StoneCrest Bulletin - Archives

It’s estimated that almost one in five Americans leases a storage unit. In March 2024, the nationwide price for a climate-controlled storage unit averaged nearly $150 per month. Storage renters may pay more than that for large spaces and at facilities in high-cost cities such as Los Angeles and New York¹. 

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Traditional economic models are based on the premise that people make rational decisions to maximize economic and financial benefits. In reality, most humans don’t make decisions like robots. While logic does guide us, feelings and emotions — such as fear, excitement, and a desire to be part of the “in” crowd — are also at work. 
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The median age of the U.S. population rose to a record high of 38.9 in 2022, primarily because birth rates have declined in recent decades. More women have been going to college and focusing on building careers in their 20s, causing many to marry older and have fewer children. The median age of the U.S. population rose to a record high of 38.9 in 2022, primarily because birth rates have declined in recent decades. More women have been going to college and focusing on building careers in their 20.
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U.S. commercial real estate prices fell more than 11% between March 2022, when the Federal Reserve started hiking interest rates, and January 2024. The potential for steeper losses has chilled the market and still poses significant risks to some property owners and lenders.¹. 

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Couples who have opposite philosophies regarding saving and spending often have trouble finding common ground, and money arguments frequently erupt. But you can learn to work with — and even appreciate — your financial differences. 

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Academic researchers have been exploring how investors’ personalities might affect their financial decisions and wealth outcomes. In one study, three finance professors (Dr. Zhengyang Jiang from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Cameron Peng from the London School of Economics, and Hongjun Yan from DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business) surveyed more than 3,000 members of the American Association of Individual Investors — a relatively sophisticated group of market
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Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2024.  

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Productivity of U.S. workers increased by 2.7% in 2023 — well above the average annual rate of 2.1% since the end of World War II, and a dramatic change from 2022, when productivity dropped by 2.0%. It’s also a big improvement over the 0.9% growth rate in 2021.  

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Proactive investors know that the months before year-end can be an ideal time to make strategic adjustments. While keeping in mind your long-term investment goals, meet with your advisor and coordinate with your tax professional to examine nuances and changes that could impact your typical year-end planning.  
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Social Security is complicated, and the details are often misunderstood even by those who are already receiving benefits. If you’re looking forward to receiving your Social Security benefits, whether in one year or 30 years, you may be curious about some of the basic rules and options and how they might affect your financial future.  
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The IRS says that the amount you can sock away for retirement is going up. In 2024, individuals can contribute up to $23,000 to their employer-sponsored retirement plans in 2024 — up from $22,500 for 2023. And those playing catch-up get a boost, too: the catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over is an additional $7,500 for 2024.  

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If you’ve recently received an inheritance, you may be facing many important decisions. Receiving an inheritance might promote spending without planning, but don’t make any hasty decisions. Here are some suggestions that could help you manage your inheritance.  

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Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), so it plays an outsized role in driving economic growth or slowing it down.1 For the last 18 months, U.S. consumers have kept the economy strong despite high inflation and rising interest rates. The question now is whether consumers can maintain this momentum through the holiday season and into 2024.  
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FAMILY & LIFESTYLE Virtual coffee breaks are replacing water cooler chatter. Here are some tips for networking remotely with coworkers. In the remote world so many of us are now working in, connecting with coworkers takes effort. It's easy to be efficient: Log in, get the job done and log off. (That's what we love about working virtually, right?) But research shows that people who take the time to nurture good connections in the workplace are happier, more loyal, less stressed and more loyal.  
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RETIREMENT & LONGEVITY More and more Americans are incorporating work into their retirement years. The traditional image of retirement as a time of purely leisurely pursuits is no longer the norm for many Americans. A growing number of people over the age of 65 are choosing to remain in the workforce for a variety of reasons. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the trend to continue, predicting that 13 million Americans aged 65 and older will be in the labor force by 2024. 
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MARKETS & INVESTING It's natural to avoid loss, but sitting on the sidelines out of fear might lead to missed financial goals. As the name implies, loss aversion is our instinct to not just prefer a gain over a loss but to prioritize avoiding losses over almost anything. It might sound wise to try avoiding losses but taking it too far could keep you from realizing your financial goals. Loss aversion is a cognitive bias that studies have proven over and over again. But that fear, when applied to 
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This chart shows daily historical performance of the S&P 500 Index throughout the U.S. Bull and Bear Markets since 1942. We believe looking at the history of the market's expansion and recessions helps to gain a fresh perspective on the benefits of investing for the long-term. 

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Even elite athletes need rest days to stay healthy. Sometimes financial markets need to reset from record-setting performance, too. Here’s what you need to know about bear, or down, markets. 



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Knowing your goals is the first step to understanding how to pursue them. And knowing where you want to go helps you make thoughtful decisions when life presents other paths. This is the essence of a financial plan, a framework to align your resources with your objectives. 

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Understanding how changing interest rates and national monetary policy influence your personal finances can help you make decisions consistent with your financial goals. 



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