Welcome to the Lifeplans Financial and Insurance Services Blog. We plan to keep everyone up to date on news, hot topics and current events through this platform going forward. Please check back weekly for new blog posts by our Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey Bogdan.
Thursday, October 14, 2021
The overhang of bumping against the federal debt ceiling was lifted last week with an agreement to extend the debt ceiling through early December, helping propel stocks to a weekly gain.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 1...
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Saturday, October 9, 2021
Wouldn’t it be nice if the stock market didn’t have such violent swings in either direction? Especially the dramatic downward plunges - we’d ALL like to avoid those! But the reality is, the markets include a certain...
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Thursday, September 30, 2021
Stocks prices were whipsawed last week, dragged initially lower by financial contagion worries and later lifted by a supportive Fed policy statement.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.62%, while the Standard & Poor’s...
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Thursday, September 30, 2021
Stocks prices were whipsawed last week, dragged initially lower by financial contagion worries and later lifted by a supportive Fed policy statement.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.62%, while the Standard & Poor’s...
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Thursday, September 23, 2021
Stocks weakened ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting and amid persistent concerns about the Delta variant’s impact on the economy.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat (-0.07%), while the Standard &...
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Thursday, September 16, 2021
In a quiet week of news, stocks moved lower amid simmering concerns over the Delta variant’s effect on the progress of economic reopening.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 2.15%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Thursday, September 2, 2021
The stock market powered to record levels last week amid talk of Fed tapering and a deceleration in new Delta variant cases.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.96%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 increased 1.52%. The...
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Stocks turned lower last week amid the increasing probability of a Fed tapering, mixed economic data, and growing concerns about the economic impact of the Delta variant.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 1.11%, while the...
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Thursday, August 19, 2021
Looking past inflation figures and Delta variant trends, stocks last week found a way to climb higher and set fresh record highs in the process.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.87%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Thursday, July 22, 2021
Despite a good start to earnings season and some solid economic data, worries of slower second-half economic growth led to a pullback in stock prices last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.52%, while the Standard &...
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Thursday, July 15, 2021
Stocks managed small gains as investors wrestled with concerns over economic growth prospects and a rise in COVID-19 infections.The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 0.24%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 0.40%....
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Thursday, July 8, 2021
Strong employment reports and rising consumer confidence sent the stock market broadly higher last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.02%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 picked up 1.67%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
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Monday, June 28, 2021
Stocks reached new all-time highs last week as markets staged a strong rebound from the previous week’s declines.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.44%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 picked up 2.74%. The Nasdaq...
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
Stocks ended the week mixed as investors appeared to shrug off a hotter-than-expected inflation report.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.80%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 0.41%. The Nasdaq Composite...
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Thursday, June 10, 2021
A strong, but not too strong, employment report sparked a rally on the final day of trading, propelling stocks to a modest gain for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed by 0.66%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Thursday, May 27, 2021
Stock prices fluctuated amid inflation concerns and bargain hunting, leaving stocks mixed for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.51%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.43%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq...
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Thursday, May 20, 2021
A surge in consumer inflation unsettled investors, leading to a turbulent week of trading on Wall Street.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.14%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 1.39%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
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Thursday, May 13, 2021
Stocks closed mixed last week as signs of continued economic recovery and upbeat earnings helped some sectors while the struggles persisted for high-growth companies.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.67%, while the Standard...
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Thursday, April 29, 2021
The crosscurrents of strong corporate earnings, rising global cases of COVID-19, and the specter of higher capital gains taxes led to a choppy week of trading that left stock prices slightly lower for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial...
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Thursday, April 22, 2021
Stocks reached record highs last week, riding the tailwind of improving economic data and a strong start to the earnings season.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.18%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 1.37%. The...
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Thursday, April 15, 2021
Strong economic data and a resurgent technology sector propelled stocks to solid gains last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.95%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 picked up 2.71%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq...
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Thursday, March 25, 2021
Rising bond yields and improving economic conditions led to a choppy week of trading that ended in modest losses for investors.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.46%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 0.77%. The...
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Thursday, March 18, 2021
Stocks touched new record highs last week as bond yields steadied, a fiscal relief bill was signed into law, and confidence in a strong economic recovery grew.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4.07%, while the Standard &...
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Thursday, March 18, 2021
Preparing your taxes can be a real drag. It can feel like tax day looms over your spring! Well, fear not: the IRS has given you another month to file your taxes!The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service has announced that...
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Thursday, March 4, 2021
Stocks dropped amid rising long-term bond yields, with sharp declines in high-valuation growth stocks leading the overall market lower.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.78%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined...
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Thursday, February 25, 2021
Rising bond yields dampened investor enthusiasm for high-multiple growth companies last week, sending market averages mostly lower in a holiday-shortened week of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.11% for the week. But...
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Thursday, February 18, 2021
Stock prices inched higher last week amid declining COVID-19 cases, a pick-up in vaccinations, and progress on a fiscal relief bill.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.00%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.23%....
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Thursday, February 11, 2021
Stocks notched strong gains last week, paced by a string of solid economic reports and consensus-beating corporate earnings.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 3.89%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 4.65%. The...
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Thursday, February 4, 2021
Despite strong corporate earnings, stock prices closed lower after a volatile week of trading triggered by unprecedented activity in a handful of companies.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 3.27%, while the Standard &...
