Market Update: Spring 2021

 TC on the Markets

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

Introduction The emergence from the cold of winter is always welcomed, but this year the symbolism of spring is particularly poignant. After a slow and clumsy initial rollout of the vaccine, the . . .

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Fall 2020 Market Commentary

 The Path Forward: Recovery in the Wake of Uncertainty

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

The U.S. economy has continued to recover from the depths reached during the COVID-19 shutdowns. The “easy” gains may have been made as we transitioned from shutdowns and stay-at-home orders to . . .

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Spring 2020 Market Commentary

 FOLLOWING THE LIGHT

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

Life has changed dramatically for all of us as we settle into almost a month of the stay-at-home-mandate. The markets have changed dramatically as well. Early in the first quarter of 2020, the . . .

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The Ins and Outs of the SECURE Act

 What you need to know about the new legislation.

By:  Kathryn E. McGough, Esq.

The SECURE Act The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 and related appropriations legislation (the SECURE Act) is the biggest retirement bill passed in more than a . . .

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Fall 2019 Market Commentary

 Economic Outlook in a Market Marathon

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

In “Economic Outlook in a Market Marathon,” our most recent market commentary, we look at the events that impacted the performance of the market over the past three months and provide an outlook . . .

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A Historical Look at Recessions

 Key Contributors to Past Recessions

By:  Kevin Rice

Introduction With the economy now back at full employment and the expansion already the third longest in U.S. history, investors have begun to look ahead to the next recession. Historically, U.S. . . .

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Spring 2019 Market Commentary: Is This the Next Gear?

 Spring 2019 Market Commentary Explores What’s Next for Economies and Markets

During the last quarter of 2018, the S&P experienced its worst December since the Great Depression and the worst quarter since the Great Recession. While markets rebounded significantly in the . . .

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Know Your Key Numbers for 2019

 Tax reference numbers at a glance.

Tax planning is an essential component to your financial goal management. The 2019 Key Numbers is a handy reference that provides a high-level overview of the key financial data you’ll need for . . .

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The Ins and Outs of Claiming Your Survivor Benefit

 Why It Might Make Sense to Wait to Collect Your Survivor Benefit

By:  Jill L. Ward

Chances are if you recently lost your spouse and call the Social Security Administration to inquire about your survivor benefit, they’ll say, “You’re eligible now. You should take it now.” But slow . . .

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Summer 2018 Market Commentary: Which Way Forward?

 Conflicting Tailwinds and Headwinds: Which Way Forward?

The economy and markets are at the nexus of positive tailwinds and negative headwinds. Fiscal policy stimulus, strong corporate earnings and unemployment numbers as well as high consumer and . . .

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Passing the Baton before You Retire

 A Q&A with entrepreneur and Trust Company of Illinois founder on how he prepared for his next lap.

Relinquishing the business that has defined you is no walk in the park. For many entrepreneurs, it’s more like a walk through a wilderness. Amazon is populated with books on succession planning. And . . .

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Spring 2018 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

What is a Spaghetti Western? When was the first federal income tax introduced in the United States? Which country has the highest debt as a percent of GDP? Test your knowledge in this latest edition . . .

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Winter 2018 Market Commentary: Things That Have Never Been & Ten For 2018

 Market predictions and insights for the year to come.

As we welcome the new year, full of things that have yet to be seen, we reflect on the tumultuous days of 2017 and look forward to what 2018 might hold. In the Winter Market Commentary, “Things That . . .

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Parents of College Students Offer Their Hard-Earned Advice

 What you should and shouldn’t do for your college-bound student.

Should you take on debt to put your child through college? How do you prepare your student for real life after college? What if your child fails a class—should you continue to support him/her? These . . .

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Mid-Year Check-In

 Summer 2017 Market Commentary: Trump Trade, Global Expansion, and the Fed

We are mid-way through 2017. Mid-points provide opportunities to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. President Trump has held office for half a year. The Fed has raised interest rates . . .

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Spring 2017 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

Automobile manufacturing. North Korea. Tax repatriation. These are just a few of the headlines shaping the market. How well are you keeping on top of the stories? Test your knowledge of important . . .

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Career Take 2

 How to reinvent yourself midlife.

