Blog Header

Cokie's Blog

Saying yes to your financial future!

Corporate earnings

Strong Markets and Slow GDP

Stocks continued their advance on generally strong earnings reports this week despite the GDP report showing a slow first quarter economy....

Gift taxes

Know What Makes a Gift Taxable

When you give gifts of property or money to people, you may need to pay a gift tax to the IRS....

Stock markets slide

Stocks Slip for Second Week

Last week, major indexes experienced losses for the second week in a row, with the S&P 500 falling 1.21%, the Dow...

Tax information

Tax Tip: Claiming Employee Business Expenses

As an employee, you may end up making out-of-pocket purchases to support your workplace responsibilities. When you do so, you may...

Stock market

Domestic Stocks Have a Solid Start to 2017

The first quarter of 2017 is now behind us, and although we won’t have complete economic data for a while, we...

higher education tax credits

What Are the Tax Benefits of Higher Education?

Pursuing higher education can provide you with tax benefits that help offset the money you owe if either you, your...

Stock market index

Markets Stumble. What Does Data Say?

Last week, all four of the indexes we discuss in these market updates saw their performance stumble. The S&P 500 lost...

bullish percent indicator

Market Exhale or Correction? Defensive Shift

The Bullish Percent for the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange-BPNYSE) reversed down into a “column of O’s” at 62% on Wednesday....

Interest Rate Chart

Fed Raises Interest Rates Again

For the fifth time in six weeks, domestic stock indexes ended last week in positive territory. The S&P 500 gained 0.24%,...

income tax refunds

Get a Refund with These Tax Credits

Do you understand the two kinds of tax credits and how they impact your tax refunds? Knowing the difference can save...