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Anticipation of a new fiscal stimulus and improved vaccine distribution powered stocks to fresh record highs last week with technology stocks leading the way.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.59%, while the Standard &...
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Thursday, January 21, 2021
Markets drifted lower last week as uninspired investors digested mixed news on the economic front.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.91% while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slid 1.48%. The Nasdaq Composite index stumbled 1...
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Thursday, January 14, 2021
Shrugging off COVID-19 infections and the disruption at the Capitol on January 6, stocks powered higher to kick off a new year of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.61%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Thursday, January 14, 2021
In late December, Congress passed a $900 billion stimulus package, which included $600 checks to qualifying citizens. We wanted to send along some highlights from the bill which include:Stimulus Payments. The IRS and the Treasury have...
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Friday, January 8, 2021
Stocks moved higher during a holiday-shortened week of trading, capping off a turbulent, but otherwise strong year for equity investors.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.35%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 increased...
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Thursday, December 17, 2020
Stocks retreated last week on rising COVID-19 infections and slow progress on an economic relief bill.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.57%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.96%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
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Thursday, December 10, 2020
Favorable data on vaccine efforts continued to stream in over the past several weeks. Both Pfizer and Moderna expect their vaccine distribution to begin in the U.S. and the U.K. within the next 30 days, contingent on FDA approval...
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Thursday, November 19, 2020
News of a COVID-19 vaccine ignited a rally in economically sensitive stocks and a broad retreat in technology companies last week, though enthusiasm was tempered by reports of rising new infections and fresh lockdowns.The Dow Jones...
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Monday, November 16, 2020
Though final counts continue, media outlets have declared Joe Biden the president-elect of the United States. President Trump, however, has stated his intention to contest election results. Pending a runoff election in Georgia,...
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Thursday, October 29, 2020
The failure to reach an agreement on a new fiscal stimulus bill soured investor sentiment and sent stocks modestly lower for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.95%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 0.53%....
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Thursday, October 22, 2020
Stocks treaded water last week amid fading prospects for a stimulus bill, fears of a second wave of COVID-19 cases, and increasing political and regulatory pressures on Big Tech companies.The Dow Jones Industrial Average added just 0...
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Thursday, October 15, 2020
Despite a shift in focus towards the fast-approaching presidential election, vaccine development remains a source of good news. Moderna – one of the leading COVID-19 vaccine developers – stated that it will not enforce...
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Thursday, October 1, 2020
Stocks were mixed last week as worries that stretched from Washington D.C., where prospects of a new fiscal stimulus bill dimmed, to Europe, which saw an increase of new COVID-19 cases.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.75%,...
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Thursday, September 24, 2020
Stocks slipped as the technology sector remained under pressure and a mid-week announcement by the Federal Reserve failed to inspire investors.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.03%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Thursday, September 17, 2020
Stocks traveled a volatile path last week as investors appeared concerned about the upcoming elections, an uncertain economy, and more delays with additional fiscal stimulus.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.66%, while the...
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Thursday, September 3, 2020
Stocks advanced relentlessly last week on positive COVID-19 developments, encouraging economic data, and a supportive policy shift in the Fed’s approach to its target inflation rate.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by...
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Thursday, August 27, 2020
Stocks powered to another week of gains as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite set multiple new record highs along the way.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was essentially unchanged while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose by 0...
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Thursday, August 20, 2020
Stock prices drifted higher in an otherwise quiet news week, as a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases outweighed a Congressional impasse on a new fiscal-spending measure.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.81%, while the Standard...
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Thursday, July 9, 2020
Coronavirus cases continue to spike in the U.S. and around the world, with new local hotspots in the states being Arizona, Texas, Florida and California. Several major pharmaceutical companies announced progress in human clinical...
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Thursday, June 25, 2020
With coronavirus cases showing signs of a global spike, new hotspots are starting to emerge in the states. Meanwhile, the U.S. Government has formed “Operation Warp Speed,” a team of five pharmaceutical companies...
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Sunday, June 21, 2020
I’m writing today to let you know about new federal laws (known as Regulation Best Interest, or Reg BI for short) aimed at protecting investors. While many financial professionals are already acting in the best interest of their...
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Thursday, June 18, 2020
While some of the states that relaxed social distancing measures are experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, decreasing trends are being seen in several east coast states. Additionally, gained knowledge on the spread of the virus has...
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Thursday, June 11, 2020
Alongside the official U.S. recession announcement were some glimmers of hope in the form of a downward trend in new coronavirus cases and a decrease in the unemployment rate. While there are caveats to both, including 21 states with...
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Thursday, June 4, 2020
We’ve likely all noticed the civil unrest sweeping across the U.S. this past week, and we’re hoping you’re staying safe and well with your loved ones. The large number of people involved in protests have driven...
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Thursday, May 28, 2020
A new milestone was reached as COVID-19 candidate vaccines began being tested in human clinical trials at record speed. Meanwhile, economic data over the last week continues to indicate a recession but is also showing signs of life...
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Thursday, May 21, 2020
Hope was lifted this week with the potential development of a vaccine for COVID-19 however, the preliminary release of the vaccine quickly created skepticism. Unemployment is likely to peak in the next month and a new bill known as...
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