With stocks hovering around an all-time record high, a growing likelihood of a Federal income tax rate hike by 2021, and the deadline for end-of-year tax tactics closing in fast, this is a timely reminder to run a reality check on your retirement income plan. An unusual confluence of tax, financial-market and political factors make this a particularly good time for high-income and high net worth individuals to check their retirement income plan. Let’s get specific about current conditions: In 2019, the federal government is spending a trillion dollars more than it collected in revenue, and at the end of 2018, the national debt totaled $22 trillion Meanwhile, changing political winds could sweep in higher federal tax rates. Managing your tax bracket now — in case of a hike in federal income tax brackets — could lower your tax bill, not just for 2019 but in the year or two ahead, as well. Proactive tax planning before the end of 2019 may be especially timely for business owners with an interest in a pass-through entity, like an LLC, S corp, or sole proprietorship.

Major economic trends are always unfolding but are hidden in plain sight. Along these, only if you know what to look for would you see the spectacular After the Commerce Department released the latest monthly retail sales figures on Friday morning, the financial press and financial cable TV reported that October’s three-tenths of 1% uptick allayed fears of a recession but was nothing spectacular. The press totally missed the hidden trend in the economic picture by not adjusting retail sales for inflation. Inflation is at a long-term low and is not showing any sign of returning anytime soon to its performance in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. A low inflation rate masks strong real growth in consumer spending, but spotting it in the current investment picture requires a trained eye. Viewed from a prudent professional perspective, the newly released retail sales data helps explain why stock prices have been breaking records. Answers to life’s questions are often right in front of us, but we don’t see them. Please contact us with any questions fulbrightteam@moneyful.com or to set up a meeting at 919-544-0398, and don't hesitate to share this video with people who might benefit from our work.

When stocks repeatedly break new all-time highs, as they have done in recent weeks, you have to start wonder if investors are growing irrational, overly exuberant. Here are the facts. These four charts show the latest reading of key fundamental economic factors driving record financial market prices. Let’s start with the latest figures on the nation’s gross domestic product. Third quarter growth tallied by the federal government’s Bureau of Economic Analysis came in at 1.93%. The net of three of the four factors in economic growth — business investment, net exports, and state and local government spending — did not contribute to growth but consumer strength offset them and was the source of the 1.93% quarterly growth rate for the U.S.

Have you ever worried that your low credit score will cause you to suffer the humiliation of being declined for credit cards, car loans, a mortgage, or even that rental apartment you fell in love with? What about getting turned down for your dream job? Having a better credit or credit score can improve: 1. Lower your interest rate on Loans and Credit Cards 2. Easier Approval for Credit 3. Higher Credit Limits that can increase your credit score 4. Easier to Get Approved as a Tenant 5. Easier Approval for Mortgage 6. Lower auto insurance 7. Easier Approval for Cell Phone contract 8. Save on Security Deposits for Utility Bills 9. Increase your odds of landing a job

The words Millennial and Baby Boomers are seldom used in the same sentence. Even more rare, as a way to connect the two generations in a show of solidarity. Today we will discuss these two distinct generations to illustrate how they can learn valuable lessons from each other simply by listening more closely and sharing more freely. Baby Boomers are people born between 1946 to 1964 and Millennials between 1981 to 1996. No artificial barriers should divide the two generations. If we are to understand each other more fully, we should try to embody mutual values and best practices in how to create an ideal quality of life, how to face the future for mutual enrichment, and how to give back to each other and to society at large.

The nation is in a trade war with China, the manufacturing sector has fallen into a recession, and an impeachment of the President fraught with political uncertainty is under way. With so many frights haunting investors this Halloween, it’s important to note that the worst stock market scares of the past year all followed actions by the Federal Reserve Board, and the Fed has been able to avert Wall Street’s worst fears. An economic growth rate of about 1.8% annually is sustainable as long as the Fed does not make a policy mistake, which is always possible. Fed mistakes have caused every recession in modern history. But a subtle trend shown here is that the nation’s central bank has been able to lengthen the business cycle in recent decades. Fed Chairman Powell has said the Fed may be able to extend the current cycle of growth in gross domestic product well beyond the 123 months already achieved. Central banks have learned how to better manage national economies, a sign of progress in the modern era that has unfolded slowly in the post-War period. Since Alexander Hamilton revolutionized central banking in 1790, the United States has learned from its mistakes. The Fed used new modern tactics to stop the world financial system from collapsing in 2008 and its three-stage quantitative easing program — a central bank tactic never before attempted in a major economy — helped refinance this long expansion. The Fed is more nimble and quick to change monetary policy before economic growth is choked by high lending-rates, and the speed of information has accelerated the time it takes to promulgate monetary policy shifts. As Halloween sweeps by and the stock market hovers near a record high and seems vulnerable to frightening risks, watch the actions of the Fed in extending the expansion. Please contact us at 919-354-0368 or fulbrightteam@moneyful.com with any questions or to set up a meeting, and don't hesitate to share this video with people who might benefit from our work.

