The investment bank’s 2021 Global Economic Outlook, released this week, sees the U.S. joining in a worldwide economic rebound, with global GDP growing 6.4%, higher than the consensus of 5.4%. Growth in countries such as India and China will lead the way, followed by the U.S. and euro area countries. The Morgan Stanley economists said the recovery they expected midyear is “now entering a new self-sustaining phase” and, unlike other economists polled by sources including Bloomberg and the IMF, they are less worried about the pandemic’s impact on the risk appetite of the private sector....

Your current insurance carrier might not offer insurance in your new location, but it is worth a try. If you are moving to an area where you have friends and family, you should certainly ask for recommendations from them. Many large workplaces are also able to recommend car insurance agents, especially if a large percentage of their workers drive to and from work. Moving out of state is also a good time to get multiple quotes from different insurance carriers....

Learn how hedge funds work, whether you can invest in one, and if you should invest. What Is a Hedge Fund? A hedge fund works similarly to a mutual fund but does not have the same restrictions on how managers can invest fund assets. Unlike a mutual fund, investors cannot easily buy into or sell positions in a hedge fund. In most cases, hedge funds are open-ended and allow investments or withdrawals on a monthly or quarterly basis....

During the open enrollment period, consumers can visit healthcare.gov to sign up for “Obamacare” health insurance plans provided by private insurers. Coverage starts Jan. 1 for plans bought before Dec. 15, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said. (Deadlines may be different in states that operate their own health care exchanges instead of participating in the federal one, though enrollment is currently open in all of them.) The two-and-a-half-month open enrollment period is a month longer than normal....

The huge spike, the biggest for any single day in at least the year The Balance has been collecting data, underscores how quickly things are changing in a residential real estate market shaped by record low mortgage rates only 15 months ago. 10-year Treasury yields, which mortgage rates typically follow, are surging as the Federal Reserve wages war on inflation, raising its benchmark interest rate and taking other measures to tamp down spending....

Volcker fought greater than 10% annual inflation rates with contractionary monetary policy and courageously raised the fed funds rate to 20% in March 1980. He briefly lowered it in June. When inflation returned, Volcker raised the rate back to 20% in December and kept it above 16% until May 1981. That extreme and prolonged interest rate rise was called the Volcker Shock. It did end inflation. Unfortunately, it also created the 1981 recession....

Pay for Unused PTO It might surprise you to learn that there is no federal law requiring employers to pay out unused PTO, including vacation time, after an employee leaves a company. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets regulations for wages and overtime, does not mandate payment for unused vacation time. However, that does not necessarily mean that you will lose the value of your accrued time. Depending on your location and your employer’s policies, you might leave your job with a little extra cash in hand....

There is one easy-to-use trick available to increase your total coverage limits to at least $1,250,000: that’s the “payable on death” designation. What Does Payable on Death Mean? When you designate a bank account as payable on death, the person whom you’ve named is not entitled to any of the money until you pass away. When you do, they suddenly become the owner of the account. It bypasses your estate....

A Personal Representative A personal representative is appointed by a probate court judge to oversee the administration of an estate when someone dies with or without a will and has not transferred all of their property into a living trust. The personal representative can be a person, an institution such as a bank or trust company, or a combination of both. If the decedent had a last will and testament in which the person stated who or what entity they wanted to serve as personal representative, the probate court judge will most likely honor that wish and appoint this individual....

Investors who buy Invesco ETFs are often looking for funds that track a certain stock index other than a broad market index. For example, the company’s largest ETF Invesco QQQ, as measured by total market value, tracks the NASDAQ 100 Index. What Are Invesco ETFs? The former PowerShares ETFs were first developed by a firm of the same name that was founded in 2002. They have been a part of Invesco since 2006....

Principal Financial Group is an old and well-respected name in insurance and offers a comprehensive line of disability insurance products for both businesses and individuals. Company Overview These top insurance rating organizations have given Principal Life and Principal National Life Insurance Companies very strong financial strength ratings: A.M. Best – A+ Superior (February 2021) Moody’s Investor Service – A1 Good (November 2020) Standard & Poor’s (S&P) – A+ Strong (June 2021) Fitch Ratings – AA- Very strong (June 2021)...

In your capacity as a supervisor, you will likely get asked for references by your employees. Of course, it can be surprising to discover that someone is planning on moving on at a given time, for one reason or another. People transition to new jobs for many reasons, and it’s most often not a reflection of your management style, especially if they feel comfortable asking you for a reference. If you feel that you can give the person a glowing reference, you should....

The Rate Adjustable-rate mortgages are unique because the interest rate on the mortgage adjusts with interest rates in the marketplace. This is important because mortgage payment amounts are determined (in part) by the interest rate on the loan. As the interest rate rises, the monthly payment rises. Likewise, payments fall as interest rates fall. The rate on your adjustable-rate mortgage is determined by combining a set ARM margin with a market index....

So, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has created a solution for small business owners who need financing through SBA loans. These loans give business owner better access to financing through approved lenders who can offer reasonable terms. Let’s learn more about the pros and cons, so you can determine if SBA loans are the right solution for your financial needs. What Are SBA Loans? The SBA works with various financial institutions to create funding guidelines that reduce the risk for the lender and increase a small business’s chance at getting a loan....

When that happens, the first question on many people’s minds is, “Do I have to give two weeks’ notice?” The next question is, “What happens if I can’t—or don’t want to—provide notice?” The answer is that it depends. In many cases, you aren’t obligated to provide notice when you quit a job. However, if you’re covered by an employment agreement it may stipulate how much notice you are expected to give....

You might sell an asset short because you expect it to decline in value, and you hope to profit from the completed trade. But there are other reasons as well. Learn four reasons you might short sell an ETF. Hedge Downside Portfolio Risk Let’s say you have a substantial equity or fixed-income portfolio. You to protect against a drop in one or more stock or bond markets. Selling short an ETF that includes a large number of stocks or bonds in the market or markets might be the way to go....

Even with a high limit, though, it’s a bad idea to use it all. Running up a large credit card balance can impact your credit score, lead to debt, and make it harder to borrow money in the future. Credit cards are convenient and often offer perks and discounts that aren’t available when paying by cash, but be sure to avoid certain pitfalls when using a credit card. Maxing out one credit card is pretty bad for your credit score....

Are You Self-Employed? If you run your own business or have income from freelancing, you usually need to provide additional information about your business. Lenders may want to scrutinize your financials to ensure that your income continues indefinitely. Significant equity A down payment of 20% or more is best. Some lenders refinance jumbo loans with less than that, but more equity means you’ll get better rates and an easier approval process....

Investors fled to the safety of government securities pushing yields on the 10-year Treasury note to an all-time low of 0.52% on Aug. 4, 2020.As a result, mortgage rates fell since they tend to follow the yields on U.S. Treasury notes.However, by 2022, the Fed was hiking rates to combat inflation, and by May of 2022, the 10-year Treasury yield had risen to nearly 3.5%, pushing mortgage rates to over 5%....

The Benefits of Rental Properties Rental properties can round out an investment portfolio and create an ongoing income stream. Several major factors have made this a popular investment option: The meager returns provided by savings accounts and investments such as certificates of deposit are causing many people to take a closer look at rental property investing. Several years of record-low interest rates have made people wary of future inflation, which drives them away from the bond market....