Guidance Wealth
  • Home
  • Services
    • Individuals & Families >
      • Wealth Accumulators
      • Soon to be Retired
      • Retirees
    • Businesses
    • Tax Planning & Preparation
  • About Us
    • Your Team
    • The Guidance Wealth Difference
    • Choose Guidance Wealth
    • Guidance Wealth in the Community
    • Watch the Guidance Wealth Commercials
  • Newsletters
  • Access Your Account
  • Contact Us
    • Careers

Weekly Commentary - March 6, 2017

3/6/2017

 
The Markets
 
It was a grand slam.
 
Major U.S. stock markets were positively euphoric following President Trump’s speech on February 28. Optimism about the new administration’s pro-growth policies propelled the four major U.S. stock indices to record highs, despite a dearth of policy details, reported Financial Times.
 
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why stocks have moved so far, so quickly. However, it appears that mom-and-pop investors have become quite enthusiastic about the asset class according to data from JPMorgan Chase cited by Bloomberg. While institutional investors (pensions, insurance companies, etc.) have been reducing exposure to stocks, smaller investors have been loading up on shares.
 
CNBC reported some industry professionals, including Goldman’s chief U.S. equity strategist David Kostin, believe stocks have become too highly valued. ZeroHedge.com quoted Kostin, who said:
 
“Cognitive dissonance exists in the U.S. stock market. S&P 500 is up 10 percent since the election despite negative EPS [earnings per share] revisions from sell-side analysts…Investors, S&P 500 management teams, and sell-side analysts do not agree on the most likely path forward. On the one hand, investors, corporate managers, and macroeconomic survey data suggest an increase in optimism about future economic growth. In contrast, sell-side analysts have cut consensus 2017E [estimated] adjusted EPS forecasts by 1 percent since the election and ‘hard’ macroeconomic data show only modest improvement.”
 
Financial Times reported pessimism prevails in the bond market. One bond market professional said, “The bond market is taking a totally different view from the equity market. Blowing raspberries is a good way to put it…There’s no belief that the growth agenda will be dramatic.”
 
So, is strong economic growth ahead? Do bond investors or stocks investors have it right? Are institutional investors or mom-and-pop investors positioning themselves correctly? Only time will tell.
don’t think so! Tax season is upon us. That means we can all use some entertainment. While many folks dread the process of completing and filing taxes, some see it as an opportunity to test the boundaries of the system. Here are a few deductions Americans have taken that have failed to pass muster in tax court, courtesy of Kiplinger.com:
 
  • You cannot deduct the cost of a good night’s sleep. A tax preparer who worked from home escaped to a hotel because her clients were calling in the wee hours of the night and causing her to lose sleep. When she attempted to take a business deduction for the hotel expense, the tax court ruled a good night’s sleep is a non-deductible personal expense.
 
  • You cannot take a theft loss deduction for poor construction. A couple moved into their newly built dream home only to realize the builder had cut some corners. The house had some serious issues, including its foundation. The couple claimed the builder had defrauded them and took a large theft loss deduction. While taxpayers can deduct losses from a home-related theft, shoddy construction doesn’t qualify.
 
  • You cannot take a depletion deduction for bodily fluids. A woman earned $7,000 a year donating blood plasma because of her rare blood type. She took a depletion deduction, claiming “the loss of both her blood’s mineral content and her blood’s ability to regenerate,” wrote Kiplinger. While companies that take coal, iron, and other minerals from the ground can take a depletion deduction, the tax court ruled that individuals cannot claim depletion on their bodies.
 
  • You cannot deduct a business trip if there are no formal business meetings involved. A repo firm sponsored a trip to Las Vegas for its bank customers. The firm’s employees chatted with clients about business on the way to Vegas, but no formal meetings were held. The tax court denied the deduction.
 
Before you get creative with your taxes, consult with a tax professional.
 
Weekly Focus – Think About It
 
“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.”
--Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist
​

Comments are closed.

    To subscribe to this weekly commentary follow the RSS Feed below or contact us to receive by email. 

    Archives

    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    RSS Feed

Account Access
Fidelity Investments
Your Team
Access Your Account
Read Our Newsletter
Contact Us

Careers & Opportunities
3140 Windsor Ct.,
Elkhart, Indiana 46514
(574) 333-2083
Map
Investment Advisory Services offered through Guidance Investment Advisors, LLC (GIA) a Registered Investment Adviser
Privacy Policy     :    ​ADV Disclosure Brochure     :    ​Client Relationship Summary
Developed by  323 Business Solutions 
  • Home
  • Services
    • Individuals & Families >
      • Wealth Accumulators
      • Soon to be Retired
      • Retirees
    • Businesses
    • Tax Planning & Preparation
  • About Us
    • Your Team
    • The Guidance Wealth Difference
    • Choose Guidance Wealth
    • Guidance Wealth in the Community
    • Watch the Guidance Wealth Commercials
  • Newsletters
  • Access Your Account
  • Contact Us
    • Careers