SIMA’s Post

As we came into the latter half of the year, the market continued to produce strong results. The S&P 500 delivered its 9th-best all-time performance and is up 22% year to date. Emerging markets continued to outperform domestic markets as China’s stimulus package buoyed performance. International developed markets continued to benefit from lower interest rates and outperformed the S&P for the quarter, although the S&P remains ahead year to date. Read the full commentary from SIMA Portfolio Manager Heather Voight to learn more about market trends that may affect your investments: https://lnkd.in/e5tch3sU #SIMA #SIMAWealth #SIMARetirement #WealthAdvisor #RetirementAdvisor #FinancialAdvisor #FinancialServices #MarketUpdate #InvestmentInsights #PortfolioManagement

Despite being focused on saving, Gen Z workers face a misunderstanding from their employers. While 79% of Gen Zers prioritize saving, only 55% of managers and 57% of HR leaders believe this is true. Many employers assume Gen Z is more focused on debt repayment, but just 37% of Gen Zers view it as a key goal. #FinancialWellness #HRTrends #EmployeeBenefits #FinancialLiteracy https://lnkd.in/euRm9KnQ

The IRS has increased the percentage of household income used to determine ACA affordability to 9.02% for plan years starting in 2025 (up from 8.39% in 2024). Under the ACA, large employers must offer health coverage that meets minimum value and affordability standards. #ACACompliance #HealthCareAffordability #EmployeeBenefits #HRUpdates https://lnkd.in/e7mMacJZ

The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate by 0.5%, bringing some relief to consumers facing high borrowing costs. Credit card and auto loan rates will drop slightly, but remain elevated, so paying down debt is still important. Mortgage rates may fall below 6%, though not to pandemic lows, and private student loan rates will gradually decrease. High-yield savings accounts have likely peaked, so consider locking in current rates before they decline further. #FederalReserve #InterestRates #PersonalFinance https://lnkd.in/e_F4St7N

The IRS is making significant strides in modernizing their taxpayer services. From the Document Upload Tool reaching 1 million submissions to new features in online accounts, they're recently leveraging #IRA funding to enhance the taxpayer experience. #IRS #DigitalTransformation #TaxTech https://lnkd.in/gfN4AVA7

Recent inflation and labor data are painting a clear picture: the Federal Reserve's monetary policy might be too restrictive. Despite the volatility in the stock market and mixed signals from mega-cap earnings, the underlying economic data suggests a need for a policy shift. #Wealth #MonetaryPolicy #Inflation https://lnkd.in/e3ynFV8M

In a groundbreaking ruling, a US District Court has declared Google a monopoly, citing its dominance in the search market as a means to suppress competitors like Bing and DuckDuckGo. Judge Amit Mehta's detailed opinion highlights Google's overwhelming market share, with nearly 90% on desktops and 95% on mobile devices by 2020. #Google #Monopoly #SearchEngine https://lnkd.in/eS6tT6sA

As a business owner in Virginia, it’s essential to stay informed about your company's retirement plan. RetirePath Virginia, a state-sponsored retirement savings program designed to help your employees prepare for their financial future, is launching new regulations, read our latest article to learn more about your options: https://lnkd.in/edScGmhT

Since 2010, Social Security benefits have lost 20% of their buying power due to inflation, according to new research from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). With costs rising faster than benefits, retired workers need an additional $4,440 per year on average to maintain their standard of living. It's important to evaluate your retirement offerings to make sure your employees are getting the most from their 401(k)s. #SocialSecurity #Retirement #Inflation https://lnkd.in/eGkdDFSp

On July 19, a CrowdStrike software update caused a 78-minute glitch, affecting 8.5 million Microsoft Windows systems. The outage brought airports to a halt, disrupted major banks, and impacted payroll operations, underscoring the need for robust business continuity plans. This incident serves as a reminder to ensure your business continuity plans are comprehensive and regularly tested to withstand unforeseen challenges. #BusinessContinuity #CyberSecurity #CrisisManagement #Payroll https://lnkd.in/gC4K-Tun