By any measure, we spend about half of our time thinking about something other than what we’re supposed to be doing. At work, this can be especially lethal to our projects and, along with them, our job satisfaction and success. Yet few people understand the degree to which routine diversions impact our performance. In fact, how many of us consider interruptions and distractions as just part of the job? But they aren’t, nor should they be, particularly when our precious projects are on the line. To start, let’s differentiate between interruptions, or externally driven diversions, and distractions, or internally driven diversions. Of the two, interruptions tend to be harder to deal with because they usually involve other living beings — say, a meddling micromanager, a chatty coworker, or even a playful pup. But distractions, particularly in the digital age, can be just as difficult. Who among us hasn’t allowed a ‘quick’ Facebook or email check devolve into 45 minutes we’ll never get back? Though minimizing distractions and interruptions may require different solutions, the solutions themselves share a common thread: They require recognizing the ‘entry point’ and then uncovering how to counter it. By focusing on entry points, we can actually prevent distractions and interruptions rather than just react to them. After all, once we’re diverted, we lose valuable momentum and oftentimes the will to recover it. So, whether interruptions or diversions, here are nine ways to deal with project diversions — and do your best work.

Thanks to the #MeToo movement, companies are widely acknowledging the reality of sexual harassment and taking steps to protect employees. Driven by celebrity activists, the Time’s Up campaign is aiming to close the wage gap and shatter that glass ceiling. Yet, in workplaces across America, discrimination against women persists. Too often, bright, proficient, and extremely dedicated women are overlooked by their superiors, overshadowed by their male peers, and seethe in silence or worse, blame themselves. More influence on the job almost always means more money. After all, with more influence you can get that promotion, make more sales, get more people to like you. Joining us for our discussion Building Your Authority is Ron Price who is calling in from his Boise Idaho office. Ron Price is an internationally recognized business advisor, executive coach, speaker, and author who has worked in 15 countries and served in nearly every level of executive management over the past 40 years. The former president of a mult-million dollar international company, in 2004 he started Price Associates, a global leadership advisory firm. His latest co-authored book is Growing Influence Welcome to Mastering Your Money, is Ron Price .

Can The U.S. Survive With Just 5% Of GDP From Manufacturing? Since September 2018, manufacturing activity plunged from record levels, and officially went into recession territory in August. Manufacturing now accounts for just 11% of total US economic activity and its continued plunge is the source of fears about the future of the American economy. Can the U.S. economy survive if the manufacturing sectors continues to shrink? Here are the facts. In 1950, manufacturing jobs were 37% of total private sector jobs. Today that figure is 10%. Some manufacturing jobs have been replaced by jobs in leisure and hospitality, sectors with lower-paying jobs; but most of the lost manufacturing jobs have been replaced by better-paying jobs in the health care sector, education or professional and business services. These are the latest projections from the Bureau of Labor Services of the sectors of the economy that will experience the fastest job creation rates over the next decade. Health care is projected to grow the fastest by far! Some 34 million new jobs are expected to be created in the health care sector! And professional and business services are expected to add 17 million new jobs to the economy through 2028, and it’s another high paying sector. Growth of jobs in the service sectors of the economy are largely a function of population growth, which means that the more people we add to population, the more jobs will be created in these sectors. Since population growth increases demand for jobs in these services, the U.S. is not only able to survive, but because manufacturing jobs are being replaced by better paying service sector jobs, the American economy can thrive even as manufacturing shrinks. Please contact us with any questions fulbrightteam@moneyful.com or to set up a meeting , and don't hesitate to share this video with people who might benefit from my work.

Family businesses are fraught with conflict, tension and a distinct lack of sophistication. Still some of the most successful companies in the world are family-owned and have succeeded through multiple generations. Now current sociopolitical and economic forces are threatening the very survival of family businesses. It has been cited by numerous credible sources that only 40% of family owned businesses are now surviving to the second generation, 12% to the third, and 3% to the fourth and these statistics are rapidly diminishing. But there are several things that have kept family businesses as one of the strongest sectors of the economy. It is their fortitude, resilience and indomitable will. The secret to saving the fate of family businesses lies in the behavior of the family business leaders. The overriding tenant of this book is that, “behavior precede performance.” If we can positively influence the behavior of family members they will perform at a higher level. They will win more cooperation from others, achieve higher goals and produce more fruitful outcomes. This book examines how impacting behavior dramatically improves performance and can sustain the entire enterprise for generations.