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Results 51–100 of 111 found.

ProVise Bullet
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 7/16/10
Let's put into perspective one of the reasons our deficit is so high. In 1984, people with an income of $20,500 or less, the bottom 20 percent of earners, were paying 10.2 percent of their income in taxes; as of 2007 this rate was just 4 percent. Flip this and look at those with annual income of $74,700 or more, the top 20 percent of earners. They saw their tax rates go up from 23.8 percent in 1986 to 28 percent in 1996, and then back down again to 25.1 percent in 2007. The other 60 percent have seen a 4 percent to 5 percent drop in their average tax rate from the mid-80s through 2007.

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 6/16/10
Given all of the bad political and economic news, it could be argued that it is amazing that the markets have not done worse over the past six to eight weeks. Fundamentally, here in the U.S., it appears we are much better off than we were a year ago and significantly better off than where we were two years ago. There is a lot of long-term value in the market. On a year-to-date basis through June 15, the S&P 500 is up approximately 1 percent and, based on current economic data, a reasonable return of 8 percent to 10 percent is still realistic for the year.

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 6/1/10
Even though Social Security has built up a $2.5 trillion surplus over the past 25 years, it is projected that over the next 75 years the program will rack up a $5.3 trillion deficit. A new report from a special bipartisan Congressional committee recommends that we raise the Social Security tax, reduce benefits and increase the age of eligibility in order to make up the difference. ProVise also comments on Congressional salaries, a new scam targeting investors, taxes on IRA accounts, education and salary, primary elections, rising stamp costs and trust management.

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 4/30/10
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified before Congress that he believes inflation will remain under control for the remainder of the year. He also talked about better retail sales and, perhaps as importantly, increased factory production, which could soon lead to the creation of more jobs. ProVise also comments on the hold on interest rates, lengths of historical bull markets, the ongoing health care debate, mortgage delinquency rates, home sales, nonprofit revenues, and the Forbes lists of the world's richest people and richest Americans.

ProVise Management Group
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 3/31/10
While many investors feared that health care reform would hurt the market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 44 points just after the bill passed, and is now approaching 11,000. Some Wall Street experts predict the bill will boost demand for prescription drugs and medical care, offsetting the tens of billions that health care firms will pay to subsidize the plan. Provise also comments on the impact of the census, corporate budgeting for 2011, the weakness of the Tampa Bay economy, the rising savings rate, increasing Treasury bond yields, IRS audits and college basketball betting.

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 3/15/10
President Obama's budget for the upcoming year proposes some significant tax hikes, including a rate increase for the 33 percent income bracket to 36 percent, and an increase for the 35 percent bracket to 39.6 percent. This would affect married couples filing jointly with incomes above $250,000 and single people with incomes above $200,000. It would increase taxes by a total of $969 billion over the next decade. ProVise also examines consumer spending, healthcare reform and Warren Buffet's latest letter to investors, among other topics.

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 2/27/10
The euro zone and the International Monetary Fund, as well as the U.S. and other mature economies will likely intervene to prevent a Greek default. Too much help for Greece might keep Portugal and Spain from making their own necessary changes. Too many restrictions on aid, however, may lead Greece, Spain and Portugal to withdraw from the euro zone. Provise also comments on declining real estate prices, the 2009 fourth quarter earnings season, the discount rate, inflationary risks, U.S. debt held by China, stock market volatility and President Obama's new health care proposal.

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 2/16/10
Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group says state and local governments could face revenue shortfalls of $175 to $200 billion this year, and notes that tax increases to fill budget gaps may be counterproductive in the current economic climate. He also examines a number of other issues in policy and finance.

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 1/30/10
This client-oriented letter comments on a number of financial planning topics: the benefits of marriage (men now benefit more than women), the rise in scams due to low interest rates, the implications of volatility and how individual investors should view the market, new proposals for 401(k) plans, and a few others.

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 1/16/10

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 1/4/10

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 12/15/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 12/2/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 11/17/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 10/30/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 10/15/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 9/30/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 9/15/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 8/31/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 8/14/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 8/2/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 7/16/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 7/1/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 6/15/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 5/29/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 5/15/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 5/1/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 4/15/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 4/1/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 3/17/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 3/3/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 2/14/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 1/30/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 1/17/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 1/2/09

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 12/17/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 12/2/08

Special ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 11/20/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 11/18/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 10/31/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 10/16/08

ProVise Management Group
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 10/7/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 10/1/08

ProVise Special Bulletin
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 9/17/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 9/16/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 8/18/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 7/31/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 7/16/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 7/2/08

ProVise Bullets
by Ray Ferrara of ProVise Management Group, 6/16/08
Results 51–100 of 111 found.