By:  Nancy T. Bell

The second half of your life can be better than the first. This is the encouraging reality for those of us who feel stuck in the muddled middle of our lives. Perhaps you feel trapped in the doldrums . . .

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Money Market Reform and Investor Impact

 How TC Wealth Partners is responding to the changes.

In response to the financial crisis of 2007-2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced new regulations on money market funds to improve the stability of money markets and prohibit . . .

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Fighting Financial Phobias

 Empowering women to own their money.

Destitute and on the streets. It’s a fear held by one third of women with household incomes of $200,000 or more, according to a 2013 Allianz study. First coined in the 1970s as the Bag Lady . . .

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Tricks of the Hacker Trade

 The simple ways to stay ahead of them.

According to Jerry Irvine, CIO and partner of Prescient Solutions, a Chicago-area IT staffing organization, the average person receives 75 phishing scams a day and clicks on 25 of them. . . .

Contains Video

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Bull Markets vs. Bear Markets

 How feelings drive your financial outlook.

“In a bull market you’re not as smart as you think you are and in a bear market you’re not as dumb as you think you are.” This was the best advice blogger and portfolio manager Ben Carlson received . . .

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Charitable Contributions from IRAs

 How much you can exclude from your income in 2016.

Background The Pension Protection Act of 2006 first allowed taxpayers age 70½ or older to make tax-free charitable donations directly from their IRAs. Technically, these taxpayers were allowed to . . .

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Winter 2021 Market Commentary

 Normal Arrives Slowly

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

It’s said, “The future always arrives late and in unexpected ways.” Given the past ten months, we might instead say, “Normal arrives more slowly than we expect.” The relentless spread of Covid-19, . . .

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The Path Forward: A Pre-Election Conversation

 A close look at the economic ramifications of Election 2020

Political Environment and Policy The 2020 Presidential Election is being called historic. What will happen to the economy if President Trump is re-elected, Joe Biden is elected, or if there is a . . .

Contains Video

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Know Your Key Numbers for 2020

 UPDATED: Tax reference numbers and filing dates at a glance.

Tax planning is an essential component to your financial goal management. The 2020 Key Numbers is a handy reference that provides a high-level overview of the key financial data you’ll need for 2020, . . .

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Market Update: December 11, 2019

 TC on the Markets

By:  Kevin Rice

Market Commentary In November, U.S. equity markets continued to reach new highs as trade talks progressed and better-than-expected economic news encouraged investors. Equity markets consistently . . .

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Market Update: September 13, 2019

 TC on the Markets

By:  Kevin Rice

Market Update In August stocks posted their worst monthly performance since May as rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China decreased market sentiment. Stocks swung widely on frequent trade . . .

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Market Update: August 6, 2019

 TC on the Markets

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

In our most recent market commentary, “Back and Forth: Where Do We Look Next?”, we mentioned how watching the market is like watching a tennis match. We look one way at the Federal Reserve (Fed), and . . .

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Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

When returns are better than expected in Q1, just how often does the next quarter portend a positive return? How many bicycles are manufactured globally? And since the 2018 midterm election, what is . . .

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Winter 2019 Market Commentary: Disruption and Disarray

 Winter 2019 Market Commentary Discusses Volatility

While the market in 2018 started off strong, by December, it was in disarray. As we discuss in this month’s commentary, “Disruption and Disarray,” December 2018 was in fact the worst December for the . . .

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Fall 2018 Market Commentary: Elephants, Donkeys & History Books

 A look at volatility, political midterms and economic headwinds & tailwinds.

In the winter commentary issued in January of 2018, we wrongly predicted the Cubs would again be headed to the World Series. We are swallowing our pride, and revisiting some of our other Top 10 . . .

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Summer 2018 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

Which metaphors have nautical origins? Which continents have World Cup winning countries? How many products could be included in the global trade war? Test your knowledge in this latest edition of . . .

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Why High-Income Earners Spend Too Much Money

 10 traps that can lead to financial insecurity.

“If you can’t live on $200K, you have a spending problem, not an earning problem.” This observation is the cornerstone of a recent article posted to WhiteCoatInvestor.com, “10 Reasons Doctors Spend . . .

