Friday Financial Five – April 22, 2016
Friday, April 22, 2016
Dan Forbes, GoLocalProv Contributor
Trump might shake up the Fed
Assuming she likes her job, Janet Yellen may not be hoping for a Trump presidency. The candidate stated he would likely seek a replacement for the Federal Reserve chairwoman if he wins the election. This despite his observation that he thinks the current low interest rate environment is good and that he feels no urgency for the Fed to raise rates. Trump also indicated he’d work proactively to take some of the power away from the Fed, echoing a common sentiment that it wields unintended economic influence.
UnitedHealth Group to exit Obamacare exchanges
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A poorly kept secret is that UnitedHealth, the nation’s largest health insurer, could not find profitability within the framework of the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges. It was announced this week that the insurer will leave most of the 34 state exchanges where it operates by next year. Losses for last year and 2016 are expected to top $1 billion, despite improved revenue numbers for the first quarter this year.
Retirees not looking to spend down assets
The conventional rule of thumb on retirement spending is expect withdrawals to slowly deplete assets. Many retirees experience spending levels that closely resemble their working years. A new study shows that may not be the norm, with respondents preferring to cut spending to allow them to preserve or even increase the value of their nest egg. The study, conducted by Greenwald & Associates and Cannex, indicates half of the retirees expect to grow their assets over the next decade, while thirty percent expect to keep their asset level constant. This expectation would reduce the amount of money workers need to accumulate by retirement to supplement Social Security or pension income.
Treasury Department corporate inversion
The Treasury Department has tried to score one for the little guy by implementing tax rule changes sure to ruffle the feathers of some large corporations. The practice of “inversion” applies when a domestic corporation purchases or merges with a foreign company to take advantage of favorable tax treatment. Earlier this month, the Treasury clarified the tax treatment for inversion stockholders post-merger. If the shareholders of the former U.S. company own at least 80 percent of the combined firm, the U.S. government considers the new business as taxable, regardless of where the business is headquartered. The imposition of the new rules would most likely be challenged in court for companies that invert and then are taxed under these guidelines. While Democrats in Congress want a lower ownership percentage threshold implemented, Republicans are looking to tackle inversion as part of a broader tax reform.
File and suspend decision needed soon
The option to elect “file-and-suspend” for Social Security payments under the current system exists until April 29th. This option is available for those that are between 66 and 70 and have not yet claimed benefits. In order to qualify, those interested will need to apply and request suspension request by the deadline. While the decision to file-and-suspend typically involves married couples, it may also apply to a single person who qualifies and simply wants to preserve the grandfathered option.
Dan Forbes, a CFP Board Ambassador, is a regular contributor on financial issues. He leads the firm Forbes Financial Planning, Inc in East Greenwich, RI and can be reached at [email protected].
Related Slideshow: RI Business Rankings in US
See how Rhode Island stacked up.
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WalletHub
Rhode Island has 2015's eighth highest insurance premium penalties for high risk drivers, according to a WalletHub report.
Rhode Island ranks fifth overall in the category of speeding over 20 mph annual premium increase at $482. While ranking third overall in the category of 2 accidents annual premium increase at $2,721.
Rhode Island ranks ninth overall under the reckless driving annual premium increase at $749.
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WalletHub
Rhode Island has been ranked as the 8th most eco-friendly state in the country, according to a recent study by WalletHub.
Rhode Island ranks third in environmental quality and 16th in Eco-Friendly Behaviors Ran landing them in 8th overall.
RI is behind Washington and New Hampshire who are in the six and seven spots respectively, and in front of Connecticut and Hawaii who come in at the nine and ten spot.
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WalletHub
Rhode Island is 2015's 4th Worst State to be a taxpayer, according to a recent WalletHub report.
Rhode Island ranks 48th of 51 with an average state and local tax price of $7,159 which is good for a 27% difference from the national average.
The states that are directly behind Rhode Island are Wisconsin at $7,159, Nebraska at $7,298 and Illinois at $7,719 for a 37% difference from the national average.
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WalletHub
Rhode Island has the highest vehicle property taxes in the country, paying an average of $1,133 according to a report from WalletHub.
