In this video, we consider what 2021, especially the last week of the year, may tell us about the markets in 2022.

Investor sentiment is showing as negative or bearish. A positive indicator, however, is the fourth quarter is historically the best quarter in the US stock market. Watch our video to find out more.

Going back to World War II, in every instance the S&P 500 was up significantly the first year of the new bull market. On average the first-year annual performance was more than 40%. The good news is the gains continued in year two, as stocks were also up the second year of a new bull market every single time. The average was up a solid 17% in year two.

With the ongoing GameStop saga, we see a new development in the stock market: small Mainstreet traders taking on the big Wall Street Hedge funds and winning - at least for a while. Let's take a look at what occurred and what this may mean for the market and investors.

Outlook 2021 In this video, I look back at 2020 and consider early indications of a bright outlook for the new year. In spite of some challenges, I see 30,035 reasons for optimism. See Curt's update here.

The SP 500 index performance in the three months before the election has proven a good forecaster of who will win the Presidency. In the past, a rising market in this period has indicated that the incumbent will win. Stock market losses, by contrast, have often predicted the opposition party wins.

The Social Security Tax Torpedo is a nasty tax spike that often impacts people receiving Social Security income. It's nicknamed a torpedo because the increased effective tax rate only lasts while Social Security income is taxed. It starts when Social Security first becomes taxable and lasts until all Social Security income has been taxed. Like a torpedo, it strikes, and then it's gone.

The world changes at a rapid pace in these modern times. The market crash that occurred primarily in March 2020 is already one for the history books. We are now getting our first data on how individual investors fared during this tumultuous period, and to me, it was a shock.

Flexibility is part of the 401k's design. It is better to have benefit reductions than to have employee terminations or go out of business. These suspensions are usually short term, or the plans may come out of compliance by becoming top-heavy. The most important thing the employer can do is to notify employees of the change. If you have questions on your plan, see your HR Department for more information.

Will Covid-19 lead to another Great Depression? Find out some important differences between then and today.