OUTLOOK 2020
Hindsight is 20/20, but finding clarity in future uncertainty can be fuzzy. As we look forward to next year and a new decade, some key trends and market signals will be important to watch, including progress on U.S.-China trade discussions, an encouraging outlook from corporate America, and continued strength in consumer spending. Trade risk, slower global growth, and the impeachment inquiry have garnered a lot of the headlines recently, but behind the scenes the U.S. economy has remained resilient. To help keep it all in focus, LPL Research Outlook 2020: Bringing Markets Into Focus offers investment insights and market guidance through the end of 2020.
SUMMARY: 2017 TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
After more than a year of political posturing and investor anticipation, Congress finally approved a $1.5 trillion tax cut, the most sweeping U.S. fiscal overhaul since 1986. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law by President Trump last Friday, December 22, meeting his pledge to deliver tax reform before Christmas. The complex 1,000-page bill features changes that are intended to spur economic activity through a reduction in both individual and corporate tax rates, and simplify the tax code by eliminating or trimming a variety of deductions and exemptions. We present here a quick summary of the new tax act, comparing taxes as we knew them last year with what we can expect going forward.
RETIREMENT ENVIRONMENT INDEX
The LPL Research Retirement Environment Index is a holistic ranking of the attractiveness of each U.S. state as a retirement destination. This unique index looks specifically at the 45- to 64-year-old cohort (pre-retirees) and collectively assesses strengths and weaknesses of pre-retiree desirability on a state level, rather than city or regional level. The 45- to 64-year-old cohort is the largest subset of the Baby Boomer generation but also includes some older members of Generation X. States are evaluated on six key factors, each with its own supporting metrics, to evaluate overall desirability for retirement.
SUMMARY: 2017 TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT
After more than a year of political posturing and investor anticipation, Congress finally approved a $1.5 trillion tax cut, the most sweeping U.S. fiscal overhaul since 1986. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law by President Trump last Friday, December 22, meeting his pledge to deliver tax reform before Christmas. The complex 1,000-page bill features changes that are intended to spur economic activity through a reduction in both individual and corporate tax rates, and simplify the tax code by eliminating or trimming a variety of deductions and exemptions. We present here a quick summary of the new tax act, comparing taxes as we knew them last year with what we can expect going forward.