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10 Ways to Make It Through Life’s Transitions

 Tips for managing the emotional side of change.

Managing life’s many transitions can be difficult. Moving. New job responsibilities. The sudden death of loved one. Marriage. The changes can feel overwhelming and stressful. But often the . . .

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Winter 2018 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

Which current winter Olympic sport was previously a summer one? How many times have rookie professional baseball managers taken their teams back to the playoffs? What decade exhibited the same . . .

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Fall 2017 Market Commentary

 Trick or Treat, Price or Value, & Others

In the latest Market Commentary, “Choices: Trick or Treat, Price or Value, & Others,” President and CIO Reed Murphy comments on market trends and provides insights on: What is more important: . . .

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Summer 2017 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

A changing retail landscape. Growth of non-U.S. equity markets. Foreign markets. These are just a few of the headlines shaping the market. How well are you keeping on top of the stories? Test your . . .

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Matters of Trust

 Quarterly Newsletter - Winter 2017

Times they are a changin’. With the inauguration of President-elect Trump on the horizon, there are many questions about how the markets and economy will respond. Can stocks repeat a return . . .

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Women’s Health Care Tab in Retirement: $79,000 More Than Men’s

 Problem is, women have fewer financial resources to pay for it.

A recent report on health care costs by Health View Services found that the majority of women aren’t saving enough for health care in retirement. According to the study, women’s health care tabs . . .

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TC Wealth Partners Recruits Greg Aagaard as Market Development Officer

 Chicago-area wealth management firm expands reach with new hire.

DOWNERS GROVE August 8, 2016 Trust Company of Illinois recently hired Greg Aagaard as Market Development Officer to expand its outreach to the greater Chicago area and beyond. Aagaard’s approach to . . .

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Good Reads for Raising Normal Kids in an Entitled World

 Andrew Keyt recommends resources to help parents understand and talk about wealth.

It’s a conundrum. The majority of American parents admit to being either very or extremely concerned about setting a good financial example for their children, but 72% are reluctant to talk about . . .

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Passions, Exaggerations & Fundamentals

 Spring 2016 Market Commentary

The first quarter of 2016 was marked by passion and exaggerations. There was a runaway of negative sentiment, many fearing the global economy was headed into a recession. Are we headed for a . . .

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Your Advisor. Your Choice.

 When changing your financial advisor may be the right move.

Dana was nervous as she entered our offices. She was being transitioned to my care after her wealth advisor left the firm. The relationship she had forged with her previous advisor, with whom she had . . .

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Stock Market 2016: What you can expect

 The major themes driving the market the year ahead.

2015 was not a year to remember for the stock market. According to the Trust Company’s Chief Investment Officer, J. Reed Murphy, only ten U.S. stocks in the S&P 500 were positive; the other 490 were . . .

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Know Your Key Numbers for 2021

 Tax reference numbers at a glance.

Tax planning is an essential component to your financial goal management. The 2021 Key Numbers is a handy reference that provides a high-level overview of the key financial data you’ll need for . . .

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Summer 2020 Market Commentary

 IT’S NOT OVER YET

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

Dramatic. It’s possibly the best word to describe the market through the first six months of 2020. Stocks climbed to an all-time high. Then a global pandemic hit, and we experienced the deepest . . .

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Winter 2020 Market Commentary

 WHAT MAY TIP THE SCALE?

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

Trade wars, a decline in global manufacturing, and the possibility of a recession weighed on economies in 2019, although central bank rate cuts and resilient consumers provided a positive stock . . .

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Market Update: November 8, 2019

 TC on the Markets

By:  Kevin Rice

Market Commentary In October, the global equity markets posted another positive month, sending the major indices up roughly 20% for the year. Positive developments on trade negotiations, a Federal . . .

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Recession Warning Signs

 A look at current trends and data points.

By:  Kevin Rice

Introduction Although predicting a recession with certainty is not possible, there are indicators we can watch that have shown consistent trends when the economy is heading into a one. Today only . . .

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Summer 2019 Market Commentary

 Back and Forth: Where Do We Look Next?

By:  William M. Giffin  &  Kevin Rice

In the latest market commentary, “Back and Forth: Where Do We Look Next?” CEO Bill Giffin and Investment Analyst Kevin Rice discuss the ways in which the market has captured our collective attention. . . .

