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When this “investor” pumps billions of dollars into an industry, pay attention… Follow the $1.2 trillion money trail… A great way to profit from this megatrend…   1. There’s no guaranteed way to make money in the markets. But following the government’s “money trail” comes pretty close… When politicians in Washington plow billions of dollars into an industry, pay attention. It’s usually a telltale sign to be bullish. Stocks from that sector will likely soar. Just look…

A sweeping retirement package signed into law last December overhauled the way Americans of all income levels will plan and save for their golden years. With the April 18 federal return filing deadline now in the rearview mirror, investors and financial advisors are confronting a host of provisions that will impact how they game out their tax bills for next and future years. Whether they’re in the top 1% of wealthiest taxpayers, a young gig worker…

The use of mobile payment apps and person-to-person (P2P) payments are more popular than ever, giving businesses and consumers the ability to send and receive money instantly. According to a recent study, the share of P2P payments made with mobile apps nearly doubled in one year, increasing from 15% in 2020 to 29% in 2021.1 In response to the growing demand for these types of instant payments services, the Federal Reserve will be launching its own real-time,…

One year after each of the S&P 500 Index’s 10 worst one-day drops, the Index notched double-digit positive returns in all but one instance—and remained positive three and five years later, too. The chart below doesn’t include reinvested dividends, which would have made returns even higher. Talk to your financial professional today to make sure your portfolio is positioned to help achieve your long-term goals. S&P 500 Price Index is a market capitalization-weighted price index composed…

The Biden administration on Wednesday began fleshing out how it will implement drug-pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, including a multi-step negotiation process for selected Medicare drugs starting next year. Why it matters: The law gave the administration discretion to work out many details of the first-ever drug price talks, which will initially cover 10 Part D drugs for which there’s no generic competition. Details: The guidance envisions the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services accepting one counteroffer from…

The asset reserves of the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, which pays benefits to retirees, are projected to become depleted in 2033 — one year sooner than projected last year. However, according to the just-released 2023 trustees report, income from payroll tax revenue is expected to fund 77% of scheduled Social Security benefits in 2033. The Disability Insurance Trust Fund is not projected to run out within the trustees’ 75-year projection period — the same conclusion…

As debt ceiling measures approach their deadline, both parties grapple with how to pass their initiatives. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Congress is off to its slowest start in decades with major legislation stalled until late spring/early summer. Decisions on the budget and debt ceiling have been elusive, and time is running short. Banking, defense, and energy-related issues enjoy a modicum of bipartisan agreement, but passing anything will have varying degrees of success. Congress is off…

Policy expert Jeff Bush says the new law furthers the ‘Rothification’ of the U.S. retirement system. Find out how Social Security shortfalls and tax policy changes could affect your retirement goals. Key Takeaways The SECURE 2.0 Act gives retirement savers—and their employers—more flexibility with withdrawal time frames, expenses savings can cover, and more. The clock is ticking on Social Security’s long-term viability as the government grapples with funding issues. Given potential tax code changes, allocating assets…

KEY POINTS  Drugmaker Eisai said the Veterans Health Administration will cover its Alzheimer’s treatment Leqembi, which costs $26,500 per year. Veterans with early Alzheimer’s who meet certain VHA criteria can get the treatment covered, according to Eisai. Medicare essentially is not covering Leqembi right now, which means it’s out of reach for the overwhelming majority of seniors.   The Veterans Health Administration will cover Eisai and Biogen’s Alzheimer’s treatment Leqembi, the companies announced Monday. In a statement, drugmaker Eisai…

Tricia Brooks, Allexa Gardner, Peyton Yee, Jennifer Tolbert, Bradley Corallo Follow, Sophia Moreno, and Meghana Ammula Published: Mar 16, 2023 In the third year of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), Medicaid enrollment continued to increase albeit at a slower pace than in the first two years of the coronavirus pandemic. Since March 2020, states have provided continuous enrollment in Medicaid in exchange for enhanced federal funding. This continuous enrollment provision and enhanced federal funding were originally in…