• Here are Important Social Security Changes for 2020 - For today’s retired Americans, it frequently represents a healthy amount of their monthly income.

• Did the SECURE Act Kill the Stretch IRA? - Individuals who have successfully used IRA’s as an estate tax planning tool may be trying to find new ways to leave assets to named beneficiaries in a way that minimizes the long-term effects of the estate tax.

• Warren Buffett has Sold Berkshire Hathaway’s Position in Airline Stocks - The Oracle of Omaha doesn’t always get it right (but so far his track record has been mighty impressive!)

• The Real Estate Front - The Coronavirus pandemic has dramatically affected the housing market.

• Understanding the Impact of Inflation - When governments, for whatever reasons, inject huge sums of currency into an economy, repercussions will be felt at some point in the future.

• The UK is Recognizing the Benefits of Trading with the US - With the world currently reeling from the economic slowdown essentially caused by Covid-19, our friends in the UK are seeking to step up trade talks.

• Potential Rate Cuts Coming - In response to the coronavirus scare, there’s a chance that the Fed could take policy back to where it was during the financial crisis of 2008.

• Britain’s Mandate for Trade Talks - Britain unveiled its mandate for trade talks with the U.S., with Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowing to drive a hard bargain in negotiations.

• Stock Market Plummets - U.S. stocks fell as fears escalated over the fast-spreading coronavirus, with Wall Street capping its worst week since the global financial crisis of 2008.

• Continued Gains in Consumer Spending - The U.S. economy grew 2.1% in Q4 of 2019, closing out a year in which GDP decelerated to its slowest pace in three years.

• Chinese Shares Drop amid Coronavirus - Stock markets in China fell as traders rushed to sell amid continued fears about the impact on the global economy of the coronavirus epidemic.

• Oil Prices Fall - Oil prices fell because of the concern over demand in China after the coronavirus epidemic.

• Consumer Confidence Dips - According to The Conference Board, U.S. consumer confidence “dipped slightly” in December. The metric came in at 126.5 for the month, down from 126.8 in November.

• Oil Prices Rising - Oil prices rose over 1% on Monday, pushing Brent above $70 a barrel.

• Gold Highest in 7 Years - Global investors are going into safe haven assets as fallout continues from the U.S. killing of Iran’s top general, Qasem Soleimani.

• Moderate Growth in Q3 - The U.S. economy grew at a moderate 2.1% rate over the summer, slightly faster than first estimated.

• OPEC to Deepen Cuts - OPEC and its allies plan to deepen oil cuts and have the deal in place so it runs at least until June 2020.

• Tariff Threat Renewed - President Trump announced that the U.S. will “restore” steel and aluminum tariffs on Brazil and Argentina, citing a “massive devaluation of their currencies.”