Macro Overview – April 2018

Kent Forsey, CFP® Lending, Macro Overview, Mortgage Rates, National Budgets, Taxes

Although the market is always climbing a wall of worry, consider these points as we try to make sense of recent market fluctuations. Markets were rattled in March as a looming trade war between China and the U.S. enhanced market instability.  The administration announced $60 billion in tariffs for Chinese imports, with a detailed list of products which will be …

A Brief History of Tax Cuts – Historical Note

Max Smith, CFP®, CIMA® | Kent Forsey, CFP® Blog, Taxes

With so much effort right now by the current administration to lower taxes, an historical look at previous efforts seems appropriate. For nearly a hundred years, tax cuts have been a centerpiece of political strife among politicians, with both parties at times lobbying for lower tax rates. An accepted belief has been that lower taxes widen the Federal deficit and …

45% of Americans Pay No Federal Income Tax – Fiscal Policy

Max Smith, CFP®, CIMA® | Kent Forsey, CFP® Blog, Fiscal Policy, Taxes

Disparity of income has been a preponderate subject for politicians and activist groups for some time, yet in the end, it’s those that earn the higher incomes that pay for the majority of taxes. An estimated 77.5 million Americans, identified as households, pay no federal income tax. The non-partisan, non-profit tax group known as The Tax Policy Center released income …

Which States Have the Highest Gas Tax – Fiscal Policy

Max Smith, CFP®, CIMA® | Kent Forsey, CFP® Client Education, Energy Markets, Fiscal Policy, Taxes

Many states continue to grapple with the effects of falling fuel prices.  Resource-heavy states like Alaska are particularly hard hit.  Even states that do not produce gasoline are being affected.  The lower fuel costs are bringing in less gas tax revenue in some states causing budget deficits. Taxing gasoline is controlled by the states, not the federal government, allowing states …

Trump Tax Proposals – Fiscal Policy

Max Smith, CFP®, CIMA® | Kent Forsey, CFP® Fiscal Policy, Tax Proposals, Taxes

A new presidency usually brings the promise and hope of a more efficient government, lower taxes and a simpler approach.  With a new administration now in place, the pursuit of these ideals is in play.  Trump’s proposals aim to simplify taxes by reducing the number of brackets from the current seven, to three. Some argue that this simplification may actually …