two-year Treasury is paying more than the 10-year Treasury. Does this mean the Fed has raised rates too much? All this and more on this week’s market segment.

U.S. stock markets rose, but gains have evaporated a bit with the Fed’s most recent rate hike and data pointing to a tight labor market. Central banks are also becoming more nuanced in their fight against inflation. Consumers are still out there, the economy is still moving ahead, unemployment obviously still positive, but a recession could still be on the horizon. All this and more on Protect Your Assets this week. 

Reducing the taxes you pay in retirement means you likely will need to withdraw less money from your savings each year to cover expenses. As a result, your savings may last longer, leaving more money available to spend on things you enjoy. While most people understand this, many often fail to fully appreciate the control they could have over taxes. People who acquire large amounts of wealth often recognize that many strategies exist to control when taxes will be paid. More important is the realization that by timing when taxes are paid, opportunities arise to also control the amount of those taxes. With the planned sunsetting of the 2018 Tax Cuts and Job Acts and concern that tax rates might be rising in the future, now is an ideal time to understand the extent of your control your taxes and how this might lead to a more confident and enjoyable lifestyle now—not to mention your retirement.

Are you thinking of retiring this year? Now is the time to start planning—from what to do with cash sitting in your bank account to how to withdraw your Social Security benefits most effectively. Hear three retirement pitfalls to avoid.

Plus, the market had a great week last week, and jobless claims near multi-decade lows. It’s unclear how much economic growth we will see and how the strong labor market will impact earnings. The buzz also continues to be around if we’ll have a hard or soft landing from the Fed. Particularly strong January performance has often been a signal of above-average gains for the year ahead. Going forward, The Sandman thinks recessionary pressures are going to continue, and we’ll continue to see falling corporate earnings and layoffs, particularly in the tech sector, causing volatility in this first half of the year. Catch the rest of the weekly market report on this week’s episode.