Virginia and Kansas are the two states just ahead of Rhode Island in the 49 and 50 spots, paying $962 and $905 respectively.
RI also ranks 42nd in average real estate tax, paying an average of $2,779, according to the WalletHub report.
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Gallup
Providence-metro ranks at the bottom for job creation in 2014
Rhode Island has been ranked amongst the worst in job creation, according to a recent survey done by Gallup.
Gallup gives the Prov-metro area an index score of 23, the lowest score is the New York- New Jersey area with 20.
Salt Lake City, Utah and Austin-round Rock, Texas rank the highest with a score of 37.
See the rest of the rankings here.
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Forbes
The 2014 state rankings by Forbes has just been released and Rhode Island moved up two spots from #48 in 2013 to #46 in 2014.
What does Forbes say about RI's business environment"
After Michigan and Illinois, Rhode Island has experienced the third worst net migration out of its state in the country over the past five years. With a recent unemployment rate of 7.6%—lower than only Georgia and Mississippi—residents are leaving the state in search of jobs. Rhode Island has been stuck in the bottom five overall for six straight years. One plus: labor costs are 5% below the national average, which stands out in the expensive Northeast.
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Tax Foundation
Findings from The State Business Tax Climate Index were released this morning by Tax Foundation which found Rhode Island to have the 45th best tax climate for businesses for 2015. The state's rank has not changed since last year after The Index analyzed 100 different tax variables in multiple categories.
Read more about the report here
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Thumbtack/Kauffman
Providence is the second worst city in America for small business, according to a new survey conducted by Thumbtack.com and the Kauffman Foundation.
More than 12,000 small businesses in 82 cities across the country participate in the survey. Providence received an overall "F" grade for small business friendliness.
Full Survey Results Here.
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The Economist
Small Business Friendliness Grade: F
The Economist grades states on an A+ to F grading scale for its small business climate. Rhode Island is one of just 6 states to earn an "F" grade.
Overbearing bureaucracy and excessive licensing is stifling small business in America.
Read More About The Economist Grade Here
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Forbes
Forbes ranks each state in business costs, economic climate, and growth prospects. RI is third worst in 2013.
The most damning in the commentary:
After Michigan, Rhode Island has experienced the second worst net migration in the country over the past five years.
Read More About Forbes Ranking Here
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Tax Foundation
#46 Tax Foundation
Tax Foundation ranks each state in corporate tax rank, sales tax rank, and unemployment insurance tax rank.
Rhode Island and the other states in the bottom ten suffer from the same afflictions: complex, non-neutral taxes with comparatively high rates.
Read More About Tax Foundation Ranking Here
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ALEC
#47 ALEC
ALEC ranks each state in economic performance and outlook.
Although Rhode Island ranked low in economic performance, a forward-looking forecast is based on the state’s standing in 15 important state policy variables. Some of these variables include top marginal personal income tax rate and sales tax burden.
Read More About ALEC Ranking Here
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Kauffman Foundation
#50 Kauffman Foundation
Kauffman Foundation ranks each state in entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial activity generally is highest in Western and Southern states
and lowest in Midwestern and Northeastern states.
Read More About Kauffman Ranking Here
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Free Enterprise
#47 Free Enterprise
Free Enterprise ranks each state in performance, exports, innovation + entrepreneurship, business climate, talent pipeline, infrastructure.
Rhode Island has continued to feel the direct impact and ripples from the recent recession—it ranks 47th overall in economic performance. However, positive rankings of 15th in talent pipeline and 16th in innovation and entrepreneurship suggest the existence of a foundation on which to build the future.
Read More About Free Enterprise Ranking Here
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Gallup
10th Worst in Gallup's Annual Ranking of State Job Markets 2014
Rhode Island has been ranked 10th worst for job creation in Gallup's annual ranking of state job markets in 2014 with a job creation index number of 21
Rhode Island is one of two (Connecticut) states to rank in the bottom ten each year since 2008.
The 2014 State level findings have were drawn from 201,254 interviews with employed adults across the nation.
See the full list of rankings here.
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