Weekly Bottom Line
Highlights The U.S. economy kicked off the New Year with an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases. While a return to lockdowns is not expected, rising cases could lead to greater absenteeism, as workers self-isolate due to exposure, putting pressure on already-tight labor supply On the upside, several metrics suggests that…
Can Corporate America Keep it Rolling?
Corporate America has been on quite a run. Coming into 2021, S&P 500 Index companies were expected to generate less than $170 in earnings per share. As 2022 begins, it looks like that number may end up higher than the latest LPL Research estimate of $205, one of the biggest…
Should Credit Unions Fund Split-Dollar Plans With Whole Life or Index Universal Life Insurance?
At ACT Advisors, the split-dollar plan is one of the most powerful executive compensation tools we encounter when delivering meaningful benefits to executives. The reasons include relatively reliable returns, lower risk, and their non-taxable nature in most cases. Before a credit union offers a split-dollar plan, however, it must evaluate…
Split-Dollar Versus 457(f) Plans and What Credit Unions Should Evaluate
When building an executive benefits package that seeks to recruit and retain top talent, the question arises: with multiple options, which benefits should we include? Popular choices that uniquely benefit credit unions are the collateral assignment split-dollar (CASD) and 457(f) plans. Both are retention tools that provide retirement benefits to…
Can—and Should—Your Credit Union Serve Cannabis-Related Businesses?
With the legalization of medical and adult-use, i.e., recreational marijuana spreading across the country, you may be considering how your credit union can begin providing services to cannabis-related businesses. Perhaps you don’t know where to start or if you even should. With more research demonstrating the positive benefits of medical…
When to Take Strategic Risk in Your Credit Union—Your ACTion Point
As a credit union executive, should you consider your personal financial success before the direction of your credit union? Yes and no. The reality of your position challenges you to lead your organization boldly into new initiatives, technology, and markets; however, every major decision you make comes with risk. Whether…
How Credit Union CEOs Can Identify the Opportune Time to Make Bold Leadership Moves that Balance Personal Financial Risk
ACT Advisors today published a white paper for credit union CEOs analyzing how ambitious organizational decisions can potentially affect a CEO’s future employment—and personal finances—and how to strategically balance that risk with long-term simulation planning and executive benefits. Asheville, NC – ACT Advisors, a firm specializing in comprehensive financial planning…
Wes Johnson on NPR: Is the Stock Market Predicting a Good Economy Ahead?
You’ve probably noticed that since the pandemic hit and drove the stock market into a steep decline, it has rebounded significantly. The tech-heavy NASDAQ, in particular. Yet the economy is far from where it was pre-COVID. The stock market has a history of being a leading economic indicator. Is that…
Market Volatility and the Coronavirus
Dear Valued Clients, In these volatile markets we want you to know your ACT Advisors team is on top of what is happening with daily research calls and up to the minute technical data. We are actively looking for opportunities to advance and protect your portfolio and making plans for…
Coronavirus Impacts on the Stock Market
Monday was a tough day in the stock market, with the S&P 500 Index down more than 3% as the number of coronavirus cases reported outside of China jumped. Monday’s losses reversed all of this year’s gains so far for the S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Averages….
