Blog
Welcome to the MSA Financial blog! Our goal is to help educate and inform you about financial markets by providing our thoughts and opinions on current events, the markets and industry trends. We are happy to have you reading along and hope that we can assist you on your journey to financial success.
What Investors Need to Know About FDIC Insurance and SIPC
About the U.S. Banking SystemWith recent headlines about two failed U.S. banks and their ripple effect throughout the banking sector, we want to summarize the latest information on this evolving event. We assure you we are monitoring...
Read MoreThe Federal Reserve and the Banking System
For the Federal Reserve, credibility is everything. And its credibility is being tested by how it plans to manage the banking system in the days leading up to its March 21-22 meeting.Last month, Fed Chair Powell confidently told Wall...
Read MoreEducational Event - Social Security: The Choice of a Lifetime
Filing for Social Security is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make. That is why it is the choice of a lifetime.
Read MoreLast Minute Tips Before Tax Day
Fewer things are more reliable than Tax Day, even if the deadline has shifted around a bit in recent years. This year, it’s April 18th for most taxpayers, and recent legislation changes include substantial increases to...
Read MoreWords of Wisdom from Warren Buffett
The stock market can provide some head-scratching moments, which is why I like Warren Buffet’s quote, “...don’t watch the market closely.”Stocks have been strong this year, and they rallied sharply before...
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Smart Things to Do with a Bonus
If you are anticipating an annual bonus this year, it’s wise to come up with a thoughtful plan for the extra cash before it comes so you can get the most benefit from it. If you need more time to consider your options, deposit...
Read MoreSECURE Act 2.0: An Overview
In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and access those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it's a follow-up to...
Read MoreMake 2023 Your Best Year Ever
The New Year means taking a new look at your finances. The most important thing is to make sure you feel like you have the cashflow you need to do the things you want to do. So, let’s set some goals this year to build on last...
Read MoreFourth Quarter 2022 Market Commentary
The fourth quarter ended the year on a positive note with most asset classes rising during the last three months of the year. Despite the strong quarter, 2022 was still a challenging year with inflation and the Fed as primary causes.
Read MoreWhen the Fed Chair Talks, People Listen
The financial markets are on edge this year each time Fed Chair Jerome Powell takes the podium following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.The chart below shows that the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index has gained...
Read MoreNew Retirement Contribution Limits for 2023
The Internal Revenue Service has released new limits for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached near-record levels.Individual Retirement...
Read MoreAre You Getting the Most Out of Giving?
Making charitable contributions is a great way to help people in need while maximizing tax benefits, creating a win-win. Donations to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations can shrink taxable income, saving hard-earned cash. Here are...
Read MoreYour RMD deadline is December 31!
The time to take RMDs is upon us and since there are strategic ways to ensure that you can save more of your hard-earned money and enable it to continue to grow, we wanted to help you start the process now.
Read MoreThird Quarter 2022 Market Commentary
We hope that everyone had a great summer and is settling back into their regular routines this fall. Unfortunately, markets (both stocks and bonds) have been anything but routine as the volatility that began in the first half of...
Read MoreWhat is the Cost of Missing a Market Rebound?
Panic selling is not an investment strategy. While it is totally natural to be concerned about portfolio performance during declining markets, we can learn a lot about how we should (and shouldn’t) react by looking at history.
Read MoreHow to Buy I Bonds Direct from the Treasury
With inflation hovering near 40-year highs, some investors are looking for alternative ways to weather the storm. For many, a Series I Savings Bond is just the ticket.
Read MoreThese Months are More Volatile Than Others
We’re entering a tricky time of year: September and October have a reputation for bringing an extra measure of market volatility.Some of the stock market’s most challenging events have hit in September and October, and...
Read MoreThe Inflation Reduction Act: What Does It Mean for You?
As you probably heard on the news, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on August 16. Among other things, the legislation includes various initiatives such as locking in the American Rescue Plan health coverage...
Read MoreA 9.6% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Increase for Social Security?
Like many Americans, you may be feeling pain from the high cost of living every time you buy groceries or fill up at the pump. Surging food costs and higher gas prices are pinching consumers, especially those living on a fixed income....
Read MorePlanning for College Education Costs
Remember when a college education was reasonably priced? In the past 20 years, the cost of college tuition for public universities has risen 165%. College students and their families have been taking on more and more debt, and they are...
Read MoreEuro/Dollar Parity & Summer Travel
Summer travel is picking up this year. If you’re headed to Europe, you may notice that you get more bang for your buck.Why is that?For the first time in almost 20 years, the U.S. dollar and the euro have reached parity. Souvenirs...
Read MoreTime – Not Timing – Is the Best Way to Protect Gains
Good days and bad days are a fact of life in the market. Sometimes it’s up and we celebrate. But when it dips, we worry…and if it tanks, forget it: the first instinct for most of us is panic, and we wonder if we should just...
Read MoreStagflation: What Is It and Should I Worry About It?
Phew, what a roller coaster we’ve all been riding. There’s so much going on in the world right now, and a lot of it is less-than-happy news. Understandably, most of us have nagging worries about what’s going on in the...
Read MoreSecond Quarter 2022 Market Commentary
The volatility that started in the first quarter, intensified into the second quarter, leaving both stocks and bonds with their worst first half of the year since 1970.
Read MoreWhat is a Backdoor Roth IRA Conversion?
Like it or not, taxes are a way of life. They fund great things like roads, libraries and parks, but nobody wants to pay more than they absolutely have to. We often get questions like, “How can I balance my tax...
Read MoreFinancial Independence Day
The best part of Financial Independence Day? You get to pick your date! But, what does it mean to be financially independent? In its simplest form, financial independence is the liberty to live as you want, free of financial...
Read MoreInflation & Your Money
Inflation"If the current annual inflation rate is 8.6 percent, why do my bills seem like they're 10 percent higher than last year?"1Many of us ask ourselves that question, and it illustrates the importance of understanding how...
Read MoreFed Boosts Key Interest Rate 0.75%
What an “interesting” week. In a move unseen since 1994, the Federal Reserve has taken an aggressive stance toward inflation by raising the key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point.Investors initially...
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