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The Phases of Retirement – Knowing Is Power

 What to expect just before and right after you retire.

By:  Nancy T. Bell

Most people do not resist change. What we resist is transition. Change is a situational shift. Transition, on the other hand, is the process of letting go of the way things used to be . . .

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Winter 2019 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

Just how much did we spend this holiday season? How much has economic expansion grown from its prior peak? How many 1% moves did the S&P have in 2018 and what is the long-term average? Test your . . .

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Fall 2018 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

How many people will dress their pets in costumes this Halloween? Just how impactful is 3D printing? Which holiday provides the biggest return? Test your knowledge in the latest edition of "Did . . .

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Celebrating 25 Years

 TC Wealth Partners and the Trust Company of Illinois Celebrate 25 Years of Serving High Net Worth Individuals, Families and Institutions.

TC Wealth Partners, LLC, a Chicago-area RIA with expertise in financial planning, investments, trust services, and corporate retirement plans, will celebrate its affiliate’s, the Trust Company of . . .

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Spring 2018 Market Commentary: What Is Given Can Be Taken Away

 The good, the bad and the ugly of tariffs.

President Trump’s actions and policies have driven the markets, particularly of late — both up and down. New domestic tax policies boosted prospects for growth in the U.S. economy and gave cheer to . . .

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Know Your Key Numbers for 2018

 Tax reference numbers at a glance.

Tax planning is an essential component to your financial goal management. The 2018 Key Numbers is a handy reference that provides a high-level overview of the key financial data you’ll need for . . .

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The Dos and Don’ts of Paying for Your Child’s College Education

 5 priorities before footing the tuition bill.

Parents instinctively want to provide for their children, which often means they want to pay for their children’s education. Some even sacrifice their future retirement in order to put their child . . .

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Fall 2017 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

How much are Americans spending on Halloween treats? Are the number of stocks on the rise or decline? And how long does it typically take the market to recover from a crisis? Test your knowledge in . . .

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Spring and Carousels

 Spring 2017 Market Commentary: Trump, the Fed, and Global Growth

Spring 2017 ushers in renewed optimism in world economies and investment markets. From where does the optimism arise? In the latest Market Commentary, “Spring and Carousels,” CIO Reed Murphy . . .

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Know Your Key Numbers for 2017

 Tax reference numbers at a glance.

Tax planning is an important component to financial goal management. The 2017 Key Numbers is a handy reference that provides a high-level overview of the key financial data you’ll need for 2017, . . .

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Transitions

 Fall 2016 Market Commentary

This fall, in keeping with the season, the market is marked by transition. How will the market react following the 2016 U.S. presidential election? What are the implications of the transition . . .

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Geopolitics: Is Anger the New Hope?

 Summer 2016 Market Commentary

What is at the heart of Brexit and the rise of populism? Do U.S. politics affect the markets? What are portfolio implications of all this volatility? These are just a few issues that Trust Company . . .

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Smart Mom, Rich Mom

 The Mom-Money Connection

The mom-money connection is the focus of a new book by Kimberly Palmerbrook, mom of two and former U.S. News & World Report senior editor of money. In Smart Mom, Rich Mom: How to Build Wealth While . . .

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The Flaw in Our Decision-Making Process

 Harvard Psychologist Dan Gilbert on “Why We Make Bad Decisions”

Every day we make decisions. Sometimes, we wonder if we’ve made the wrong one—and our happy ending is at stake. To help us understand the difference of a good and bad decision, Dan Gilbert, a . . .

Contains Video

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Take Advantage of Required Retirement Plan Restatements

 Alphabet soup for the plan sponsor’s soul.

By:  Tami Bowman

The lingo retirement plan services providers use often sounds a lot like alphabet soup. TRA86, GUST, EGTRRA—these retirement plan acronyms can be befuddling. However overwhelming the acronyms can . . .

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Swiss-Cheese Security

 How hackers are poking into your online financial records.

“Firewalls today look like Swiss cheese,” says Jerry Irvine, CIO and partner of Prescient Solutions, a Chicago-area IT staffing organization. Despite our best attempts to protect ourselves and . . .

Contains Video

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