Jenny Plaugher, Author at PlanRock

U.S. Taxes Lower Than Other Developed Countries – Taxation Overview
The notion that taxes in the United States are excessive compared to other countries, is somewhat misleading. Relative to other developed countries, the U.S. maintains some of the lowest tax rates globally. U.S. ...

Published On: April 24, 2023Categories: Taxes
Demand For Treasuries Drives Rates Lower – Fixed Income Update
As a result of the bank failures, there has been an increased demand for Treasury bonds as a safe haven while the turmoil unfolds and volatility increases. The surge in bond buying has ...

Published On: April 21, 2023Categories: Debt/Mortgage/Liabilities
Bank Concerns Send Stock Volatility Higher – Domestic Equity Overview
Despite the bank failures in March, all three major equity indexes posted positive returns for the first quarter of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 Index, and the Nasdaq all ...

Published On: April 20, 2023Categories: Stock Market
Macro Economic Overview / April 2023
The failure of two regional banks unsettled equity and fixed-income markets globally in March. Financial contagion risks were at the forefront of the financial markets as the closure of Silicon Valley Bank and ...

Published On: April 19, 2023Categories: Economy
April 2023 / Market Indexes
(all values as of 03.31.2023) Stock Indexes: Dow Jones 33,274 S&P 500 4,109 Nasdaq 12,221 Bond Sector Yields: 2 Yr Treasury 4.06% 10 Yr Treasury 3.48% 10 Yr Municipal 2.11% High Yield 8.31% ...

Published On: April 18, 2023Categories: Market Index Returns
U.S. Equities Remain Cautious in February – Equity Overview
Domestic equities continued to react to higher overall costs while also projecting lower earnings growth heading into the rest of 2023. Nearly all sectors of the S&P 500 Index posted negative returns for ...

Published On: March 21, 2023Categories: Economy, Stock Market
Why Some Taxpayers Might See Smaller Tax Refunds This Year – Tax Planning
Some taxpayers will likely receive a significantly smaller refund compared with the previous tax year. Changes include amounts for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and the Child and Dependent Care ...

Published On: March 20, 2023Categories: Taxes
Rising Car Payments Become Less Affordable for Many – Automotive Industry
Since the pandemic ushered in a widespread global shortage of semiconductor chips that are vital to new vehicles, car prices have risen to historic highs. Three years later, the supply issue has dissipated ...

Published On: March 17, 2023Categories: Debt/Mortgage/Liabilities, Economy
REAL ID Deadline Postponed Until 2025 – Travel & Regulations
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will extend the REAL ID full enforcement date back 2 years from the original date of May 3, 2023, to May 7, 2025. This ...

Published On: March 16, 2023Categories: Economy
Rates Rise in February – Fixed Income Overview
Rates rose across all bond maturities, also known as the yield curve, which has remained inverted in recent months due to the Fed’s monetary policy. The 4-month, 6-month, and 1-year Treasuries all surpassed ...

Published On: March 15, 2023Categories: Economy

jplaugher