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Until Friday, March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was the 16th largest bank in the United States, worth more than $200 billion. Over the course of four decades, SVB became the tech sector’s preferred bank and saw its deposits grow rapidly during the Covid-19 pandemic as consumers ramped up their spending on technology and digital services. Unfortunately, a series of poor investment decisions ultimately led to the bank’s demise.

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Consider these five tips to avoid unnecessary headaches this 2023 tax season.

The 2023 tax season is officially here, which means most taxpayers will be filing their tax return within the next two months. If you tend to stress about squaring up with Uncle Sam, there are steps you can take to help ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible this year.

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On Thursday, January 19, 2023, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that the United States had hit its debt ceiling of $31.4 trillion and is now relying on “extraordinary measures” to continue paying its bills. These measures should carry the U.S. through early June, at which point the government risks default if lawmakers can’t reach a deal to raise the national debt limit.

Defaulting could have potentially disastrous consequences for the U.S. economy, such as higher interest rates, job losses, and a decline in GDP. It could also negatively impact those who rely on government benefits and services. 

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End-of-Year Tax Planning Tips

With the end of the year fast approaching, Tax Season may be the last thing on your mind. Yet in many ways, the final months of 2022 may be your last chance to reduce this year’s tax liability. To avoid overpaying Uncle Sam and preserve more of your hard-earned income, consider the following end-of-year tax planning tips for 2022.

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On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law a $1.7 trillion spending package. The package includes the SECURE 2.0 Act, a series of provisions that will affect the way many Americans plan and save for retirement.

SECURE 2.0 builds on the SECURE Act of 2019, which, among other measures, increased the age at which retirees must take required minimum withdrawals (RMDs) from 70½ to 72. Key provisions in the new package include additional increases to the RMD age, as well as less severe penalties for failing to take an RMD. In addition, savers over the age of 50 will be able to make larger catch-up contributions beginning in 2025.

Many of the SECURE 2.0 Act’s provisions take effect January 1, 2023. Still, others may take years to implement. Here’s what you need to know about SECURE 2.0 and how it may affect your retirement plan.

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U.S. stocks had their worst September since 2002. Here’s what’s contributing to recent stock market volatility and what it may mean for long-term investors.

As we enter the final quarter of 2022, it appears investors are increasingly losing confidence in the Fed’s ability to rein in inflation without sending the economy into recession.

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